The Washington times., 1918-04-19
BLACKFOOT INDIAN
WILDLY PICTURES
TUSCANIA TRAGEDY

0FOLneI. JGIOIAE ANNhANA 80 =" ~HsN
years old. now in the American avia-
tion forces with the Pershing expedi-
tion.
Jerome Kennerly is a Blackfoot
Indian. and studied six years at Car
lisle, where he gained fame while
playing football with the noted
Thorpe. Keunerly returned to the
BIackfoot Indian reservation in Mon.
tana after leaving Carlisle and
worked as a cowboy. Exempt from
draft. he won the commendation OF
reservation officials by enlist
ing in November last in the l0Sth
Aero Squadron. He trained atOSan
Antonio. Tex. and after the disaster
to the Tuscania. victim OF q German
torpedo underwent training In Eng
land.
start Ia AuspleiOus.
His letter follows, in part:
after embarking in the states,
we started out of the hRrbOr one
beautiful morning In January. About
noon we ali took a look at the dis
appearinK shore OF the good old
q. S. A., some OF us, alas! for the
last time: some OF us never dreaming
OF what lay in store for US but
few days of.
aOur feet of vessels, with the $. 5.
Tuscania in the center OF the convoy
seemed as secure and safe from harm
as the pet deer in the center OF the
National Park. We then went IN
northerly course to a port OF an
island OF the North, at which place
we remained for a day.
"As we steamed out OF the haroo
we all stood on. deck looking at the
FnlrfnR remarks
about the Joy ride as many or the
bows called II. And for ten days we
settled down to .seasickness ana
other minor disappolntments' myseh
sharing the seasickness for one day.
after which felt first rate. We All
passed the time reading, playing
games, boxing, and other forms OF
exercise, when the sea was not TOO
rough.
On the Thirteenth Day.
"on the thirteenth day OF our voy-
age, we were all on deck watching
the boxing matches, which were
going on all afternoon, thereby cauE-
/ ing every one to be out on deck ano
/ in the rigging OF the mast II will
always be my opinion that II was
then that we were sighted by the
/ submarine. as it could be plainly
seen that our ship was a heavy load
ed troop ship, and as have already
told YOU, we were in the center OF
the convoy, besides the (deleted by
censor) we had picked up a day or
/ two previous. The sub managed to
break through the convoy TO get al
us.
"As understand It, the subs had
been after the Tuscania for a long
time and failed to get her on a num-
Der OF trips. Hence, another reason
for them to pick US out for q target
on that awful night.
About $50 .. m. a number OF uI
had gone below for our supper. al
in the best OF spirits. the main point
OF our conversation being the sub
Finishing our meal. we went or
deck, just as the order came, fol-
every one to be on deck with life
preservers on. At or near 5:55 .. IN
I stopped in the hallway just outside
my state room TO speak to a friend
II was than that I had .oue wish
granted in less time than / can men
tion.
His Wish II Granted.
''In a joking way l said. I wish
a torpedo would hit us, just for q
| little excitement" A loud crash, and
l know that my wish had beer
granted. The explosion was beyond
description. The lights went out
throwing the ship in darkness. and
could hear the mad rush for thS
outer decks. but luck was with me
l was knocked to the floor and my
hand cut on a fragment of an eIec.
trio globe, which happened to be al
the foot OF the main stairway TO thC
/ upper deck. 1 kept my wits collect.
ed and helped another boy to find hi!
way on deck.
After getting out I saw that the
| doomed ship had listed quite a littlt
| to starboard. For a few minute,
/ there was quite a little confusion
but soon all quieted down and in 9
few minutes one would have hardly
known that We had been torpedoed
| judging from the conversation while
waiting for the lifeboats to be low
cred. We were all expecting tC
hear the explosion OF the boilers. bu
as We learned later the explosion o.
the torpedo had broken the mair
steam pipe. letting out the steam anC
saving " the danger OF another ex
plosion.
when I had been on deck a short
while noticed a number OF the boy
without coats or hats and some with
out life belts, so two or three boy
and volunteered TO go back int
the ship to get coats and belts. VI
made six or seven trips down to ge
coats and belts. bringing up at eacl
trip all we could handle.
Afe-Boata Unavailable.
ct then stood by, waiting for tn,
lIfe-boat I was TO go in, but it new
er came down. The ropes were al
broken. Some OF the Nfe-boats brok,
In two, spilling their occupants int,
the sea. We were helpless to ali
those in the Water-those | knew ",
never would see again. The sight
in the water 1 cannot describe II
words.
"In about an hour and a half afte
being hit by the torpedo / went be
low once more to my stateroom L
get some of my personal articles, in
cludIng photographs OF friends a
home, and while l was on my wa
up the ship lunged twice to star
board and remained listed over yer
far, making il quite difficult to ge
to deck. l saw that a destroyer ha
| ,,,ltad IN aIonrafda 70 take off tn