At 22.24 hours on 7 Jun, 1942, the unescorted and unarmed Edith (Master Samuel M. Houston) was torpedoed by U-159 about 200 miles southeast of Jamaica, as she was proceeding on a zigzag course at 10.9 knots. The torpedo struck the starboard side about 15 feet below the main deck between the #4 hold and the engine room, causing the ship to sink after seven minutes. All but the radio operator and one oiler of the eight officers and 23 men abandoned ship in one lifeboat and two rafts. The U-boat surfaced and questioned the survivors, gave them directions to land and picked up floating case goods before leaving. The most survivors transferred later into the boat and seven remained on a single raft. They arrived at Black River, Jamaica almost seven days later.