Sinking of the USS President Lincoln-- Part 5: One Final Act of Defiance

The crew went about their duties in a calm way after the attack.  When it became apparent that the ship would sink the order to "Abandon Ship" was passed and everyone but the sick jumped into the water and swam out to life boats.  The discipline displayed was perfect.

The gun crews remained at their stations until the last possible moment, just in case the submarine surfaced to view its destruction.  It didn't, but right before the gun crews left, they fired shots out toward where they figured the attack came from.

From the time of the torpedo strikes to sinking was just thirty minutes.

--Cooter