Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-02

Boston. Oct. 1.-(AP)-At least
four men, including Lieutenant Rod
ney II. Dobson, commander of the
Sol, were swept to death from the
bridge of the submarine when 1t was
sunk in a collision with the steamer
City of Rome off Block Island last
Friday night. This was brought out
in testimony today by two of the
three survivors, Alfred Geier of New
Bedford and Michael S. Lira of St.
Louis, who were summoned before
the local board of inspectors of the
U. S. Steamboat Inspection Service
determine responsibility for the dis
aster.
Neither man noticed or saw the
submarines running lights in that
brief minute they remained on the
bridge before she sank. They testi-
fed that SO far as they knew. both
the steering gear and the lights of
the submarine were in good order
on the night of the collision. Lira
criticized the failure of the City of
Rome to throw a line to the submar-
inc in answer to the plea of the
commander. Other than this, both
declared they had no criticism to
make of unseamanlike conduct on
the part of the officers and crew of
the other craft.
That the submarine was probably
running on the surface prior to the
collision was brought out in the ex-
animation. Neither man was able,
however, to give any information
concerning the events Immediately
preceding the disaster, since both
were asleep in the battery room be-
low when awakened by the crash.
A graphic picture of the disaster
was given in the testimony of the
two survivors. Geier was awakened
by q crash" Lira thought that
tere had been a battery explosion
as he awakened and leaped from
his bunk, located in the same COM
partment as those of some IL other
sleeping men and officers.
Geier saw the chief Signalman
aiding another man up the stairs to
the coming tower hatch, the only
one believed open. Lira saw Lieu
tenant Dobson pause in the central
operating room, call the men to
quarters and then climb to the deck.
Both men climbed through the con-
ming tower hatch to the bridge. Geier
thought the deck to be level, and
apparently the ship riding normally.
but Lira said that the bow was down
10 degrees.
Both said that the port side of
the submarine was very close" to
II. Ctnn or
and Geier thought they were rub
bling.
Lieutenant Dobson pleaded for a
line from the City of Rome, Lira
said. declaring that the command
er's last words before the submarine
slipped beneath the water were:
please give me a line"
IT got to the surface and looked
around" Geier said. II counted six
heads. The stern of the City of
Rome was going away. After few
minutes l looked for the other boys
and l only saw four of them"
His testimony was taken to fndf-
cate that of the seven in the water.
including himself, only three were
saved by the boat lowered by the
City of Rome.
Lira was the first picked up. Geier
said that a lighted ring buoy was
thrown him and he was picked up,
and that at that time the steamer
had headed about and was approach
ing him.
Testifying as to the trip of the
submarine. they said that the vessel
was supposed to be on an engine
test from 6 o'clock in the evening
until the following morning and
therefore would have run on the
surface all night. Neither looked
for. or noticed, the running light be-
fore the boat sank. Geier testified
that one white light would be visible
to other vessels at all times but that
the side lights would be seen from
certain angles. He believed the bat
teries to be in good condition and