New-York tribune., 1919-10-07
u. S. S,lbmersible OF
Tears Hole in Bow of
Sound Steamer Lexing.
ton; No Serious Damage
ESQ Passengers
Aboard; No Panic
Half fDozen Sailors Thrown
Into Water by Impact,
but All Are Rescued

The steamer Lexington, Of the Colo
nial Line, steaming through He'll Gate
last night at dusk was rammed by the
United States submarine or The sub
marine, running awash, tore q 12-foot
hole in the port bow of the Sound
steamer, about six feet from the STEM
AS the two vessels fell apart it was
seen that neither was seriously dam
aged. Both made the Astoria shore and
tied up. There was no panic among the
passengers of the Lexington, who num-
bered about $50.
the rail as the Lexington entered the
passage between Mill Rock and Hal
let's Point to watch the sub
marine slipping southwark through
the shadows on the west shore of
the river. The Lexington was hug
ging the cast shore. Almost the entire
width OF the channel was between the
two boats.
No fear of collision troubled the
minds of the watching passengers. SO
remote WAS the possibility that not
even the single warning blast of the
whistle signifying that the boats would
pass one another on the port side was
sounded.
Something Wrong With Gear
Suddenly the OF swung sharply to
port. According to Robert Smith, Of
New Bedford. a second class ships
carpenter in the navy, and P. J. DON
ohue, Of Brookline, second class boat
swain, who were passengers on the
Lexington, the submarine acted as
though something had gone wrong with
Its steering gear.
One of those hauled aboard the sub
marine was Ensign James H. Joyce,
Of Dorchester, Mass. 1t was found
that his right shoulder was dislocated
and when the fireboat Cornelius W.
Lawrence, which had put out from its
pier at Ninetyninth Street at sound
Of the shreking whistles. got within
hail Of the OF, that crafts commander
asked If the fremen could get Ensign
Joyce to a hospital.
Lieutenant Arthur Rooney, who was
in command Of the freboat, yelled
back that if they couldn't nobody could.
The striving currents and fierce chop
made 1t impossible to lay the boats
alongside. An attempt to do so would
have crushed the sides Of both of them.
Lieutenant Rooney got his boat within
about ten feet of the wallowing sub
marine and held it there. Sailors on
plank, about twelve inches in width,
to span the gap.
Passed Frcm Man to Man
On one side sailors flung themselves
on the plank and wrestled with it to
hold it against the rise and fall of
sneir vessel On the other side fire
comparative calm two sailors who held
Ensign Joyce between them ventured
out on the plank. Firemen inched out
from their boat and met them.
The injured officer was passed from
man TO man until he had made the per-
llous passage Of the plank in safety.
inen, as a tug was standing by to help
the OF to shore, the Cornelius w. Law
renee footed farewell and started at top
speed for Reception Hospital at Seven
tieth Street and the East River From
there Ensign Joyce was transferred to
metropolitan Hospital on Blackwcll's g
Island.
:. An unwieldy car float Of the New
York, New Haven e. Hartford Railroad
was coming boiste-ously downstream
IN the turbulent waters and the Lex
ington shcered even further in toward
sne astoria shore TO avoid it. The bulk
Q. the car float cut off for a moment
tne view Of the submarine. 1t showed
up suddenly astcrn of the float and
noiding straight for the Lexington's g
bow
ne frst warning most of the pas
tehgers got Of the impending collision
ESs three sharp blasts Of tho Lexington's y
mhistle. commanding fun speed astcrn
'een o. them an reached the port side
o! Inc boat saw the submarine heading
Hfaight as an arrow for the Lexing-
"n's bow. Several Of the gubmarinc's =
grew we're on deck, and seemed aA
"anshzcd With amazemcnt as were the
passengerr on the Sound boat
There was "a jolt that made the 2s5-
1901 steamer shiyer when the subma-
me thrust itg snout through the port
ntw beneath the oycrhany Of the decks
ahe lexington rccled from the impact
"a several passengers staggered and
Iumbled hastily for the nearest gup.
port. '
Sailors Flung Into Water
mere war moment Of haif-dazcd
ss1xcitement on the Lexington. Women
s9nsked and all on deck began 10 run
s.tImiessly here and there AZ soon al
ttnsy recovered their balance. The
ss'srs officers could be heard shouting
- ths passengers TO put on life pre-.
sssryers, but not 70 be in To much Of a
'ssh about It.
Ihs shock wag mors seyere TO thoss
vnv wers stsaddjing on the orr
Continued ON pa0e nine