The Washington herald., 1918-07-21
SUNK WARSHIP
NOW MISSES 4S
OF CREW OF 1,125
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

beard engine room, closed the water
gave the necessary instructions TO
the fire room to protect the boilers.
Listed to Port.
The ship listed to port heavily, SO
that water entered the gunports on
the gun-deck. The vessel listed s
degrees quickly, then hung for 7
minutes; then gradually listed, the
speed increasing until 35 degrees was
reached. At this time the port quar-
ter-deCk was three feet under water.
The ship then rapidly turned turtle
and sank.
Capt. Christy went from the bridge
down two ladders to the boat deck,
slid down a line to the armor belt,
then dropped down four feet to- bilge-
keel, and thence to the docking-keel,
which at that time was eight feer
above water. From there he jumped
into the water The ship was about
minutes in turning over after she
reached s. degrees heel.
No wake of a torpedo was seen.
The first thing Capt. Christy noticed
was, while standing on the wheel
house, eight feet above the forward
bridge. he felt and heard a dull ex-
plosion. He Immediately sounded sub
marine defense quarters and the gen.
eral alarm.
Everything went quietly and ac-
cording to drill schedule. The cap
tain rang full speed ahead. and sent
an officer to Investigate the damage
At the time he thought the ship would
not sink. Two motor sailers were
ordered rigged out. but not to be
lowered until further orders.
Manned the Guns.
AT the submarine defense call the
men went quietly to their stations and
manned the guns. They stood by the
port guns until they were awash, and
by the starboard guns until the list OF
the ship pointed them up into the air.
when it seemed obvious that the
vessel would capsize, the order was
given to abandon ship, except the port
side gun crew, which we're to remain
at their stations as long as the guns
would bear. Boats were ordered low
cred. and two sailboats, one dinghy,
one wherry and TWO punts were
launched. The life rats were launched
and the lumber pile on deck was
loosed and set. adrift Fifty mess
tables and 100 kapok mattresses we're
thrown overheard. Abandon ship was
complete before the vessel began to
capsize.
Perfect order was preserved, the
men cheering. When on the RATS they
sang The Star 'SpangIed Banner and
My Country. 'Tis of Thee cheered
for the captain. the executive officer
and the ship. and chered when the
u. S. ensign was hoisted on the sail
boat.
Two dinghies with six officers
and twenty-one men pulled to shore,
and arrived safely at 1:2O p. m. The
steamer Maiden came into sight
and picked up $40 officers and men.
The steamer Bosom reached the
scene twenty minutes later and
picked up 7Os officers and men. The
steamship 5. T. Jones came up and
took seventy-eight men aboard
Searched for Survivors,. ct,
These three steamers searched
the entire vicinity for survivors un-
til p. m. A fourth steamer came
UP later, but, so far as known,
did not pick up any survivors. The
three steamers took the survivors to
-NC" lOihs lucy were taken
on board a United States ship. on
which every provision had been
made for their reception. They were
given food and clothing.
American Red Cross representa-
tives were on hand when the men
arrived and distributed 100 blan-
kets, comfort kits. sweaters, socks,
pajamas and watch caps. Army
embarkation officers assisted In
transferring the men from the
The Navy Department last niglff
was in. receipt of Information irldieat-
ing that the. cruiser San Diego sunk
of Fire Island Friday. was sent down
by one of the three following methods:
torpedo from a hostile submarine a
floating mine. or an anchored mine.
IL a mine did the work of destruc-
ton, it was sown by an enemy sub
marine. Every American mine in the
vicinity. was accounted for late yes
terday.
While inclined to doubt the sub
marine theory, navy officials are
taking no chances. All shipping, both
in transatlantic and coastwise serv-
ice, has been warned to be on the
lookout for enemy U-boats. And in
this connection 1t was recalled that
the captain of the German submarine
which operated off the Atlantic Coast
last month told one of his captives:
wen be back again in July"