The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-17
Topeka Boy on San Diego
Writes Letter From N. 7.
'sIt Was a Fine Picnic and
Swimming Party" He Says.
MATTRESS WAS HIS LIFESAVER
But He Came Up Under Instead
of on Top of It..
Fired Shot at Submarine
Then Came the Oil Streak.

Don Sheldon, a Topekan. who was
! one of the survivors on the San Diego,
which was sunk by a German torpedo,
has written letter recounting his ex-
perience to Mrs. A. E. Ismand of 315
West Tenth avenue.
The letter, written August 1, is as
follows: 81 am thankful for another
opportunity to write letter, tho am
afraid don't appreciate it as should.
OF course we realize that we ware
pullod thru a tight place. but some
how 1t came about in such an alI-in-
the-life manner that we do not take
it seriously enough.
at was on the third deck at the
time of the explosion. and just little
forward and across the deck. I had
started my compartment cleaner,
cleaning up after having coaIed the
ship. My pointer turned and said I
hit her On the second shot I was
trained enough forward to be clear,
and we fired at what we took to be a
periscope about six inches above the
water. 1t was not around afterl our
second shot, and we saw nothing more,
altho we fired at swirls in the water
in hopes Of getting something. If
they ever find a sub around those
depths, we will always claim 1t was
ours.
About fifteen minutes after she
struck, we got an order Abandon
ship: gun crews stand by your guns
and all hands standing by lifeboats
and RATS went over. About three
minutes later we received an order
Gun crews abandon ship and as the
port guns were under water by that
time. there was nothing else to do.
I'VE had no life preservers in the
casemate. and our gunner mate went
after some, but did not get enough
The gun captain had none. I started
over without one. but happened to
a mattress
Shot at U-Boat.
"I did not feel much of a lar Int
happened to be looking at a door that
led below, and it quivered as does a
door at home when you shut another
one. The ship listed to port immedi-
ately. so 1 knew what had happened.
told the men to man their guns and
started for mine. At the ladder I had
to go up to get to the deck my gun
was on. There was quite a crowd, so
1 stood there a minute and helped one
of the midshipmen get them straight
ened out as best we could by talking
then went on ups.
When got to our battery my
sights were elevated so that 1 had to
stand on tiptoe to see. We got orders
to train aft, but so far as 1 could look
there was nothing to see. My pointer
told me to go still further aft, as he
.ould see about 10 degrees farther
than I could. Just as 1 was about as
far as could go, he sang out, There
she Is: then gave me the word stead
and fired. There was a great cheer
from the men on the quarter deck,
and some of them say there was an
awful streak of gas fumes.
Came Up Under Mattress.
Then I went back and got a ham
mock, took it to the top side, united
It, took off the mattress cover, and was
ready to go. I looked around a bit
Tor life preserver, but could not find
one. So I picked up an emergency
ration lying on deck and put to sea.
| When I went dowA I was standing
| about five feet from the bottom. The
next time I went all the way and
came up under my mattress instead
| of alongside. So 1 had to scratch
| bit to get out. 1t was about 11:30 a.
m. wht we vent in and about p. m.
when we were licked up. I sure had
good time. and if it had not been for
our losses, it would have been a fine
picnic or swimming party
I'VE had rather a hard time the
! first few days. We were on a trans
port in Hoboken, but were brought up
mere last Friday and are getting along
| fine.
Forty men have been picked out
Tor destroyer, so my division petty Of
flcer told me. and am glad I am one
OF them. l don't know when we will
! go, but hope it will be soon, as I am
| anxious to get moving again."