The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-17
BIG MORSE SHIP
sunk BY U-b0AT
OFF FIRE ISLAND
Steamer Sommerstad, Taken
Over by United States, Sent
to the Bottom.
OFFICERS AND Crew SAVED
Schooner Earl and Nettle Added to
to Fishing Vessels Destroyed Off
Massachusetts, Coast-Boat Pill
LACED and Crew Abused.


marines took toll of American ship
ping In waters adjacent to this port
for the second time when the Norwe-
gian steamship Sommerstad, taken
over by the United States government,
was sunk off Fire island. The 1915
ton freighter was sent to the bottom
not far from the locality where the
armored cr'siSer San Diego was blown
up on July 10. The Sommerstad,
whose crew of 81 was brought here was
under charter of the United States ship
ping board. The vessel was on the
way from Bergen, Norway, to New
York, in ballast.
Captain Hansen, master of the ship.
said 1t was sunk at eight o'clock In
the morning. The crew took to the
boats, and later were picked up by
passing vessel.
Schooner Looted and Sunk.
Nantucket, Mass. Aug. 14.-The aux
Iliary schooner Earl and Nettie was
added to the list of fishing vessels
sunk by German submarine OF
Georges bank Saturday. The six men,
bers Of the crew, picked up 100 miles
east of Nantucket end brought here
with four survivors Of the schooner
Anita May, reported that their vessel
had been sunk by guntire after having
been looted by raiding squad from
fha II.hnot
Efforts to ind other fishermen adrIft
In dories were held up by q fog so
dense that navigation in these waters
was attended by the utmost danger.
The boat bringing the survivors of the
Earl and Nettie and the Lena May
picked its way cautiously and made
port safely.
Number Lost Put at Ten.
With the arrival Of men from the
former, the number Of fishing vessels
known to have been sunk was In
creased to ten, besides the two steam
ers, the Penistone Of British registry,
and the Swedish freighter Sydland,
also sent to the bottom off the New
England coast by the submarine.
Capt. Frank Lynch and two mem
bers of the crew of the Lena May
had not been accounted for by ship
mates who reached here.
The Earl and Nettie's men reported
that they were subjected to many in
dignities by the U-boat crew. The
personal effects Of the fishermen, of
little intrinsic value, were taken, along
with provisions and clothing. When
they were ordered into the dory they
were told to be quick about 1t.
CEASED" by Submarine.
Washington, Aug. 14.-German sub
marines which since May at intervals
of several weeks have been attempt
ing to carry the campaign Of fright
fulness" to America through the sink
ing of vessels off the Atlantic coast,
have decided to carry the war to the
shores of America. This was the view
taken by many officials of the attempt
by a German submarine to gas the
members of the crew Of the coast
guard station at Smiths Island. N. c.,
by spreading oil from which mustard
gas was generated over the waters
near the island. Navy department dis
patches said that, although six men,
bers of the coast guard were overcome
by the fumes, no serious after effects
were noted.
At the navy department 1t was de-
clared that the new plan Of warfare
being waged by the German undersea
craft would be no more successful
than the attempts to destroy American
shipping.
Stamps on American Flag.
Nantucket, Mass, Aug. 14.--An
American flag torn form the mast
head Of the little schooner Lena May,
one of the fishing vessels sunk by a
German submarine off the New Eng
| land coast Saturday, was taken aboard
the enemy craft by German officer,
who wrapped 1t around his neck and
gave a grotesque exhibition Of dane
ing, while his men, each armed with a
revolver, looked on end cheered. This
was the story told here by survivors
of the vessel, who we're forced to wit
ness the performance and were knock
ed about when they failed to move as
rapidly as the commander ordered.
The flag was flung down and stamped