Not much work was done on Sunday. We were expecting the Admiral's inspection on Monday, so we did plan to work that Sunday.
I was in the compartment, but hadn't dressed. I had some bright work on the port hole to shine. I began shinning the bright work when over the loudspeaker came
"General quarters, general quarters, this is no Bullshit."
Then the bugle sounded general quarters and everyone went on a dead run to their station.
All I had on was a pair of shoes and socks and shorts and underwear and an apron to keep the bright work polish off my skin and underwear.
I ran toward my battle station which was in the magazine on the 14 inch gun. I went through the 14 inch steel hatch into the magazine which was in the bottom of the ship. I was one of the first ones down there. The last man was to close the hatch. You counted everyone then you closed the hatch.
We got in, but on the way down I felt an explosion, you couldn't hear much down that far, but you could feel it. We felt the other hits and the ship started to list to port. One reason it listed so fast, we were expecting the Admiral's inspection and the hatches on the blisters were open.
The blisters were empty compartments that were air tight so if you took a torpedo it would help keep you upright.
If you got a hit on one side you could counter flood and also keep it upright. Everything happened so fast, there was no way to counter flood.
The ship was listing and the water was coming in. I don't know if they got the hatch closed or not. The PA system went out, and the lights went out. We decided the magazine was no place to be so we decided to abandon ship and started for the high side, which was the starboard side and began to open the 14 inch steel hatch on the starboard side. It hadn't been used often and hard to open. We heard fellows slip on the deck which was slick and they would yell for help, but we couldn't see, and what do you do, you try to save your life.
Garth Brown, Sr
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