Alexander diary, 1917-1918 / Roy Alexander - Page 28
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 28]
She is the "Winslow" 496 tons, owners Hall of San Francisco, and was 21 days out from Sydney to Apia (Samoa) with 250 tons of coal,1500 firebricks & 50 cases of benzine. A crew of 10 – mixed Scowegians. The Captain says that seeing the two columns of smoke from the steamers he took it for a distress signal from Sunday Island (charted as uninhabited) and was coming to render assistance.
Sun. 17th June.
This morning the boarding party stripped the copper pipes from the "Wairuna's" engine-room, brought same with them in the launch & left two bombs aboard the "Wairuna" timed for about 15 minutes. The only one I saw explode was in the port well.
The vessel failed to sink – merely listing to port.
The forward bulwarks were dropped and the guns came into action.