Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-22
3 BARGES SUNK
{Contnued fran Page Onel


hospital If Or. James McEugh.
Later Botoyic}, was taken TO I; hos
pital in Boston. The survivors lost
all their personal effects and many
OF them. who were having their
turn in their hunks when the u
boat appeared all but their night
clothing. The tug Perth Amhoy WIZ
her four bargcs in line was putting
along leisurelv just off the shoals
two miles from shore. at IL o'cioc%
when the C-boat, Of a large type AMI
estimated length cf 400 feet. rose
suddenly one mile seward ami
trained her guns on the tow. A mo-
ment later and without warqins FOL
the crew shell struck the "Sccori
barge amldships The empty craft
doubled up and sunk SO quickly that
her crew barely 49, time To lower
their small boats. Capt. J. Fl. Tap
ley Of the tug had sounded his whlS-
tie as soon as the C-boat was sight
ed and ordered the barges abandon
ed. The first shell was followed b.
a rain of shells that dropped on ana
all about the Perth Amboy and
her barges. A lucky SHOT next sank
the last barge Meantime hits on
the tug had set her afire but she
stood bv her harges 10 the finish.
The third barge in the line, the small
est of all, proved a hard mark and the
German gunners occupied half an hour
III disposing Of her. By this time the
firing had alarmed the whole cape and
cries for assistance were sent broad
cast. No American warships. however,
appeared 10 be in the vicinity and the
exhibition Of German gunnery went on
methodically. Then two hydro-aT-
planes rose from the station at Chat
ham and flying low. darted toward the
enemy as though to attack. 1t could
not be seen that they dropped any
bombs. but the Germans evidently an
ticipated an attack from the air, for
they stopped firing and elevated their
guns against the hydro-alrplanes.
These however, did not fire, and the "
boat a moment later submerged. The
planes circied about where the enemy
was last seen and then turned their
noses toward their station. Scarcely
! had they reached shore when the L
boat ~earpeared and resumed her at
tack on the tug and the one light barg1
remaining afoat. Roth the tug anF
this barge were in flames and were hel
where thew were by the eunken barSes,
| one of which with its load of ston9
made an effective anchor. When TIE
firing began the crews lost no time II
aba ndnning the tow, Several merchaFt
craft were in the vicinity and regard
less of the danger to themselves went
10 the rescue OF the crews and lowed
their small boats 10 shore. The men o.
the Perth Ambov, who stood by their
ship until it was ahlaze from bow 70
stern were taken off by lifehoats from
the coast guard station. The t-noat
was still trying to find Vulnerable spot
IN the Perth Amhoy and the rerna'"n"
+ barge when the hydro-airpianes acaiA
anproached At sight Of the planes the
. suhn,arire again submerged and did
not reappear.
The three women and five chiid-
rem did not suffer phvsl al harm
though one of the women. who had
heen making her first trip at sea
! tainted after she had been placed
! in a small boat. Among the child
rem vas an II year old hoy. who at
the first sign OF battle grabbed an
American flag and shook it deflantiy
| toward the T-boat. The lad was
still clinging to the colors held
nroudly above his head when he
landed on the beach. The German
commander either took long I
chance or had an exact chart Of me
dangerous shoals and shifting sand
hars off the Cape. It would he i'm
nossibla for him 70 submcrge TO any \
great depth and the scene Of his eS- ,
,1oits was not tho SPOT in which un- .
dersea boats might be expected TO .
onerate. Tonight he was being
hunted by patrol vessels and other
war craft.
New York. July 21-The tug Perth
A,boy was owned by the Lehigh
valley Railroad and according to es-
Inmates of marine men, was worth .
ohout 800 900 The value Of the
horyes was estimated at APPROX
,,otelv 500 600 Recent reports re-
caived here indicate that the cost OF
tornedoes in Germany AZ this tine
is not less than Slo"" eacn.
Dr James Callahan. n member y
,ha staff Of the Massachusetts Gen
.-.s, hospital. was walking on the .
loach ut Nausett Harbor with his
little son when. he heard the report
run and looking seward, saw
on object coming toward him. II
w., 49,. shell, the doctor said. and it
"a she'd IN he breakers few hun
6rsd yards from shore Then me
s..tor saw the submarine. Other