South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-06
BY Associated Press


PHILADELPHIA. Pa, Sept. s.
Thirty-six men trooped down the
gang plank of the destroyer Biddle
tonight at the philadelphia navy
yard. The frst man of the group was
raising his voice in a nautical tenor
version of How Dry l Am" and
accompanying his song by broad
smile. Behind him trooped the rest.
some singing, some calling out
CHEEKY "Hellos," but all smiling.
This was the homecoming of the
survivors of the submarine SIS. Their
boat is at the bottom OF the sea, but
II is expected II will be salvaged.
A few hours before kindly fate
aiding the never failing luck OF
the navy" had snatched them from
the Jaws Of death and released them
from nearly two days entombment in
a submarine. one end of which rested
on the ocean floor and the other
stuck up in the water at an agile
Of 60 degrees. Penned up for hours
in two narrow compartments, they
had waited hour after hour for re-
lease.
Don Gas Masks.
Every minute of the time had
been accompanied by a joke or a
laugh or a smile from some one, even
during the most trying minutes
minutes which deadly chlorine gas
was creeping over them and they
were forced TO don gas masks to
keep alive.
Tonight when back on land. the
first answer 10 questioners curious 70
know how it felt 10 be face 10 face
with death for more than forty
hours. Joseph Sar Youker. an ap-
prentice seamen Of Camben, y. j.,
voiced the sentiment of his fellows
with the statement: Great ] was
wonderful. IL showed that we have
the best crew IN the navy. ! want
10 be in on the next dive and ! want
TO make IL with 'Savvy' Cooke"
All were willing TO dismiss their
own experiences but they had some
| thing TO say on another subject.
They wanted the world and especially
President Wilson and Sec'y Daniels
know that during their trying ex-
perience they had found out that
Liet Commander Charles NJ Cooke,
| jr.. is the greatest and bravest man
| in the entire navy. And for fear that
! there might be any mistake in the
matter, before they left the Biddle, a
| round robin had been signed and
| forwarded 10 Sec'y Daniels by wire
/ less setting forth their opinions and
ending with a request hat they be
sent back 10 the SIS as soon as IL
was salvaged and placed in commits
I sion, and hat they be nder the COM
mand OF Cooke and that If Cooke can
not command the S-5 again. tnat he
| be given another ship, a submarine.
and that they be allowed 10 follow
him.
Message Wilson.
/ Although the sailors did not know
/ II at about the same time a petition
was being sent 10 Pres't Wilson by
/ Cooke asking him 10 take steps suit
I ably 10 reward the brave men who
| had faced death with him so smiling
/ ly.
Every man was in high spirits.
/ Three were feeling the effects OF the
! gas. but they were able 10 walk down
/ the gang plank. They were taken
\ 10 the navy yard hospital for treat
/ ment. They were Joseph O. Savage,
| seaman. OF Eleco. Pa; Jacob Akerh,
/ W arne ClifIe, West Virginia,
] tAAAN ANoDNAN ~ Ah4AAAN0Nf VI AAAN
\ Philippine Islands. a mess attend
( ant They were not expected 10 eX-
/ perience any serious permanent re-
\ suits from their gaSsing but the
navy is taking no chances and they
/ will remain the hospital several days
\ at least. Every man was met at the
/ gang plank by Admiral Charles T.
l Hughes. AS the admiral who is
/ commandant at the navy yard,
reached out his hand with the ques-
4 ton. How are you?" each one. even
I the three sick men. Strengthened
up and with a brisk navy salute,
\ answered briskly: Fine, thank you
/ sir"
PiecinG together the brief inter
/ walls. the men would give. il was
\ easy 20 obtain a fairly accurate story
| OF their thrilling experience al the
/ bottom OF the sea. The cause OF
/ the accident the men declared. was a
( failure OF the main air induction q
work Who was 20 blame for this
/ they did not know. That Will be the
task OF the naval board Of inquiry