Another article written about the same time discussing the looting and 'piracy' of the German submarine crews includes more information on the Queen Wilhelmina, and how it managed to make it to bondicar:
Dundee, Perth, Forfar, and Fife's People's Journal 15 May 1915
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Twice Torpedoed.
The procedure of the pirated differs. One Captain had a remnant of humanity — even courtesy — left in him; another has not. Sometimes warning is given; just as often there is none. One of the vessels which was fired upon and sunk without previous intimation was a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company’s steamer Don, which was bound from Cromarty to Blyth.
The Don was attacked off Coquet Island, on the Northumberland coast, early in the morning. One torpedo missed, but the second was so effective that the vessel sank in 10 minutes. The crew of 16 were picked up by a Danish steamer, and landed at Blyth. The 2nd mate, the chief engineer, and a seaman were injured by flying splinters.
The same spot proved fatal to the steamer Queen Wilhelmina, owned by a Newcastle firm. The members of the crew, who reside in Leith, reported on their return home that the vessel was twice torpedoed by a German submarine.
Splinters Thrown Sky High.
At 3:30 in the morning they sighted the hostile craft about 3 miles astern, coming straight for her. The engines will put full steam ahead, but though the steamer was doing 12 knots, the submarine steadily overhauled her. The crew got on lifebelts, and got the small boats ready for launching.
When within three hundred yards the submarine fired two gunshots, neither of which took effect. At a hundred yards distance, another shot was fired, striking the steamer’s funnel. The crew took what cover was afforded them by the wheelhouse and the captain blew his whistle as a signal to stop fire as the steamer was alight.
Cessation of the steamer’s propeller was noticeable, and all hands got into the small boats and rowed clear. By this time the submarine had manoeuvred into position to fire a torpedo, which she dated a range of about two hundred feet. The Queen Wilhelmina was struck amidship on the starboard side, and coal from the deck was thrown sky high.
Took charts of British Coast.
The commander of the submarine waved to one of the boats to come alongside. This order was obeyed and the commander, who spoke English fluently told some of the occupants of the boat to board the submarine. Eight men jumped aboard and the commander told the rest to remain in the boat. A submarine officer then sprang into the boat and made the men take him and the Captain back to the ship. He went aboard the steamer and took all the ships charts of the British coasts, a rifle, and a number of other things.
On this occasion, however, the pirates did not make a good job of it. The Wilhelmina did not sink, and, steam being kept up, she was able to reach the shore at Hauxley Bay where she was beached.
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