astern of the point struck, playing cards, when the 

 muffled thud startled us. There was no mistaking the 

 sound. The electric lights went out instantly and the 

 ship quivered from stem to stern. Everywhere was the 

 sound of breaking glass and falling objects. 



"We lost no time in groping our way to the halls 

 where lights were struck as we wended our way out 

 slowly toward the lifeboat which had been previously 

 assigned to us. Men were calling, ' Take your time ! 

 Don't crowd'! Steady, boys!' We all took up the cry 

 as we shuffled along the crowded passageway. All was 

 orderly. 



"Not a single one of our American boys was injured 

 by the exploding torpedo and I venture to say that not 

 one was injured in reaching the decks. We have all 

 marveled since at the coolness with which the men 

 viewed the situation. I saw one man jump overboard, 

 but very few of them lost their heads. Most of our 

 losses came later through the upsetting of lifeboats, and 

 men sliding down ropes to lifeboats only to find the 

 lifeboats gone. 



"Personally I can say that after the first shock of 

 the explosion I was not in the least excited. For some 

 days previous to the accident we had all been ordered 

 to wear our life preservers, or carry them with us, and 

 there were consequently very few men rushing about 

 for their lifebelts. 



."We had all been previously assigned to definite 

 stations. I was among the first to reach ours. We im- 

 mediately set to work to launch the lifeboat which cov- 

 ered the raft to which our squad of eight men had been 

 assigned. 



28 



