The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-03-14
Asa Wiley and Fred Casperson Tell
of Experiences
We're on the American Transport TuS-
Cania When That Boat was
TorpedOed.
On Active Service
with
American Expeditionary Forces,
Feb. 11th, 1918.

A0GGlCdll
Feb. 11th. 1918.
Dear Mother and Father:-
This is the second letter | have
written since my safe arrival. In the
first letter couldn announce being
torpedoed but now everything has
been printed and | will try and tell
you something about my experience.
We had convoy of ships and had
an asoort of n for nro-
lection and naturally we felt quite
safe.
On Tuesday P. M. about 6 o'clock
we were i'm sight of the Irish coast
and the islands along the coast OF
Scotland and bang torpedo hit
us amidships. The big boat inn
mediately took list to starboard
and the second torpedo went behind
us.
Of course there was general con-
fusion for a short time, then every
thing went smoothly. We had a life
boat drill every day, and | had
charge of six of our men who were
supposed to lower the life boats at
No. 7 davits, there being four boats
in all, but these were smashed by
the shock and it was up,to II 20 ges
off the best way we could.
The rest of the company was in
charge of our Lieutenant and it was
up to him to get his men off safely
and he did so, but l must tell you
about myself.
| was watching some boys doing
tricks with cards when the torpedo
hit us and the lights went out. My
life preserver was only a few feet
away, but | couldn't find it and hav-
ing read about big ships sinking in a
few minutes, so said to myself A.
R" it's up to you to get up to your
station. | was down on the 4th
deck and when | reached my station
by No. 7 davits found the boats
smashed so | went over to the port
side which was high out of the water
on account of the list. helped
lower one life boat and helped to gel
the other one started and as | didn't
have life belt | concluded / had
better depart in that boat. 1t was
crowded full and men were in the
water around US.
The big ship was constantly shoot.
ing rockets which would illuminate
the sky and the destroyers were
afraid to come near for fear of the
submarine taking a shot at them
We rowed for about an hour and 9
destroyer gave us the word to pull
in to them. We pulled in alongside
aud they thew us line and the
seventy-two men who were in the
life boat were safely taken aboard
When | boarded the destroyer | was
as strong. as am now and although
/ had neither hat nor coat assisted
in helping others aboard and we
pulled many up over the side.
We picked up one man on an over.
turned boat, he being the only one
it, and when we pulled him uI
over the side he said "All saved"
We were taken to an English bar.
racks in Ireland and were treated
royalty there. We stayed there from
Wednesday A. M. until Monday an6
at present wont say where we are
but we are at big camp and wei
taken care of.
Nearly 100 lives were lost and tive
of them were from our company
There were only three WashburI
boys on the torpedoed boat and W,
are safe and anxious to get cracl
at the Kaiser. The other two arr
Fred Casperson and Charley Joanis.
The minute we were hit one fel
low said: Let us pray as God alon
can save us. Another answered
We'll pray on the run and don