SIX DAYS IN SUBMARINE BLACK HOLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 7 February 1917, Page 4

SIX DAYS IN SUBMARINE BLACK HOLE.

OUTRAGE ON AMERICAN,

Captain Frederick Curtis, of the Am. erican steamer Columbian, who has arrived at Corunna with the rescued crew, all of whom are in a deplorable condition, states that he was a prisoner on board the German submarine U 49 for six days after the destruction of his .vessel.

Captain Arthur Patterson, of the British steamer Setonia, also says that he was a prisoner on board the same submarine for eight days, during which he heard the guns of the submarine in action, and also heard distinctly the explosion of a torpedo, which, he learned later, blew up the Norwegian ship Qalto. Soon afterwards Captain Yellugsen, of the Norwegian ship, joined him in his narrow prison on board the submarine. The following day Captain Curtis became their fellow-prisoner.

Captain Curtis says; “My ship carilea a cargo of about 9,000 tons and a crew oi iu9. We were ail saved. 1 stepped on the demand oi tlic submarmu, WifOiaC Co 1111 nanacr ordered me to o*.ij With ms ere., im.i.cdJatoiy, vujtu v/c aid without other caggaga ciian two saicueis v.'iui documents and money. Submarine U 43 at once fired two torpedoes at the Columbian, which immediately sank j The crew were left in the lifeboats, while i was taken on board the submarine, which plunged immeduvtely afterwards, i was taken into the quarter-master's small cabin, where i. found the captains of the Semina and italic. After me came the capiain of me Norwegian snip ForVh. ulO* ‘‘The cabin was very small. It Contained a little folding table, a folding chair, and three nail bunks. All were permeated with the odour of benzine. There was no communication with the exterior cabin. It was absolutely dark both by night and day. “We were given each morning a few morsels of black bread, a cup of coffee, and a small portion of bad butter. At noon eve had stew made .of canned meat and soup. Supper was at ten, consisting of coffee or tea, with butter or marmalade. Hours passed in this narrow prison, very long and disagreeable. The captain of the submarine was a man about thirty-six,

while the crew of forty sailors- were all very young and were dressed in shiny leather clothing.” They were allowed at intervals between the operations of the submarine to go on deck and smoke a cigarette. They were watched by members of the crew armed with revolvers, but when they went below the crew put aside thier weapons. There was only one chair in the cabin, which the captains used in turn; otherwise they lay down in their bunks. The submarine signalled to the Swedish steamer Varing, when thirteen miles off the Spanish port of Camarina, towards noon on the 9th. dhe steamer stopped, and was ordered to take on board the captains, and land them. She was also ordered to take on board the crews of the Columbian and of the Norwegian steamers at the same time. All were welcomed on board the Varing. The submarine watched the operation, and then ordered the Varing to make direct for the coast, six miles from Camarina. The British Consul at Corunna visited the survivors, and gave all possible assistance.