Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-06
Cooke Describes
Ordeal Upon S-5
Continued from PAGE One

Continued from PAGE One
forward ran into The central control
Compartment and reported that the tor =
pcdo compartment was flooding Water
had also been made IRON overhead aft.
and I realized that the forward induc =
ton vent had not been closed when we
submerged and that we were being
flooded through the ships ventilating
system. I gave orders to close the valve,
hut attempts to do this had already
failed. the volume of water entering
preventing the men from operating Il.
This all was a matter of very few
seconds.
THE vessel now inclined at a steep
anglo. despite the rudders being put Mt
hard rise and in another moment the
bow struck bottom with Snudder that
ran through the ship. The coming
tower derth gauge showed 40 feet.
"The men under Chief Gunner's Mate
Fox were ordered from the torpedo
compartment and the bulkhead door
between that and the battery compart-
ment next aft was secured. There was
already considerable water in this sec.
ond commandment The Forward and
tben tho after tanks were blown and.
tho forward compartment being full of
water. the vessel rose sharply BIZ the
stern and was now almost vertical.
Several tons of water rushed for
ward against the forward bulkhead. and
also what loose gear there was dropped
down about US in an indiscriminate
rpan. Tho door between the central
control compartment and the engine
room had been closed. separating the
engineering force under Lieutenant
Crsham.
The main pumps Of the vessel were
now put to work, but owing to the
angle of the vessel. the gear about the
suCtions and other causes they availcd
nothing. A small auxiliary pump was
the only one that took water, but be-
cause of its connections 1t was OF no
use.
The electric motors were reversed,
and air forced into the torpedo compart-
mrnt IN an attempt. partially success
full. to blow the water through the very
vent valve that was the cause of our
predicament. The vessel responded with
n lift of seven feet. according to the
dials.
Deadly Gas Formed
The inclination of the vessel caused
the electrolyte solution to pour from
the battery Jars and this. now minginG
with the salt water rolling about the
battery compartment, began to generate
strong chlorine gas fumes which rose
and began TO choke and gag the men
in that compartment and with me.
"AltOgCther there were two thirds OF
the crew. under Executive Officer Long
staff and myself in the forward part of
the ship. 1t was realized that the men
must 90 aft without further delay. The
water that had entered the after part of
the ship now lay on the engine room
bulkhead and hatch. which was above
our heads. to a depth on one side Of
three or four feet.
The battery compartment was aban-
doned. the watertight door closed and
efforts bent to open the engine room door
against this head of water. We were in
speaking communication with the after
part of the vessel and with the CO.
operation of the engine room force the
door was pushed open. several tons OF
water pouring down over the men in
the central control with me.
1t may be said here. aside from Cap
tain Cookies narrative, that he was the
man on the under side Of the door when
it was finally opened.
This was several hours after the
accident and through the good work of
electricians the lights, though dimming,
We're still in commission. The men were
all moved aft, which meant climbing
hand over hand through the ship. and
the engine room door was again secured.
shutting off the flow of gas and placing
the whole crew in the three after COM