Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-30
SURVIVOR OF 2O9 WRITES
OF COMRADES HEROISM
George B. Weigand, of This City,
Tells of Periodicals Sinking.
Kalmey Saves Two

Heroism and self-sacritiCe marked the con-
duct of the crew of the submarine chaser
209, when she was mistaken for "A U-boat off
Fire Island early Tuesday morning and sunk
by the gunfre of the American steamship
Felix Taussig. Several of the crew were
killed outright, others were wounded and
still others have not been accounted for. \
In a letter to his parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
George T. Weigand. 1854 North Fifty-fourth
street, George B. Weigand, first-class quar-
termaster on board the chaser at the, time OF
the sea tragedy, tells a graphic story of
what took place following the first shot that
crashed into the little craft from out of the
darkness.
Definite word that Claude A. Kalmey, an
other member of the chaser 209's crew. had
been saved. was received today by his father,
Walter kalmey, corresponding secretary OF
the Brotherhood of st. Andrew and st. Philip
here. Young kalmey wrote that he was
asleep when the first shell crashed into the
chaser and was thrown into the water. He
swan about in the darkness for some time
before he was able to reach a life cushion,
which had been thrown over the side, With
the aid of another sailor he was able to
save two OF their comrades who were just
going down.
Leonard Haskell. sol South Allison street.
a chum Of Kalmey's on the chaser. is still
reported missing and probably was drowned.
weigand, in his letter. tried to pass lightly
over the fact that he gave up his place en- a
life cushion to a badly wounded man and
took his chances on a bit of wreckage. as fol-
lows:
II came off watch at . o'clock and went
below to sleep. 1t then was dark as pitch.
About 3 O'Clock | was awakened by "A terrific
crash forward and started for the deck. Two
more reports followed in quick succession. but
the shots evidently missed US. Then came
the fourth shot. which struck In the engine
room below the waterline.
When | got on deck l could see only fire
and wreckage. The mast and pilot-house had
been shot away, and here and there some of
our boys were lying wounded or dead, it was
hard to tell which.
Il started aft on the port side when |
heard Haron %tanother Philadelphian) calling
ME from beneath the wreckage Of the pilot
house. | ran TO him, but was unable to bulge
him alone. He was suffering terribly.
called Thomas, and between us we got him
free, but he couldn't stand up. His left leg
was bent almost double and his body was
badly cut. (Haron was at the wheel when
the first shot was fired.)
by this time | thought of life belts and
started to get them when l noticed the stern
! was settling fast. There wasn't much time
to lose. ] ran back to Haron and by. luck
found that Wilde had thrown two life
cushions on deck. These we tossed over and
then made Haron jump for them. We fol-
lowed and got him safely, on one of the
cushions. Three others of our fellows took
off all the rest on deck who seemed to have
any life left in them.
"Haron was suffering great agony. and
kept saying, I'm going, boys. I'm going"
We tried to cheer him up, and kept telling
him, No. you're not, Tom. Hang on"
In a little while we saw a chaser headed
for us. When she got close we yelled to
her. and told her which way to steer in the
early morning darkness.
Il was picked up next and was in fine con-
dition. l did not get into the boat, but hung
on to the stern and was towed in to the
chaser"