U.S.S. Pelican
Orcadian - Thursday 17 July 1919
AMERICAN MINESWEEPER MINED AND BEACHED.
A Y..M..C.A. Officer’s Experience
On Wednesday morning last week, while clearing up a part of the mine-field in the North Sea, one of the American sweepers, the U.S.S, Pelican, was damaged. An account of the occurrence is given by Secretary J. E. Stinson of the American Y.M.C.A., Kirkwall, who had received special permission from the Admiral commanding the U.S, Fleet to visit the mine areas. Mr. Stinson left on Monday morning on board the Pelican, which was accompanied by two other mine-sweepers.
SEVEN EXPLOSIONS.
He states that about ten o'clock on Wednesday forenoon, after they had swept two areas in the mine-field, seven explosions occurred round about the ship. One explosion at the stern lifted the Pelican out of the water and shook her terribly. To use Mr. Stinson’s own words, ''The ship was shaken like a rat.” immediately afterwards another explosion took place on the port side, throwing up a great column of water which came down on the starboard beam, One after the other the mines exploded, shaking the Pelican severely. Loose articles on board were scattered in every direction, and fixtures torn from their places, Several men were injured by the falling material. Those whose injuries were severe, were conveyed to the U.S.S. Eider, one of the ships working with the Pelican, while the slightly injured received attention from the doctor on board. Vessels in the vicinity at once rushed to the assistance of their '' wounded ” sister-ship. Captain Bulmer, U.S.N. in | Auk, was the first on the scene, and it was undoubtedly due to the able manner in which the commander of the mine sweeping detachment directed operations, that the ship was ultimately saved. The Auk and Eider were lashed, one on either side of the Pelican, and though it was feared that the Pelican could not be kept afloat, the officers and crew heroically carried out the task of pumping out the water-flooded compartments, and after twenty-three hours continuous labour, the ship was successfully beached at Tresness Bay, Sanday. Coffee and sandwiches were made by the men on the Eider for their mates on the damaged ship. All sources of power on the Pelican were made useless by the concussion of the explosions, except two small storage batteries,
''HAIL, HAIL, THE GANG IS ALL HERE.''-
There was no sign of panic on the Pelican, where the orders of the officers were promptly obeyed. It is stated by Secretary Stinson that the men faced their strenuous task cheerfully, and at two o’clock on Thursday morning they were heard to be singing an American ditty ''Hail, hail, the Gang is all here.”' Mr. Stinson, who returned from Sanday on board a sub-chaser last Thursday evening, says that the crew of the Pelican are still working away with the pumps doing their utmost to save the ship. He gives the sailors high praise for the manner in which they are carrying out their risky job in clearing the mine-fields. He is of opinion that some special reward should be given to the men in recognition of their gallantry. The damage done to the Pelican is not known, but the men say that there is a hole at the bow and another at the stern.
The Pelican was taken round to Scapa for temporary repairs on Saturday. Even on this passage the troubles were not over. The towline parted, and at one stage, the safety of the ship, in her badly damaged condition, was almost despaired of,
Inverness Courier - Friday 31 October 1919
SWEEPIXG UP THE MINES STORIES OF THE AMERICANS IN THE NORTH SEA.
The smaller craft of the United States Navy, which remained in British waters to help to sweep up the minefield's, have left our ports for Brest, where they are preparing for the Atlantic crossing. By the completion of their task these month they claim to have accomplished in one seasons work which was expected to occupy two years, The Americans made their base at Kirkwall, and employed over 80 vessels, including 36 swecpers, 24 submarine chasers, 20 trawlers, 2 repair ships, 2 oil fuel ships, gasoline fuel ship, and water tanks, and their crews numbered in all over 4000 men. They swept up something like 21,000 mines. Out of the thirty odd sweepers, only four vessels escaped damage which necessitated repair. During one operation a mine became fouled by the bobolink. Lieutenant Bruce went aft and attempted to secure the kite. He ordered all the crew forward to a place of safety. No sooner had they got there, when the mine, which was only a few yards astern, exploded. Lieut. Bruce was killed, and two assistants were blown 100 ft. from the ship into the water. They were rescued. A similar accident befell the Patuxent, Lieutenant Horner being injured. Then there was the case of the Richard Bulkeley, which sighted a fouled mine when the steel hawser was being hauled in. Before the wire could be paid out again the mine exploded. The ship at once began to sink by the stern, and although sister ships steamed hard to her assistance she sank before she could be reached. Commander King, who was in command of all the trawlers, was lost together with six men. At the time of the accident he was on the bridge, and although he could not swim he threw his lifebelt to someone else, and went down with the ship. One of the new destroyers was named after the gallant commander. Soon after this the Pelican had a mine explode directly beneath her. Listing sharply she began to go down. Fortunately some of her watertight bulkheads held, and five other sweepers got to her. Captain Bulmer, detachment commander, was in the Auk at the time, and he ordered that vessel and the Ida alongside the Pelcan, The Pelican was swung on wires and made fast between them, and a towing rope attached from the Test. A volunteer crew was asked for, and scores wanted the job of remaining on board the Pelican, which might sink at any moment. Yet in the most anxious moments this crew were gaily singing, “Hail, hail, the gangs all here.” But she did not sink and was safely towed first to Scapa and subsequently to the Tyne for repair.
AMERICAN MINESWEEPER MINED AND BEACHED.
A Y..M..C.A. Officer’s Experience
On Wednesday morning last week, while clearing up a part of the mine-field in the North Sea, one of the American sweepers, the U.S.S, Pelican, was damaged. An account of the occurrence is given by Secretary J. E. Stinson of the American Y.M.C.A., Kirkwall, who had received special permission from the Admiral commanding the U.S, Fleet to visit the mine areas. Mr. Stinson left on Monday morning on board the Pelican, which was accompanied by two other mine-sweepers.
SEVEN EXPLOSIONS.
He states that about ten o'clock on Wednesday forenoon, after they had swept two areas in the mine-field, seven explosions occurred round about the ship. One explosion at the stern lifted the Pelican out of the water and shook her terribly. To use Mr. Stinson’s own words, ''The ship was shaken like a rat.” immediately afterwards another explosion took place on the port side, throwing up a great column of water which came down on the starboard beam, One after the other the mines exploded, shaking the Pelican severely. Loose articles on board were scattered in every direction, and fixtures torn from their places, Several men were injured by the falling material. Those whose injuries were severe, were conveyed to the U.S.S. Eider, one of the ships working with the Pelican, while the slightly injured received attention from the doctor on board. Vessels in the vicinity at once rushed to the assistance of their '' wounded ” sister-ship. Captain Bulmer, U.S.N. in | Auk, was the first on the scene, and it was undoubtedly due to the able manner in which the commander of the mine sweeping detachment directed operations, that the ship was ultimately saved. The Auk and Eider were lashed, one on either side of the Pelican, and though it was feared that the Pelican could not be kept afloat, the officers and crew heroically carried out the task of pumping out the water-flooded compartments, and after twenty-three hours continuous labour, the ship was successfully beached at Tresness Bay, Sanday. Coffee and sandwiches were made by the men on the Eider for their mates on the damaged ship. All sources of power on the Pelican were made useless by the concussion of the explosions, except two small storage batteries,
''HAIL, HAIL, THE GANG IS ALL HERE.''-
There was no sign of panic on the Pelican, where the orders of the officers were promptly obeyed. It is stated by Secretary Stinson that the men faced their strenuous task cheerfully, and at two o’clock on Thursday morning they were heard to be singing an American ditty ''Hail, hail, the Gang is all here.”' Mr. Stinson, who returned from Sanday on board a sub-chaser last Thursday evening, says that the crew of the Pelican are still working away with the pumps doing their utmost to save the ship. He gives the sailors high praise for the manner in which they are carrying out their risky job in clearing the mine-fields. He is of opinion that some special reward should be given to the men in recognition of their gallantry. The damage done to the Pelican is not known, but the men say that there is a hole at the bow and another at the stern.
The Pelican was taken round to Scapa for temporary repairs on Saturday. Even on this passage the troubles were not over. The towline parted, and at one stage, the safety of the ship, in her badly damaged condition, was almost despaired of,
Inverness Courier - Friday 31 October 1919
SWEEPIXG UP THE MINES STORIES OF THE AMERICANS IN THE NORTH SEA.
The smaller craft of the United States Navy, which remained in British waters to help to sweep up the minefield's, have left our ports for Brest, where they are preparing for the Atlantic crossing. By the completion of their task these month they claim to have accomplished in one seasons work which was expected to occupy two years, The Americans made their base at Kirkwall, and employed over 80 vessels, including 36 swecpers, 24 submarine chasers, 20 trawlers, 2 repair ships, 2 oil fuel ships, gasoline fuel ship, and water tanks, and their crews numbered in all over 4000 men. They swept up something like 21,000 mines. Out of the thirty odd sweepers, only four vessels escaped damage which necessitated repair. During one operation a mine became fouled by the bobolink. Lieutenant Bruce went aft and attempted to secure the kite. He ordered all the crew forward to a place of safety. No sooner had they got there, when the mine, which was only a few yards astern, exploded. Lieut. Bruce was killed, and two assistants were blown 100 ft. from the ship into the water. They were rescued. A similar accident befell the Patuxent, Lieutenant Horner being injured. Then there was the case of the Richard Bulkeley, which sighted a fouled mine when the steel hawser was being hauled in. Before the wire could be paid out again the mine exploded. The ship at once began to sink by the stern, and although sister ships steamed hard to her assistance she sank before she could be reached. Commander King, who was in command of all the trawlers, was lost together with six men. At the time of the accident he was on the bridge, and although he could not swim he threw his lifebelt to someone else, and went down with the ship. One of the new destroyers was named after the gallant commander. Soon after this the Pelican had a mine explode directly beneath her. Listing sharply she began to go down. Fortunately some of her watertight bulkheads held, and five other sweepers got to her. Captain Bulmer, detachment commander, was in the Auk at the time, and he ordered that vessel and the Ida alongside the Pelcan, The Pelican was swung on wires and made fast between them, and a towing rope attached from the Test. A volunteer crew was asked for, and scores wanted the job of remaining on board the Pelican, which might sink at any moment. Yet in the most anxious moments this crew were gaily singing, “Hail, hail, the gangs all here.” But she did not sink and was safely towed first to Scapa and subsequently to the Tyne for repair.
