Sometimes a submarine was found on the bottom without any visible damage to the hull. An accident to her machinery had rendered her helpless. The Germans fought desperately to put things right. As they grappled with the damaged machinery, they saw death coming nearer and nearer. When it was obvious that they could do nothing, that there was no escape for them, many shot themselves to put an end to their sufferings. Entering these steel tombs, the divers of the Admiralty saw ghastly sights--shot Germans lying about all over the place. In some cases it was apparent that the trapped men had been driven mad by their terror and had run amuck and fought each other savagely before they died. They were pitiless to others, but in the end the fear of death had turned their brains and transformed them into madmen. Of all the submarine crimes which dishonoured the name of Germany, one of the worst was the atrocity of the _Belgian Prince_. It started with the sound of guns and the whine of shells from which it was impossible to flee, and as the wireless mast of the _Belgian Prince_ went overboard her captain rang down to the engine-room and the ship heaved to. The U.44 approached warily, waiting to strike again at the least sign of resistance, but seeing that the _Belgian Prince_ had frankly surrendered a collapsible boat put out from the submarine, which was now lying idly on the surface, and pulled off to the steamer. Captain and crew of the steamer were ordered to take to their boats and pull to the submarine, and, as they rowed to the U.44 under armed escort, the Germans went down below to open the sea-cocks of the vessel and place bombs to blow the bottom out of her. Their work completed, the boarding party of Germans rowed back to the U.44. Paul Wagenfuhr, the German captain, ordered the crew of the _Belgian Prince_ to line up on the deck of the submarine. They were searched for arms, ordered to take their outer clothes off, their lifebelts were taken from them, and their boats destroyed with axes. Leaving the seamen partially undressed still standing on the deck, the Germans entered the conning tower of their boat and shut it after them. The crew of the _Belgian Prince_ still stood as they were ordered, wondering what was going to happen to them, expecting that now their ship and boats had been destroyed the Germans would take them into the submarine. Gradually the U.44 began to move on the surface of the sea, and continued to forge ahead for about ten minutes. Then suddenly, without warning, just as darkness descended, the submarine dived, and the forty-three helpless and defenceless men were thrown into the water. For a time the air was rent with their cries as they fought the eternal sea for their lives. Then the darkness blotted out the sights and sounds, and one by one they sank.