Deutschland (Submarine); König, Paul, 1867-1933; World War, 1914-1918 -- Blockades
We remained on the surface and raced on like the very devil. How much
we owed to our engines! On our arrival at Baltimore, after our long and
difficult journey they had been still in perfect condition; no repairs
were necessary, and we could have made the return journey immediately
without their being overhauled. And yet the engines had been obliged to
work under quite unknown conditions, under conditions which like that
of the terrible temperature in the Gulf Stream had made the very highest
and most unforeseen demands on every part of the machinery.
It can be easily understood that hitherto there had been no opportunity
of testing the working capabilities of oil motors in an outside
temperature of 127 degrees Fahrenheit. Such a contingency could never
have been foreseen in the construction of our type of boat, and the fact
that our motors never struck, that not the least hitch arose, proves
the excellence of the construction and the perfect workmanship of the
dockyard.
Thus we continued on our way, and only too soon found ourselves in the
damp heated atmosphere and heavy air of the Gulf Stream, with all its
beautiful phenomena and peculiarities, its electrically laden air and
stormy sea. With closed hatches and heat in the boat we faced it once
more. And the Stream would not even help to push us along on our course,
as we had hoped.
All hardships were, however, borne with light hearts this time. We had
left the danger zone behind us, and were homeward bound. Moreover, the
sea had become calmer the nearer we approached the area of the Gulf
Stream.
On the evening of the second day it had become possible to open all the
deck hatches again. Hardly had we begun to rejoice that the fresh air
would now make conditions below deck bearable once more, when suddenly
the order came, "Close hatches!" "Submerge!"
A steamer had appeared and was rapidly approaching so directly in our
course that we could not possibly have avoided her above water.
When we rose to the surface again an hour later night had set in,
and with it appeared a most marvellous natural phenomenon of sea
phosphorescence of unearthly splendour.
We had submerged in a calm dark sea; we now arose to an ocean of flame.
A sea phosphorescence had set in of an intensity and glow such as I had
never before experienced, and which is probably only to be found on the
borders of the Gulf Stream.
During our rise, and when we were at about 2 fathoms below the surface,
it seemed as if we were working upwards through a glowing realm of
sparkling transparency. Shortly before the conning-tower arose above
water I glanced round astern, and saw the entire hull of the boat, with
the stern like a dark mass pushing its way through the glowing element.
A fiery whirlpool radiated from the propeller, and every movement of the
boat aroused the wildest phosphorescence--intensive flames, sprays of
sparks, and fiery streaks in the surrounding waters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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