Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-04
PRATT SANK ALMOST AT MOUTH OF DELAWARE RIVER
One Man Out of Crew of Thirty eight T Was Lost.

Philadelphia. Pa, June 3.--The4 ! American tank steamer Herbert l.. Pratt, Ta1npico, Mexico. for Philadel- phia with q cargo of oil, was torpe- loed by a German U-boat today off Cape Hen1open and sank almost at the mouth of the Delaware up which river gigantic shipyards are working at top speed to overcome the subma- tine menace According to official in- formation from Washington, one man 1n the Pratt out of the crew of SS was lost.
 The crew of the tanker was landed st the Fourth District Naval Station at Cape Henlopen and cared for dur ing the night
 The Pratt sank about four miles east southeast of Cape Henlopen light. She is down by the head and her stern can be plainly seen from shore sticking out of the water. Her posi- ton is such that it is believed she ran be raised.
 The first indication along the sand dunes of Lower Delaware that some thing unusual had occurred at sea was when firing was heard off shore about 1oso o'clock this morning. This information was brought ashore ear ly h the afternoon by bay men.
 Ne Submarine Was Seen.
 Later the tanker Pratt was seen making her way in between Cape May and Cape Henlupen, which are about ten miles apart Several men standing at the point of Cape Henlo- pen saw her steam along and then noticed that something had happened to har- It appeared, they said. as if ther< had been an explosion. All boals were lowered and the steam pi- lot boat Philadelphia answered the tankrn signals. No submarine was seen from shore nor was there any ptheS strange boat in the vicinity. The Philadelphia took the tanker's foul Soa4s tn tow and steamer up the bay tn the government iron pier below LeVes, Del where the crew wa! tanded and taken to the government naval station.
 Had Been Torpedoed.
 At the offices of the Fourth Maya Station h this city information wa given out that all the crew of tn, Pratt had been rescued and that i had nst been definitely established whether Ehe Pratt was sunk by tor rcdn, 6 mine or an internal explosion OficiaI information from the navy de partment tonight, however, shove, the tanker had been torpedoed. Tn Herbert L. Pratt, of 5572 net tons wa pwuec by the Atlantic Refining Com pauy of Philadelphia
 Considerable Firing Heard.
 There was considerable firing hear off the Delaware capes between thre and five o'clock this afternoon b people on the lower capes. Naval au thorities at the Fourth District static ln this city had no information to giv
 7-A Inc U-boats. That submarines wer busy off the Virginia coast last wee was virtually confirmed tonight by tn navy department and by events 0 Inc Delaware capes. Last week th three-masted schooner Edna wa found waterlogged and abandoned O The mainland coast.
 Two Other Wrecks Sighted.
 Two other wrecks were also sigh' rd by passing vessels but no import r-ce was attached to these. The E( IT.. however, furnished mystery tn: ;cafaring men tried to solve. Thel 9..~ nothing to show what had b, :on1c of her crew and there was notl nS 10 indicate why she was abal toned The Edna was lowed
 wewes Del, and later brought his city. Shipping men who lookt ,er over tonight expressed the oplnit at she might have been shelled. Sl Tas damaged below the water line.
 Several Vessels- Were Warned.
 Last night several vessels. it w learned tonight, put back and soug protection behind the Delaware breal water upon having been warned of u usual events at sea. In sever southern New Jersey towns citizei