Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

Sergt. Frederick Lampe of tho 213th
Aerial Squadron. who was aboard the
transport Tuscania when it was tor
pedoed by a German submarine. has
written to friends in Washington an
Many of the things he had to tell were
eliminated by the censor.
1.-TWO other sergeants and l." he
writes, were seated on the hunks in
our stateroom at 6:15 pm, when some
thing hit our side of the boat. 1t
seemed to grind its way in and then
exploded, putting out all the lights
II was nearest the door and grabbed
my life preserver. When I reached the
starboard side of the boat and made
my way to the lower deck, found the
stairway leading to the next deck
crowded, so I walked over to the side
to take a look at the water to see II
the ship was listing. MADE up my
mind to take my time, for II dldn
make my boat on the top DECK ana ,ne
ship should go down at once, l wouldn't
have so far to jump. When the stairs
were clear, L made my way up and
around to the top deck.
Stood Around for Hour.
when I reached my boat, some of the
men were there. We were to take to
the fourth or last boat to be lowered.
Well the first came down, but in
splinters; also the second and in low
ering the third boat the davits broke.
So we knew we were out OF luck we
must have stood around for at least
one hour or more. About that time the
last boat of the next company was
lowered, so 1 told some of the men to
make for it. as there were only about
twelve of us and there was plenty OF
room. Then the lieutenant and 1 went
down just as the boat pulled out. One
of the men slid down the wrong rope
and fell thirty feet into the boat. L
had bad time with two of the men
who were excited. but managed them
by telling them that the. boat wouldn't
sink. l might add that|when We were
hit, the explosion wrecked our boat
SO that it could not be lowered.
''In the meantime the ship was slowly
sinking and the crew was signaling
with rockets. DeStroyerS were chasing
around us for all they were worth and
L understand now that they got what
they We're after. When We got into the
boat we rowed out about 800 yards to
see If we could not pick up some more
sooner decided to wait than what should
appear on our stern but a submarine
Well, believe me, We sure did row some
When We turned to look for it again it
~ dS Soilc- 81 we ISSltu HGu d OeSlTOy-
er passed US, so we signaled to it that
we had seen the sub. They told us to
put out our lights The destroyer had
not gone a quarter of mile when the
sub came up on our port side Well, we
just dropped into the bottom of the boat
and awaited results. and when none
came we looked over the side and the
damned thing had gone.
Steamer Went Down.
About this time the steamer went
down. 1t broke in two and then sank.
We heard CRIES for help. but couldn't do
a thing, and it sure did make US feel
bad.
Il had no hat or coat and was pretty
well soaked. when we were picked up by
4 trawler about 1890 and fell onto a
board and slept, even though it was
raining. We were sunk about
(censored), and arrived there about 80
the next morning. with plenty of rain
and the last ones to be taken in. 1t was
cold and they took us about a mile into
town in sightseeing cars without tops
The hotels were opened to US and we
were given hot tea and coffee, bread,
crackers. cheese and jam, plenty of
whisky and put to bed.
Three chaps were found dead in the
boat when we were picked up, and the
captain and one of the crew from the
trawler jumped overheard to save two
fellows. OF 1877 in our squadron. 144
have been accounted for.
cat -- they opened up the town
thing. not even shave or haircut, and