File No. 841.857/443
The Consul at Cork (Frost) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.20 p.m.]
British Booth freight liner Crispin, 2,483 tons, Newport News bound Liverpool with 686 horses, torpedoed without warning 14 miles off Hook Head 7.15 p.m., 29th. Sixty-eight out of ship’s complement 112 were Americans; two boats missing, not improbably lost. Torpedo struck engine room starboard, explosion killing five men of whom two believed Americans. Submarine not seen but wake of torpedo seen by Americans. Vessel carried gun and wireless but latter was wrecked by explosion. Weather: moderate wind, overcast sky, very heavy swells sometimes breaking into boats. Vessel sank slowly but return on board not feasible owing to heavy sea. One boatload, 19 survivors, landed Queenstown including captain, chief steward, veterinary, and 10 Americans: R. H. Elser, Newport News; Carl Larkinson, 312 Pine Street, Augusta, Ga.; James Smith, 808 Rose Street, Baltimore; Bland Tinsley, 510 Juniper Street, Philadelphia; R. L. Hayes, 3313 Watson Ave., Covington; James Franklin, 612 West Forty-seventh Street, New York; Frank Kelly, 1703 North Castle Street, Baltimore; George St. Armand, 39 Wall Street, Worcester; Harry Davis, 714 Franklin Street, Baltimore; John Williams, 652 Twenty-fourth Street, Newport News. [Page 190] Other boats believed landing Milford Haven and elsewhere. Hate wired Consul, Cardiff. This to Ambassador, Consul General.