New-York tribune., 1918-06-24

By anker; zig
Saved, Killed
Former German Gunboat
Geier Rarnmed by Steamer
OFF North Carolina

AN ATLANTIC PORT, June 23.--
Captain W. d. Wells and 215 members
of the crew of the U. S. S. Schurz
reached this port to-day, bringing word
that their ship, the former German
gunboat Geier, had been sunk in col
lision with the tank steamer Florida off
the coast of North Carolina early Fri
day morning One member of the
Schurz's crew was killed and six in
jured in the crash. The tanker was
practically undamaged.
The officers and men of the Schurz
were brought here on an American
steamer which answered the frantic
rs S" calls sent out The sailors
were all barefoot and were INSULT
GENTLY clad, many of them being taken
ashore in blankets procured on tho
rescuing liner.
The survivors were rushed ashore in
government tenders when the liner
reached here. the injured being taken
to naval hospital, suffering from
fractured arms and legs. The sailors
We're ordered not to discuss the COL
iislon, but passengers on the liner
which picked them up gave thrilling
story OF the before-dawn rescue.
Liner Hears "S O S"
1t was 4 O'clock last Friday morning
when the liner picked UP the first wire
less call for help from the Schurz, off
Cape Lookout, N. C. Sending encourag-
ing answers, the liner raced for the
scene OF the accident, reaching it in
half an hour.
The first the sleeping passengers on
the liner knew of what was taking place
was when their ship stopped suddenly
and they heard shouts and running on
deck. Their first thoughts were that a
o-boat was attacking, and they rushed
from their berths in semi-panic.
What they saw, in the dim light he.
fore daybreak. startled them as much
as II a German submersible had been
IN the offing. They saw two steam
ships close by, one with huge cash
in her side, and rapidly sinking. the
other standing by They saw men
. floating in the water, swimming about
while others clustered on life RATS
and filled life-boats which had been
launched in time.
Two Of the liners boats were lowered
AL JIG sAA"S, anu iOI CWu nOuTS. Cne WOrE
OF rescue went on, while the Schurz
kept dipping her nose deeper into the
water Just as all the survivors had
been taken on board, the Schurs
plunged suddenly and disappeared. Hel
men and officers, lining the steamers
rail, watched her go in silence.
Fireman Missing
Roll call revealed the fact that one
man, Manuel Gouveia, jr., Of Honolulu
fireman, was missing. 1t was re
ported that he had been killed at the
time Of the collision, when flying iror
pin was driven through his head, ane
his body lost when the Schurz sank
One of the officers, who had beer
picked up from the watsr, where he
had been found floating on a preserver
was discovered to have several rib:
broken, but the casualties were con
| s;dered miraculously light, this being
J due in large part to the speedy rescue
As it was, a number of the men saved
themselves by leaping from the i'll
! fated Schurz to the deck of the ram
raing tanker, while the two vessels were
locked. AS the Florida backed away
! following the crash, the hole in thu
| Schurz's side filled rapidly, and she
| began to sink, some Of her crew jump
| ing overheard before the lifeboat:
could be manned. =
Once Flew German Flag
The collision to the Schurz formed .
| dramatic tinis to the career of the yes
| sci which, while flying the German en-
| sign. dashed into Honolulu Harbor ir