The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1918-06-28
WESTON BOY MEETS up
WITH nun SUBMARINE

Lowell Hyatt, the Weston boy
who learned TO swim when the
transport President Lincoln was
,orpedoed 500 miles of the coast OF
France, the Slst Of May, arrived
"Wednesday for a visit with his pa
rents. MIR. and Mrs. J, o, Hyatt.
Iowell's furlough Is brief one,
ms he must report for duty again
July 10 at New York City. He has
been assigned to the U. 5, ). Sea
Arrow.
The Lincoln was struck with two
torpcioes and went down in "a
minutes. II was sailing between
two other transports returning
from France and was sought out by
the submarine captain in order that
the Huns might earn a reward OF
$50, 900 offered by their precious
kaiser for the I.incoln's destruction,
ms il had been one Of the interned
German ships taken over by Uncle
Sam.
The submarine fired when sub,
merged, and was never seen until
il had completed its work of dcs'
truction. 1t then came to the sur
face, and took photographs OF the
wrcckage in order to prove its
claim. The Lincoln survivors,
clinging to liferafts in the restless
sea, were jeered and taunted by the
Hun sailors from the deck of the
submarine, which cavorted in circles
about them and drenched them with
spray from its wake. Once the
Huns trained a gun upon them. but
for some reason did not fire.
Lowell had sweet revenge later.
After being picked up by one OF
Uncle Sans swift destroyers, the
Lincoln survivors witnessed the
bagging of u boat by this ocean
greyhound. A periscope was sight
ed and the destroyer made for It at
full speed, dropping depth bombs
at the proper spot. The subsequent
explosion lifted the destroyer itself
out Of the water as it sped away
Il returned subsequently to find
the ocean covered with oil. showing
that the German shark had met IL
death wound.
Lowell himself doesn't exactly
know how he learned to swim. but
swim he did. He is fireman. anc
was down in the coal bunkers wher
the torpedoes struck. Covered will
coal and water he managed to come
to the surface in the submerged
bunkers, after the explosion, bu'
was going down for the third tins
when a shipmate dragged him ou
by the hair. AS the Lincoln itsel
was about TO plunge he jumped cvel
the side and sank until he though
he would hit the oceans bottom
He was long, long time reaching
the surface, and much to his own
astonishmcnt was swimming wheI
he came up, although he had nevei
swan a stroke before. He managc'
to swim to a bit Of wrcckage SOM
!. 200 feet away, to which he cluni
until he could get aboard the lie
raft. In pursuance Of the order
which govern in such cases the Lin
coins sister ships speeded ava.
and left the survivors in the water
The S. 0. S. had been sent out
however, and brought the rescuini
destroyer after the wet, cold ant
hungry men had been in the waite
eighteen hours.
The only casualties on hoard tn
Lincoln were Of men killed by tn
explosion. All others were saved
even wounded soldiers coming bac
from France. Every man on boar
kept his head" with the single ses
. ception Of q young negro. Fright
| ened to desperation, he shot himself
Lowell himself looks none tn
worse for his experience, althoug
he lost ten pounds in weight fror
hardship and exposure. He wear
a natty new uniform, and typifie
, the gallant young fighters who ar
serving Uncle Sam on land and sea