The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-05-23
HOW JOHN MACKENZIE SAVED
THE REMLIk WHEN A DEPTH
CHARGE BROKE LOOSE.
HE CAPTURED THE BIG BOMB
Delivery Of Locomotives Ordered by
Government Starts in July Ger
many Limits Spending Money of
American Prisoners and lnterned
Civilians.

w WI. a. NJ IN
United States army aud navy are be-
ing commended for bravery in action
or in emergencies. a typical case is
that of ,fohn Mackenzie, chief boat
swain'S mate, of the naval reserve
force, described in Il navy department
statement.
Tho case is uniQuh in that it has to
do with II of the latest engines Of
war. AS is well known, United States
destroycrS and other submarine fight
erS carry depth charges containing n
large amount of high explosives which
are dropped in the path Of enemy sub
marines and explode under water.
These have proved effective weapons
In the destruction of U-hoatS, and they
are safe enough when the safety pins
are affixed; but when they get beyond
control and the safety pin comes out
they are IL source Of serious danger to
the vessels carrying them. 1t will be
recalled that the men on the u. S. S.
Manlcy who lost their lives in the col
lision of that destroyer with n British
vessel were killed by the explosion Of
one OF these bombs.
In n heavy gale on the morning Of
December II, 1917, a depth charge on
the Remlik broke loose from its posi-
ton on the stern. The box went over
board, hut the charge was hurled In
the opposite direction and went bounc-
Ing about the deck. AS 1t weighs hun
dredS of pounds 1t was impossible for
anyone to lift the bomb and carry 1t
fO Sufnty- n V-oc ,,-nr ,lo r., fDr
anyone to go to that part Of the ship,
hs the seas were washing ove the
stern. AS the officers and crew
watched the bomb some one shouted:
The pins come out :" Realizing the
danger. Mackenzie, cXclaiming. "Wntch
me I'll get It," dashed down the deck
and flung himself upon the charging
cylinder. Three times he almost had
his arms about the bomb, but each
time It tore from him, oncc almost
crushing him. The fourth time he got
right on II fiat end. Then he sat on
1t and held 1t down. The charge might
have broken loose again and exploded
ut any moment. blowing Mackenzie to
bits, hut he held on firmly until lines
could De run to him and man and
depth bomb safely dashed. Soon after
ward the ship was headed up into the
sea and the charge carried to n nloco
of safety.
The commanding officer of tbo Rom
Xix, in his rcnort recommending tb,t
the modal of honor ho cnnf.rrod IN
Mockcnzir. SAYS.
"NI,cLony,o In octiro ,e ,o a.,
uoscd his nfn ana nroy,n,o1 :, snr;nrs
accident "a Tho sin ana nroh,r,n Ice
OF thc shin ana nn,irn cra,., IJ,1 this
depth charge cynlodod an mo nn,rto,.
deck with tho 600 ana ,.,n1 thnt =.
: a. '"e ',''c '''ere IS no oouot mat
III "o"'" nave oeen 'oS''
Money intended for intornod civil.
inns ana pri sonar ne war IN coruonv
shou,d no ron,i,t,d hrouch tho h,roou
OF prisoners, ro,iof American RCD
Cross Woshinyton y q Rom,tt,ncoe
so made will probably not he delivered
mont In cash INF In tho form of credit
on prison exchanges.
According to the Spanish ambassa
dor at Berlin, the war department
states that there nre no restriction!
In regard to the remittance of none!
""en money - pl"c'" ~ p''
o'o"'' ~" n"S oe spe"' NV" VI
',.o,,ins ies"'a''o''s'
s ,'o % a'i
",e ~
"'"Is :" " N
49,"
ton; so marks weekly for others