The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-06-07

were landed here and brought q
narrowing tale Of the sea, the news
OF the loss of sixteen of their num-
her and remarkable rescue of
girls while they drifted helpless on
the ocean during a severe thunder
storm Sunday night. Ten boats left
the Carolina before she was sunk by
the German submarine U-37, all
passed through the same storm and
the survivors here said they had felt
sure all were lost. They expressed
great joy when informed that most
of the Carolina's company had been
saved.
he 10 persons landed here were
brought in by British vessel that
picked them up more than % miles
off the Delaware capes. They were
taken in charge by the naval au-
thorities and cared for at the station
near Cape Henlopen. In the mean
time, no one was permitted to see
them, but they made full statements
to naval officers. None OF them had
any knowledge that the submarine
had shelled the lifeboats
The story of the survivors did not
become public until they were taken
to the railroad station and left for
New York One of their number.
however, was detained. He is
German member of the crew and
will be held pending an investiga-
tion.
Warned Sunday Afternoon.
According to the survivors. the
Carolina was warned late Sunday
afternoon by wireless to look for
submarines. The steamer was ad-
vised that a three-masted schooner
had just been sunk. At 6 O'Clock
Sunday evening, submarine ap-
peared above the surface close to the
Carolina. She was about $50 feet
long, survivors said, and later was
Identified as the U-37.
"The submarine signalled some
thing which our captain could not
make out" said one OF the surviv-
ors, "and then the U-boat raised the
German flag. We were ordered to
heave to and the captain, fearing
that the submarine would shell the
steamer if he did not obey the or
der. signalled the engineer to re-
verse the engines and stop.
"a German officer with an armed
guard came alongside and gave or
Gers to our captain to lower all boats
and leave the ship in 30 minutes. OF
course, il would be useless to say
that none of us was frightened. for
where there are more than 800 on
a ship about to he sunk there must
be some timid ones Good order was
maintained, however. The sea was
smooth and there appeared to be no
elements OF danger. Nobody thought
Of a storm and the German officers
appeared to show consideration to
the passengers as they hurried to
leave the steamer. In going
through the steamer, the Germans
found a fireman who had been left
behind and he ordered a lifeboat to
return for him.
The Carolina SheNcd.
when this last boat was clear the
Germans shelled the Carolina seven
times. Then she burst into flames.
sinking slowly.
after we had drifted for l don't
know how long there were faint
flashes of lightning on the horizon
and later when the puffy wind be-
gan to strengthen we instinctively
knew there was trouble ahead
"The storm came; quicker than
we expected II. The wind blew like
a gale and kicked up a nasty sea
The boats pitched and soon became
separated. We, who were in a mo-
tor launch, seemed to be alone in the
storm. Rougher and rougher be-
came the water and the boat rolled
and pitched. Finally she capsized
and all of the S5 in her were thyown
into the sea. She was righted and
capsized again while we clung to
her. This occurred several times.
The storm passed and the sea began
to calm. 1t was pitch dark.
~ Terrible Ordeal.
sFfnally, we kept the launch right
Cd, ht she was full of water. We
ely 70 her and bailed out the wa
5s{71ith Apr hands. Some could not
sSsa strain. became exhausted,