The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-08
STORY OF SURVIVORS.
PASSENGERS AND CREW OF CAR.
OLINA HAVE TERRIBLE
EXPERIENCE.
Sixteen Persons From Summarized
Steamer Carolina Perish.-Drift
aielplessly at Sea-Girl Rescued
Clineing to Bodies of Dcad-Survi-
vOrs Land ut Lewes.

Lewes, Del, June 4.-Nineteen sur
vivors, passengers and crew, of the
Summarized steamship Carolina were
landed here today and brought a har-
rowing tale of the sea, the news of
the loss Of sixteen of their number
AID remarkable rescue of a girl
while they drifted helplessly on the
ocean during Il severe thunder storm
sunday night. Ten boats left the Car
DINA before she was sunk by the
the German submarine U-37, all pass
ed through the same storm and the
survivors said they felt sure all were
lost They expressed great JOY when
informed that most of the Carolina's
company had been saved
The nineteen persons landed here
were brought in by British vessel,
which picked them up more than
twenty-five miles off the Delaware
capes. They were taken in charge
by the naval authorities. They made
full statements to naval officers. None
OF the survivors had any knowledge
That the submarine had shelled the
life boats.
The story of the survivors did not
become public until they left for New
York. One Of their number, how
ever, is German, OF the crew, and
will be held pending an investiga-
ton.
According to the survivors the Car
olina was warned late Sunday after
noon by wireless to look out for sub
marines. The steamer was advised
that a three -masted schooner had inst
been sunk. At o'clock Sunday even
Ing submarine appeared close to
the Carolina. She was about $50 feet
long, survivors said. and later was
identified as the U-37.
1.-THE submarine signaled something
which our captain could not make
out" said one Of the survivors, land
then the U-boat raised the German
ilag. We were ordered TO heave to-
and the captain, fearing that the sub
marine would shell the steamer if he
did not obey the order, signaled the
engineer to reverse the engine.
"A German officer with an armed
guard came alongside and gave or
ders to our captain to lower all our
boats and leave the ship in twenty
minutes. OF course It would be USE
less to say that none of us were fright
ened.
Good order was maintained, how
ever The sea was smooth AID there
appeared to be no elements of danger.
Nobody thought of a storm and the
German officers appeared to show
consideration to the passengers as
they hurried to leave the steamer.
Ten boats were lowered and every
body got in. There was little or no
confusion. All the time the subma-
rine lay as close as possible, members
of her crew standing on her deck,
watching us or busying themselves
about the boat. After all the life
boats had swung away from the Car
olina the German officers aboard the
abandoned steamer ordered one of
the lifeboats to return.
This frightened many IN the other
lifeboats, but after a time we found
out the reason for the Germans ac-
tion. In going through the steamer
he found fireman who had been left
behind and he had ordered the life
boat to return for him.
"When this last boat was clear of
the ship again the Germans left the
Carolina and in few minutes the
submarine shelled her seven times.
Then she burst in flames. Whether the
Germans set her on fire or whether
the shelli1g had caused fire to break
out. l do not know.
1T was bright Sunday evening as
we drifted. The sun began to set as
the Carolina slowly went down. Then
it got dark and a feeling Of fear over
came many of us, but we hoped for
the best. The sea was still smooth
ana there was no danger. apparently
We strained our eyes to see a light,
but there was none. All tn boats kept
MS close together as possible, every
body that was able taking a turn at
the oars.
after we had drifted for do not
Fnow how long, there were faint
flashes OF lightning on the horizon and
later when the puffy wind began to