South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-05
SURVIVORS OF
CAROLINA TELL
RESCUE STORY
Ship Was Warned Sunday
Afternoon of Presence of
German Submarines
One of Crew Held.

LEWES Del. June Nineteen
survivors, passengers and crew of the
Summarized steamship Carolina. were
landed here Tuesday and brought
"a narrowing story of the sea. the
news Of the loss OF sixteen of their
number and remarkable rescue
OF girl while they dritted help
lessly by on the ocean during d Sc
we're thunder storm Sunday night.
Ten boats left the Carolina before
she was sunk by the German sub
marine U-51, all passed through the
same storm and the survivors here
said they had felt sure all We're lost.
They expressed great JOY when in
formed that most of the Cardinals
company had been saved.
The "a persons landed here were
brought in by a British vessel that
picked them up more than 20 miles
of the Delaware capes. They were
taken in charge by the naval au-
thorities and cared for at the sta
ton near Cape HenlOpen. In the
meantime, no one was permitted TO
see them, but they made full state
ments 10 naval officers None of
them had any knowledge that the
submarine had shelled the lifeboats.
survivors Tell Story.
The story of the survivors did not
become public untii they were taken
to the railroad station late Tuesday
afternoon and left for New YORK.
One of their number however. was
4 L -
of the crew and will be held pending
an investigation.
According TO the survivors the
Carolina was warned late Sunday.
afternoon by wireless TO look out
for submarines. The steamer was
advised that a three-masted schOon-
er had just been sunk and was eau
toned not 10 show lights. At 9
o'clock sunday evening. a submarine
appeared above the surface. close to
the Carolina. She was about $50
feet long, survivors said and later
was identified as the U-37
The submarine signalled some
thing which our captain could not
make out" said one OF the surviv-
ors. and then the U-boat raised
the German flag. We were ordered
10 heave TO. and the captain fear
ing that the submarine would shell
the steamer if he did not obey the
order, signalled the engineer 10 re-
verse the engines and stop.
Orders Boats Lowered.
A German officer with an armed
guard came alongside and gave or
ders to our captain to lower all boats
and leave the ship in 20 minutes. OF
course il would be useless to say
that none of US was frightened for
where there are more than 500 per-
sons on a ship about 10 be sunk
there must be some timid ones. Good
order was maintained. however. The
sea was smooth and there appeared
TO be few elements of danger. No
body thought of "a storm and the
German officers appeared 10 show
consideration TO the passt lgers as
they hurried 10 leave the 'teamer.
Ten boats were lowered and
everybody got in. There was little
or no confusion. All the time the
submarine lay as close as possible.
members of her crew standing on
her deck watching US or busying
themselves about the boat. After
all the lifebOats had swung away
from the Carolina the German Off
GERS aboard the abandoned steamer
hailed one OF the lifeboats and or
dered her TO return. This frightened
many in the other lifeboats. but aft
er a time we found out the reason
for the Germans action. IN going
through the steamer he found a fire.
man who had been left behind and
he had ordered the lifeboat 10 re-
turn for him.
When this last boat was clear OF
the ship again the Germans left the
Carolina and in a few minutes the
submarine shelleJ her seven times.
Then she burst into flames Wheth- |
e. the Germans set her on ire or
whether the Smelling had caused IRE
10 break out / do not know.
Overcome by Fear.
"It was d beautiful Sunday even F,
ing as we drifted. no one knew
where. The sun began 10 set as the /
Carolina slowly went down. Then /
il got dark and d feeling OF fear /
oyercame many Of us. but Ne hoped |
for the best The sea was still I
smooth and there was no danger
apparently. We strained our ewes 4
IN 500 "a 1rht but There Ms none