M/T Lincoln Ellsworth

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Appeared the master, who stated that all the ship's papers and logbooks had been lost in consquence of the war loss of the vessel, and therefore produced a report, prepared according to memory ...

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The master referred to the report and further stated that no warning shot was fired by the submarine, which came to the surface when the crew had got safely into the boats. The master saw the submarine clearly, she was a large one and grey in colour, but could not ascertain her nationality. The boats were not fired at.

On being questioned in connection therewith the master stated that of the two lifeboats, which brought the crew to Iceland, one is lying at Reykjavik whilst the other - as far as the master knows - had been brought in to Sandar.

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Appeared as 1st witness, Jon Jonasson ... A.B. Seaman on board the m.t. "Lincoln Ellsworth." ...

The witness, who was at the wheel on Palm Sunday, the 6th April, at about 12 o'clock, stated that at that time there were on the bridge: the captain, the 3rd officer, who was on watch, and the look-out man. The witness steered according to the 3rd officer's directions. The witness noticed that, at about the time mentioned, there was something wrong with the rudder, when an explosion suddenly occurred. The captain came into the wheel-house instructing him to go to the boats. The witness acted in accordance with these instructions and later arrived in Iceland together with the rest of the crew.

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As 2nd witness appeared Albert Tørrisen ... ordinary seaman on board the vessel. The witness ... stated that on the 6th April this year, at about noon, he was standing as look-out man on the bridge. It was clear weather and the witness kept a good look-out. In consequence of the explosion, the witness fell down on the deck, and was then going into the wheel-house, but there he met the helmsman who told him to go into the boats.

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As 3rd witness appeared Knut Aagestad ... 3rd motor engineer on board the vessel. ...

The witness stated that it was chief motor egnineer Olav Olsen who was on watch in the engine room until 12 o'clock on Sunday the 6th April this year when the witness was to have relieved him. Just before the changing of the watch the witness had a look round the machinery and at the moment the witness heard the explosion he ran to the manoeuvring platform and at that time the chief engineer and his assistant were there, each at his motor. They all kept an eye on the engine telegraph in the expectation of orders from the bridge, but none came. The witness thereupon heard the chief engieer say:- We will stop the motors. And this was done. The witness was thereupon requested by the Chief Engineer to go up on the deck in order to see what was the matter. It was at once clear to the witness that the vessel had been struck by a torpedo and he then ran down into the engine room and reported this to those who were there. The chief engineer waved his hand to the effect that he had understood and the men came up on deck and were saved with the rest of the crew.

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Appeared the master again and, on being questioned, stated that the reason why the 3rd officer and the chief motor engineer had not been able to give evidence was that both had left Reykjavik before the fixing of the Maritime Inquiry.

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