Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-16
U-BOAT' VICTIMS
IN FIGHT FOR LIFE
Tossed in Yawls on Stormy Seas
Infested With Great Swarms
of Sharks.

Atlantic CITY. Nov. II. Thirty-three
hours in ships boats, constantly at the
oars. seas running so high that II seemed
they would be swampcd every minute
and become food for schools OF man
eating sharks that constantly infested
the waters around them-thcse arc some
thrilling details of the experiences OF the
survivors of the crew of the non-sinkablc
steamer Lucia, rs told by Fred Estcrgrcn,
a life gu r,i of this city WHO WIS
q deck officer on the vessel when she was
sunk bv German torpedo IN mid-occan
October u. EichtysiN of the crew were
saved, four were killed instantly by the
explosion Fstergren arrived here today
from Newport News, where he was landed
BY gunboat, to which survivors had
been transferred by the DESTROYER that
picked them up. He said,
1T was about go clock in the even
ing of October 2l when terrific cx-
plosion shook us from stem 20 stern. |
had just gone off watch and was stretched
In my bunk waiting for supper All
hands were summoned on deck immediate
lv by the skipper. made the same boat
with Orvil!c Bowen of this city. First
Mate on the Lucia. Several of our boats
were smashed by the explosion and there
were but four tO carry the clghty-sN
survivors. 1t was necessary for two of
the crew tn clear ON one of the life rafts
To which they lashcd themselves The
rest ot us were crowded together in the
yawls. The sea was calm when the ex-
plosion came. There was no disorder rs
We got away.
Our convoy put on full speed to get
away from the l-boat. Ill the other
boats keeping on, making zigzag course.
lttF ~
one of the other steamers, in which she
told of being under rcd hot shell fire.
"A large part OF the cargo of the Lucia
was u ade up of high explosives, and we
were instructed To pull away a safe dis
tance and wait. The skipper and the
gun crews showed their spirit They re-
manned aboard the Lucia manning the
guns. ready To engage the submarine
should she reappcar in our vicinity.
They STAYED right in ship until the last
minute, although they knew they were in
danger of being blown to atoms any
second should there come second
explosion.
'They left when it was quite certain
that the CBoat had hauled away, and 1t
was seen that the Lucia was settling fast.
The big ship tilted on end and went down
nose first. 1t was n wonderful spectacle
We made uI' signals before We left the
Lucia that each boat was to flash her
number at stated intervals with these
and IN this way kept together through
that long night
Our wireless man had remained at
his post calling for help as long aS the gun
crows stayed aboard. He picked up wire
les StatIon at Newfoundland and thew
promised to send us help, but We knew the
best they could do with ship from there
was at least three days
The sea lost its calm rs the night wore
on and along about clock the waves
became terrific. 1t seemed as though W
would never live through that night
The rough weather kept upall the next day
Talk about sharks. They seemed 10
smell food the instant anything was
opened. There were schools Of them around
US ali the time, trailing US with the tcna
itv nf bloodhound> You can imagine |
our feelings, not knowing whether the |
submarine would reappcar and shell us in |
the open boats or we would be swampei |
and furnish a few square meals for the |
sharks.
About midnight Of the second niclt |
we heard a boatsnear us 1t did not come |
very close, but cir, led US under full pwocr
The craft showed no lights We didnt
know whct her II was a rescue vessel or a |
l-boat trying TO blow lis up. 1t was two |
hours before it yenturcd closc and returned |
our signals from the fiashlg Is 1t was
the destroyer The boat Captain wanted |
to make sure it was not German ambush. |
When We came close a big comber |
lifted Us up and We were dashed against
the DESTROYER and the yawl was crushed |
w had to leap for he rails 10 get aboard !
All who cleared the Lucia were saved. |
The destroyer was one Of those who had |
been conveying rs They treated US
royallv aboard the destroyer When we !
were 100 miles rom France we were
transferred to the glinboat, which brough |
US to Newport News.