sunk, no other vessel in sight. Crew forty-one, thirteen Americans, rest various nationalities, twenty-one lives lost, seven Americans: Third Assistant engineer Johnson of Hoboken; second mate Chandler, New York; third mate Hudgins, Norfolk; oiler Levereaux, Michigan; cabin-boy Healy, San Francisco; sailors Smith, Chicago; Steiner, Pittsburg. Ship's papers and personal effects lost. Affidavits by mail. MAHIN. Vice Consul Krogh to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Captain Charles Christopher, tank steamship Healdton arrived Rotterdam and supplies following details required by Department's instructions: Healdton left Philadelphia January twenty-sixth last, called to Halifax by wireless February ninth, left Halifax March second, arrived Bergen March seventeenth, departed Bergen March twentieth, bound for Rotterdam, cargo six thousand two hundred tons petroleum. Voyage uneventful until eight fifteen evening March twenty-first, when ship lay twenty-five miles north by east of Terschelling Lightship; torpedoed twice without warning. First torpedo hit amidships, all lights went out. Second torpedo hit further aft under flag painted on side, port bunkers were ablaze, and ship began to settle. After first torpedo shock Captain ordered engine stopped and crew took boats. Vessel began list aport. Captain made farewell search for missing members crew. One boat tried pull away sinking vessel and capsized. Captain saw submarine approaching when he was laying off Healdton watching vessel sink. Nationality submarine impossible to determine because it possessed no distinguishing marks and was seen. from distance one hundred feet towards, (?) no words were exchanged with submarine. From actions Captain and crew believe submarine undoubtedly German. No other vessels were present or within sight when Healdton torpedoed. Submarine made no effort to assist crew or officers to save their lives but disappeared immediately after Healdton sank. Ship's papers were not demanded. Captain with twelve men rowed and sailed in open boat for Terschelling Lightship. At eight o'clock morning March twenty-second boat was picked up by Dutch Trawler Java 164 about ten miles from Dutch coast. Another boat containing first mate and seven men picked up by Dutch torpedo boat G-13 near Terschelling after seventeen hours' exposure, rescued at two o'clock afternoon March twenty-second. No details at hand concerning those drowned in capsized boat or on ship except one Norwegian with arms and legs frozen brought Ymuiden by steamer trawler Ocean 4. Perils and hardships suffered by all survivors extraordinary, some possess 54 (?) no clothes; others had no shoes; two naked stokers, Jose Jacinto and Jose Gonzales, died from exposure, the former in mate's boat, latter in hospital to-day. Stokers had clothes burnt off by fire in boiler rooms. All members crew partially clothed; one man in captain's boat, G. W. Embry, home New Orleans, first assistant engineer, would have died exposure and fatigue without clothes if trawler had picked up small boat one hour later. All suffered from fatigue. Second assistant engineer only wore underclothes and barefooted. Every member crew states decisively that Healdton torpedoed without warning. Ship made no effort escape or resist. Captain ordered engine stopped after first torpedo. No flight was attempted because ship crippled. Vessel going ordinary speed on peaceful voyage, unarmed, when torpedoed. Healdton was torpedoed when all members crew, forty-one men in all were on vessel, both torpedoes struck before anyone could leave ship. Casualties were as follows: Nineteen men either died in capsized boat by ship or from suffocation in bunkers. Captain believes two members crew were never able reach lifeboat because on watch below or in engine room. Two other men as previously mentioned died from exposure and burns; engineer Embry badly frozen; other survivors with minor afflictions as bruised and frozen ears and fingers. When vessel torpedoed there was moderate northwest breeze on choppy sea. Heavy snow squalls were encountered by survivors in open boats and weather during whole night was below freezing. All survivors have now reached Rotterdam. Of crew numbered forty-one, thirteen were American and twenty-eight other nationalities. Thirteen members of crew who were Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Norwegian were drowned. Fate of Americans on board follows: Captain Charles Christopher, home Brooklyn, saved; first mate Otto Willrup, home New York, saved; second mate W. Chandler, home Brooklyn, drowned or suffocated; third mate Sludgins, home Norfolk, Virginia, drowned; third assistant engineer W. C. Johnson, home Hoboken, New Jersey, drowned or suffocated; oiler Emery Lee Veaux, home Michigan, drowned or suffocated; able seaman S. W. Smith, home Chicago, drowned; sailor John Steiner, Pittsburg, Penn., drowned; second steward George Healy, San Francisco, California, drowned; chief engineer John Caldwell, New York, saved; first assistant engineer, G. W. Embry, New Orleans, saved; second assistant engineer G. Swanson, Brooklyn, saved; wireless operator H. Parker, Philadelphia, saved; complete affidavits following. KROGH. CASE OF THE "AZTEC." Consular Agent Pitel to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN CONSULAR AGENCY, Brest, (Received) April 3, 1917. Aztec sunk April first, nine p. m. Official report following through Foreign Office has just informed me that the American steamer Aztec was torpedoed at 9 p. m. last night far out at sea off Island of Ushant. That one boat from the steamer has been found with 19 survivors, who were landed this afternoon at Brest. Twenty-eight persons are still missing and although two patrol vessels are searching for them, the stormy condition of sea and weather renders their rescue doubtful. Foreign Office not informed of names of survivors. Will cable further details as soon as obtainable. SHARP. Following taken from deposition of Captain O'Brien, steamer Aztec, nine thirty p. m., April first. Nine miles WSW. Ushant Light when on the bridge Captain saw a large flash on the port side forward of the bridge and simultaneously heard an explosion. The explosion was not very loud but appeared to have great force as the boat seemed to be lifted to one side. No submarine nor torpedo was seen. Ship settled back, began to sink forward, listing to starboard and continued to sink very rapidly. The explosion had disarranged the lighting system and wireless outfit. Ship was in complete darkness. All efforts were made to discover any presence of a submarine, nothing was seen. After ten minutes the ship was completely under forward so the Captain gave orders to stand by the boats to abandon the ship. The moon was shining, but the sky was overcast with frequent hail and rain, squalls. A light westerly gale was blowing and sea was very rough. About nine forty the Captain gave the order to abandon the ship. Three boats were launched; boats one and three were on the starboard side, two on the port side. Captain tried to get ship's papers, but when he returned on deck boat number two was gone according to the mate. She had been broken up in getting away from the ship, being on the weather side. Boats one and three were successfully launched, containing all the remaining members of the crew. Owing to darkness and rain it was impossible to tell who was in number three boat. Number one boat contained nineteen men, Lieutenant Gresham, eleven of the armed guard, the first mate, the third mate, the third engineer, the boatswain, the wireless operator, the messman, and the Captain. He saw no trace of number two boat; number three boat was lost sight of after fifteen minutes. The Aztec was visible for about twenty minutes and then disappeared in a rain squall. The Aztec had her colors flying over the stern, but carried no lights at time of sinking. After three hours number one boat was picked up by a French patrol boat, which, after unsuccessfully searching until after daylight for the other two boats, proceeded to Brest, where the survivors landed on the second instant. SHARP. Unarmed American steamer Missourian, 4,981 net tonnage, Master William Lyons, built Sparrow Point, owners American Hawaiian Steamship Company, fifty-three crew all told, including master and officers, thirty-two American citizens, balance various nationalities, according records this office sailing from Genoa April fourth, in water ballast, bound for United States, sunk without warning according to telegram just received from Master as follows: "Dated Porto Maurizio, fifth. American Consul, Genoa. Sunk without,warning, crew saved, leave for Genoa seven o'clock p. m. April fifth. Lyons." As soon as Master and crew arrive will prepare and transmit full report as required. WILBER. Consul General Wilber to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Extract.] AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Genoa, April 5, 1917. Later information regarding sinking steamer Missourian by submarine same. Occurred four-thirty afternoon fourth, vicinity Porto Maurizio, Italy. |