[The following takes place during a German U-Boat attack on several commercial shipping vessels off the coast of Massachusetts in 1918.]
With the tug Perth Amboy able and barge 703 heading for the ocean bottom, a hero emerged on the Lansford, the fourth and final barge. Frustrated by the lack of weapons with which to return fire, Jack Ainsleigh, the twelve-year-old son of the Lansford’s captain, knew he had to do something. Rushing below decks, he grabbed his American flag with every intention of sending the submarine crew a message.
As Captain Ainsleigh told the Boston Globe:
My little boy Jack appeared to enjoy the whole affair and his display of courage is truly remarkable. As soon as the shells began coming toward us he insisted that he get his American flag which was in the cabin. I told him he had better get his things together and get ready to get into the boat, but instead… [he] got his American flag, and standing there on the deck defiantly waved the flag in the face of the German commander.
Fortunately for Jack, the aim of the German crew did not improve, though they did manage to put five holes in the Lansford, which settled at the bow.
As a flotilla of small lifeboats from the tug and four barges slowly made its way toward shore, the submarine fired shells in their direction. Undaunted, young Jack continued to stand and wave his flag all the way in to shore. Crowds on the beach, photographers, and reporters all responded to the boy’s pluck with a rousing cheer and a huge reception. He was rewarded with pictures and front-page headlines in virtually all of the Boston papers.
Source:
Pletcher, Larry. “U-Boat Attack on Cape Cod.” Massachusetts Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Insiders Guide, 2006. 98-9. Print.
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