SWEPT FROM THE CONNING TOWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14375, 21 May 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

SWEPT FROM THE CONNING TOWER.

SUBMARINE. COMMANDER LOST IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT. While submarine C 57 was battling against tempestuous seas off the Lizard, Lieutenant Alfred B. Prows©, her young commanding officer, was washed out of the conning tower and drowned, without an attempt at rescue being possible. The C 37 and CSB are two of England's latest submarines, excelled only by vessels' of the experimental D class) and were being convoyed from Barrow-in-Furness, where they were built, to Portsmouth, their first station, escorted by the gunboat Sharpshooter. The vessels made a very fair passage down the Irish Sea and St. George's Channel ; but when' they turned the Lizard and started to go up" the English Channel they mot the full force of a- bitingly cold northeasterly gale. It was decided to keep going ; but it was very uncomfortable aboard, and quantities of water continually reached the interiors of the little craft through the conning towers. The vessels were steaming on the stirface, and their petrol engines were giving them about 10 knots speed. Sleen was impossible in such a gale, though the vessels behaved well and kept steady. Lieutenant Prowse remained in" the conning tower for hours together, and it is believed the loss of his life was largely due to physical weakness caused by long hours of duty during a trying period, with only short snatches of sleep in the daytime. At two a.m. on the Saturday, with a strong gale still blowing and high seas running, he was in the conning tower with two bluejackets, one of whom was at the wheel. Suddenly a huge sea swept over the glistening side'of , the vessel, encountering no resistance until it reached the steering platform upon which the three men stood. The protecting canvas was torn clean away, and Lieutenant Prowse, who was badly situated, lost his hold and went overboard like a flash. The other men hung on to wheel and stanchions, and saved themselves. * Clad as he was in oilskins, and wearing, heavy boots, and weary with his Ion? vigil, Lieutenant Prowse'* doom was sealed from the time he lost his hold. He no doubt rank like a stone. Signal was made to C3B and to the attendant gunboat that there was a man. overboard, and for half an hour the spot was carefully searched, the Sharpshooter using her searchlights; but nothing was seen of the lieutenant. Portsmouth was reached at half-past one in the afternoon, the Commander-in-Chief being at once informed of the sad affair. The steering platform of submarines of the C class is only 4ft or sft above the waterline, and in a high sea existence there is always precarious. In rough weather those on the platform ar» constantly drenched. , .-..'■;'V^v