The tanker Gulftrade, out of Port Arthur, Tex. with a cargo of oil, ploughed through the heavy seas off Barnegat Light, some 60 miles from her destination, New York City. When the lookout reported several vessels in the vicinity, chubby, moon-faced Captain Torger Olsen imprudently ordered his darkened ship's lights turned on. Said he ruefully: "I saw we were up to Barnegat and I thought they shouldn't be able to get us any more. I made a mistake."
A torpedo caught the Gulftrade squarely amidships, neatly halved her. Blessing the heavy sea that...
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