The Nome daily nugget., 1918-04-16

Commander.)
 A detailed account Of the four-h hour which attacked the American steamer J. l.. Luckenbach on October 19 is given in the report made to the Navy Department by the commander of the armed guard on that vessel, which, though hit several times by shells. reached port safely.
 At 7.S0 a. m. the after lookout on the Luckenbach reported steamer abeam. The commander of the armed guard sighted her himself about one point forward of the port beam. Upon looking at the steamer, which appeared very suspicious through the glasses, a sail appeared on her. Both guns were trained on the steamer. The arm cd guard commander then went aloft to obtain q better view. When ne was halfway up the supposed st eamor turned out to be a submarine and open ed fire
 The Luckenbach immediately opened fire with both guns. The first two or three shots fired by the submarine fell about 2OOO yards short. She was firing at long range. The Luckenbach's shorts also fell short As the subma- rine appeared to be closing in, the captain was told to put the stern of tho Luckenbach to her, which he did. Distress signals were sent out by wire less.
 The submarine closed in to about 1000 yards. Early in the battle one shot from the submarine landed on the deck forward on the port side and ex- ploded in the gun crews quarters, starting a fire which partially destroy ed the quarters and burned the effects of the gun crew. The same shot burst the fire main. The fire main was blocked off and water finally cot to the fire. Steam was also turned on the flames. Shortly after the first shot landed another shot struck the quar- termasters room without doing much damage.
 A shot landed near the stern and eX- ploded. putting the after gun out of commission.
 At least 225 rounds were fired by the submarine, out of which there were only nine clean hits" the commander reports. Pieces of shell were falling all around the deck. Two shots land ed on the port side forward, striking the oilers room and putting a large side at the water line. hitting the fresh water tank and destroying most of the fresh water supply. Another landed in the petty officers mess room and exploded, putting the ash hoist out of commission and bursting tho steam pipe, also wounding two men, one mess boy and one fireman. One shot passed through the water screen on the bridge and landed in the cargo, ex- ploding but not starting fire. Pieces of shell hit V. Louther, one of the armed guard, In three places. One of the ships crew, who was carrying ammunition forward, was hit. An other shell exploded in tho engine room, wounding the first and third engineers and putting the engine out of commis- sion Bell, one of tho guns crew, was going up the forward ladder carrying ammunition when the shell that land ed In the auartermasters room ex- pIoded, the fumes from the shell blind ing him for about two hours
 The distress calls sent out had been answered by q United States destroyer at S.10. which was asked how quickly it could arrive at the scene. Two hours" was the reply. The captain of the Luckenbach said: "Too late. Look for boats" Don't surrender" came back the message, and the Luckenbach replied: Never"
 At about II a. m. smoke was sighted on the horizon. The vessel was head ed toward tho smoke to lessen tho dis tance the destroyer would have to come. It was shortly after this that the engines were temporarily put out or commission by an explosive shell. At