The _Cassin_ was on patrol duty and had sighted a submarine about
four miles away. The destroyer, in accordance with custom, headed for
the spot, and had about reached it when the skipper, Commander Walter H.
Vernon, sighted a torpedo running at high speed near the surface, and
about 400 yards away. The missile was headed straight for the midship
section of the war-ship. Realizing the situation, the commanding officer
rang for the emergency full speed ahead on both engines, put the rudder
hard over, and was just clear of the torpedo's course when it broached
on the water, turned sharply and headed for the stern of the vessel.
Here stood Osmond Kelly Ingram, gunner's mate, at his gun. He saw that
if the torpedo struck at the stern it would, aside from working initial
damage, cause the explosion of munitions stored on the after deck.
Thereupon, knowing that the torpedo was going to strike about where he
stood, he ran to the pile of munitions and tumbled them into the sea.
The explosion occurred as he was at work, and he was blown into the
ocean and lost. But he had not died in vain, for the secondary explosion
that he feared was averted by his act of supreme sacrifice.
Fortunately, only one engine was disabled by the explosion, and the
destroyer was thus permitted to remain under way. She zigzagged to and
fro, hoping to get a chance at her assailant, and in about an hour the
German submarine commander decided that it was a good time to come to
the surface for a better look at the destroyer.
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