Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-28
IUSCANlA
DISASTER
RELATED
49,
Robt. A. Perkins Tells of his
Experiences in Crossing
the Big Pond.

VIM. d. Perkins of this city has re-
ceived a letter from his brother. Rob-
ert a. Perkins, first class quartermas-
ter, who was on Board a U. 8. fuel
ship, one Of the group Of vessels ac-
companying the Tuscanta at the time
she was t%orpedoed. The letter which
is dated Some where in the United
q States. L. S. Fuel Steamship (name
deleted). follows:
Your most welcome letter OF
March 4. was received and was glad
to. hear from you. Am fine and in
the best of health.
YES we did have to put back into
= port as our steering gear broke. about
a. Is miles out. while making a sharp
turn, sand we were towed back to port.
but were there only for a few days.
our officers and crew gave a grand
ball here at the hotel. 1T was the big
gest thing that eve happened at this
point. l was appointed chief of the
decorating committee and will say
that 4the job was done in first class
style. ! will send YOU some papers
giving an account of the a :,
= Next to Ill-Fhted ship.
Perhaps you would rather hear
about my. voyage. We left port. with
a British convoy consisting Of twelve
ships, bound for Somewhere, OF
which the Tuscania was one. We
were next ship astern of her in the
column. all the way.
after eight days of steady steam
ing and no excitement We met our de-
stroyer escort. consisting of seven
small British destroyers, n by TINS
omen we knew we were approaching
our destination. Upon entering the
channel to the Irish sea, the Tuscanfa
with 300 American troops board
was %torpedoed M sank 81 minutes
later. We were about 200 yards
astern Of her. when the torpedo struck.
so we altered our course to the star
toard to clear her as she had stopped
ond was sinking fast. We were max
ing every Knot we could squeeze out
of our ship. and I guess we would
have flown had we a wings.
t, just Missed U-Boat.
by alering u course we cleared
the Tuscania but almost rammed the
submarine, which just cleared about
25 yards on our port side. Had we
seen the C-boat in time we could have
rammed her.
.As luck would nave it, the sub
marines, stern was toward us. but al
the time, i had that funny idea thai
we were next. AS scared as l was
the sight of the poor soldiers diving
from the luSCdHla, as we pdSsSu, dIsu
hitting the cold water with a splash
sent cold chiils up my spine. a..
"Our gun-crew fred two shots al
the submarine:%.It is possible they 81
it.. Hut sKes did not take time to in.
vestfgate. S,%SGee! when they fired a
the B-boat; 7 thought we were hit. a.
it took me rather unexpectedly. I'm
mediat1y I thought Of the $40 down II
my locker. didn't are about beine
torpedoed. but / hated to lose that ter
bucks. Since. that time I have en-
rloyed safety first as now, wheneve,
we leave port. I chuck it in my sock.
Thoughts Were at Home.
II thought Of everyone in Crane
Forks n Hillsboro, that night. A
$3.50 the same night the convoy split
and all,the ships proceeded to thei1
respective destinations.
Later we discharged u oil carg'
and left for America. Had lots o
rough weather. It times l though
the old girl would turn turtle. but W
arrival safely at last.
While enroute the captain ordere'
the postmaster at New York to for
ward our mail to this port. Upon ar
rival u mail was delivered and
certainly was great to get mail ono
more which was the first we had re
ceived in two months. &
AS news is scarce. will close, hop
ing to hear from you soon."