Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-07-29

of Fire Island a week & Friday and
his many experiences were the theme
that kept his many friends interested
for 1uurs- He told many incidents
also that have become known for the
first time and showed that luck en-
tered into the landing of many of the
crew of the cruiser.
Witkowski is probably the youngest
member Of Uncle Sans large family
of sailors, being but fifteen years of
age but in size he is a man, weighing
100 pounds.
That a large number of lives were
not lost when the cruiser was struck
Is considered miraculous n 1t again
brings out the fact that negligence
also is one of the main assets of V
a fighting machine IN time of war due
to over-confidence. This condition
was due to the fact that The electric
crane used to man the life-boats went
out of condition as soon as the first
boat was launched and all went pell-
nell overheard after the few life-rafts
were thrown into the water rs the
sailors laundering for places of safety
on them.
Frank story as told In his simple
language is as follows:
I'VE were all busy about ship on
Friday morning at near IL o'clock
when without warning there was
heard a terrible explosion hat shook
the boat from bow to stern. At once
the bugle calls were sounded. first In
order and then In a disordered sort OF
manner that led to the greatest con-
fusion. Order was soon restored and
the crews assumed their places for
such an emergency and as the boat
listed at once. preparations were made
to abandon ship. The launching of
the fifty life-boats was commenced
but this was abandoned after about
two were put over the side of the
cruiser and the men given orders TO
don their life-belts and take refuge
on the few life RATS. With nearly
400 men and but a few RATS the
situation grew desperate and the men
Jumped headlong into h sea that
was running quite high at the time.
After the captain had jumped
overheard like the common jackie and
all were waiting the final plunge OF
the boat many OF the men OF the RATS
and floating about in their belts sang
and made merry with such popular
airs as Were On Our Way, But We
Don't Know Where" Where Do We
90 From Here" and others hat APP
pealed TO the fancy Of the individual.
'Soon we settled down to serious
business and commenced figuring on
the serious side of the situation. With
Elk other sailors l was hanging on q
heavy piece OF timber that came from
the cruiser M as II went under many
times and threatened to throw all off,
Several. with myself babe the boys
igood-bye" and left to swim for our
teives. This was the condition we
were In until picked up fiv hours
later by the fruit steamer Jones that
landed - safe in Hoboken.
whether the cruiser was struck
by a submarine or not was unknown
to members OF the watch on duty as
none can be found who ART able TO
give any clear version OF the affair. Ali
Are anxious to get on another ship and
we are trying 10 keep the crew to-
Kether as they are as a one-man crew
And love the captain. Every member
Of crew lost all personal effects and
have since been fitted up at the San
Diego barracks at Pelham Bay sta
Hon"
Witkowski shows a bad bruise on
the left side OF the chin where the
tife-belt chaffed the flesh but other
wise he is all right and ready for the
Kaiser.
witkowski enlisted at Trenton In
June last and had been In training
but a couple OF weeks when trans
ferred TO the San Diego.