Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-10-19
BELIEVE NE, YOU HAD TO
SWIM FOR YOUR LIFE. "
Experiences of Hurley jackie's Encoun-
ters With Hun Submarines Told in
Letter 10 Friend.

Twice forced to take to the open sea
following encounters with German
submarines and on the first occasion
being compelled to swim for four
hours was the experience of George
Valcour, one Of Hurley's Jackies who
last week visited his folks here. In
a letter to Norman Davis of the Rus
bolt barber shop in Ironwood George
writes as follows concerning his nar-
row escapes from Dayy Jones:
Dear Friend You may be surprised
to hear from me as it las been a long
time since | have written to you.
! suppose you have heard of my eX-
periences. Well, if not, / Will tell you
Of them, as it may interest you and
give You pleasure to think of your old
porter and how he was saved from
Davy Jones.
Wen, when / left Great Lakes Sta
ton ! was put on the L. ). ). "San-
Diego" She Was a first-class battle
ship. called the California, but in
1916 her boilers blew up and she was
disrated, 50 they called her the 'San
Diego" At the time Of which / write
size was on duty as a first-class crui-
ser. Her complement was 1875 off
GERS and men,
] made FOUR trips across the pond
on her, landing at st. NaZaire, France,
also 1T BTest. We were also once at
Belfast. | sure enjoyed myself on these
trips, aud it was a pleasure TO see the
odd things aud wonders over there
Il was a high old life; aud don't for
get ! made good with nay whistling.
Well. changing he subject, we came
back 20 America that last time. Coal
ing and making repairs at Portsmouth.
y. IL we left there with the ship in
{ tle best condition she was ever in. We
started Tor New York to have the
ship wireless put in shape before
leaving for other convoy duty. That
was on the morning of the 18th of July,
and on the morning Of the 18th at II :04
q %. we were hit. The submarine de-
1euse was sounded, and all hands were
at quarters; our guns fired at every
object In sight. But our big ship was
sinking fast; she listed to the port side.
We were all standing in water up to
ONT knees. and every man had on a
life belt. The water was quite rough.
W were 30 miles from Fire Island.
and not "A ship ia sight. The wireless
Was out Of order, and all there was to
90 Was abandon the ship and We did
$50. " ell, oil we went, and believe me,
you had to swim for your life. / am a
taiT swimmer, so | swan for four
hours: but | was chattering, ana it
Was real tough.
An American aviator came out aud
went back for hep, but they seemed
slow ln getting it to us. We sighted
tugee ships at 2:00 o'clock, and We all
sang the star Spaugled Banner"
IL was the Orayest crew that there
ever Was; just imagine /, lS5 men in
water, 1t was the most wonderful
SIGHT MAN ever Witnessed [ was
taken ON an old tape OF ship named
the "Aaldeu.' We were brought to
llohokeu, and they took care OF us
The Red Cross aid wonderful work
among us; gave MS blankets cigarettes,
etc. We We're transferred to place
called Pelham Bay Park / was then
assigned TO an old oil tanker I am
tblrd class st0rekeeper, so got on this
ttaNer and started for the coast of
Maine. About $50 miles out, old
Frlil came oat again, up went the
German flag, and W. got our orders
60 gel off the boat, and get off d-n
quick. We had two siN-inch guns, but
they tad The drop on us Ii st. SO We