The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-06-07
NARROWING STORY
| TOLD BY SURVIVORS
Nineteen of the Cardinals Survivors
Reach Delaware Port.

Lewis, De-, June Nineteen sur
ivivors, passengers and crew, of the
Summarized steamship Carolina were
landed here today, and brought har-
rowing tale of the sea, the news of the
loss of sixteen of their number and
the remarkable rescue of girl, while
/ they drifted helpless on the ocean dur
ing a severe thunderstorm Sunday
night. Ten boats left the Carolina
before she was sunk by the German
submarine U-34; all passed through
the same storm and the survivors here
said they had felt sure all were lost
They expressed great joy when inform
ed that most of the Cardinals company
had been saved.
The 10 persons landed here were
brought in by British vessel, which
picked them up more than twenty-five
miles off the Delaware coast. They
were taken in charge by the naval au-
thorities, and for a time no one ex-
themselves, and for time no one ex-
cept these were permitted to see them.
They made full statements, however,to
the naval officers. None of the sur
vivors had any knowledge that the
submarine had shelled the boats.
The story of the survivors did not
become public until they were taken
to the railroad station late this after
noon and left for New York. One of
their number, however, was detained.
He is a German member of the crew
and will be held pending an investiga-
ton.
According to the survivors, the Car
DINA was warned late Sunday aftern-
noon by wireless to look out for sub
marines. The steamer was advised
that three-masted schooner had just
been sunk and was cautioned not to
show lights. At 6 o'clock Sunday eve
ming a submarine appeared close to
the Carolina. 1t was about $50 feet
long, survivors said, and later was
identified as the U-97.
"The submarine signaled something
which our captain could not make out, !"
said one of the survivors, "and then
the U-boat raised the German flag.
We were ordered to heave to, and the
captain feared that the submarine
would shell the steamer if he did not
obey the order, signaled the engineer
to reverse the engines Ind stop.
"a German officer with an armed
guard came alongside and gave orders
to our captain to lower all boats and
leave the ship in 80 minutes. OF course
it would be useless to say that none Of
US was frightened, for where there
are more than 300 on a ship about to
be sunk there must be some timid ones
Good order was maintained, however.
The sea was smooth and there appear
ed to be no element Of danger. No
body thought of storm and the Gcrx
imam officers appeared to show eonsidr
GRAFTON of 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 the crew standing on her deck, busy
ing themselves about the boat. After
all the life boats had swung away
from the Carolina the German officers
aboard the steamer ordered one of the
life-boats to return. This frightened
many in the other life boats, but af-
ter time we found out the reason for
the Germans action. In going through
the steamer he found a fireman who
had been left behind and he had or
dered the boat to return for him.
"When the last boat was clear Of
the ship again the Germans left the
Carolina and in a few minutes the
submarine shelled her seven times.
Then she burst into flames. Whether
the Germans set her on fire or whether
the Smelling had caused fire to break
out do not know.
at was beautiful Sunday evening
as we drifted on, no one knew where.
The sun began to set as the Carolina
slowly went down. Then it got dark
and feeling Of fear came over many
+ of US, but we hoped for the best. The
sea was still smooth and there was no
! danger apparently. We strained our
eyes to see light but there was none.
All the boats kept as close together as
possible, everybody that was able to
take turn at the oars.
"After we had drifted for / don't
know how long there were faint flash
es of lightning on the horizon, and la
ter when the puffy wind began to
freshen we instinctively knew that
there was trouble ahead.
1.-THE storm came quicker than we
expected. The wind blew like a gale
.