The Portland daily press., 1897-02-09
FOUGHT With NEPTUNE.
Terrible Experience Of United States
Naval Fleet.
THE STORM ENCOUNTERED OFF
CAPE HATTERAS FRIDAY.

Four Men Lost Overheard and Eight
Seriously Injured-The Cruiser Maine
Has Hardest Experience-Brave At
tempts to Rescue Perishing shipmates.
Charleston, s. a., February S.-The
United States warships New York, Maine,
Columbia, Amphitrite and Marlbehead,
arrived off Charleston bar today after
. terrible experience with storm which
swept I'D the South Atlantic coast Fri
day and Saturday.
Admiral Bunce's fleet ran straight in
to the teeth of terrific storm Friday
night. The war ships were 40 miles off
the North Carolina coast and we'll below
Hatteras. 1t is learned that four lives
were lost, eight men seriously injured
with minor injuries sustained by almost
all the vessels.
The hattleship Maine had six men
overheard, three losing their lives. The
MarbleLead had one man killed and
six injured. The killed on the Maine
we're L. c. Kogel apprentice, dashed
to death against the turrets and body
lost at sea John Brown, seaman. washed
overDoard and drowned, body not recov-
cred; A. B. Nelson, private U. S. ma
rines, washed overheard and drowned,
body lost.
Z The Marblehead lost ship carpenter
Strawhat, who was dashed t, death by
the sea. His body was saved and buried
at sea Sunday. Several of the carpenters
gang were hurled against the super
structure Of the ship and more or less
injured. Arrangements have been made
for placing all the injured seamen In the
marine hospttai here.
When the storm began to gather Fri
day night the admiral signnlled from
tine New York for the ships to stand to-
gether The storm steadily increased
during the night and the four ships sepa-
rated.
When the morning came, the Maine
was sighted and spoken. That battle
experience of the fleet. Friday night
Apprentice Kchel was struck by terri
BILE sea aud the life dashed out of him.
The rushing waters carried his body
overheard. Two men jumped after
him as he was being carried away. They
were seamsn John Brown and marine
Alex Nelson, In trying to save their
messmate they lost their lives. for they
were carried out into the mountains of
black water. Chas. Haskell was washed
overheard at the same time.
When these four men went overheard,
VIM. J. Creelman, a iandspan, saw the
upturned face of Kohei floating. Creel-
man dove over the stern and stuck Out
to save him. In the meantime two life
L. l. ., oil
got one, but Brown, Nelson and kOhel
disappeared. Creelman was struggling
far from the buoy intended for him.
Haskell saw him and reached him in
time to save his live.
The Maine was brought around in the
storm and life boat lowered from the
starboard. Naval Cadet Gheradi was
put in charge. The boat got only few
yards from the ship when she was over
turned and seven more men were IN the
water.
The men were rescued with life lines.
The life boat was lost The Amphitrite,
Maine, Colum bia ahd Marblshead were
sighted In the morning in the order men,
toned. The Amphitrite rode out the
gale and as far as can be learned lost no
lives. On board the Maine, the board of
inquiry reported on the loss of three
men. They highly commended Creel
mans brave attempt to rescue Kohel. He
will be recommended for life saver
medal of the f-st-oiass.
The Marblehead came up to the 0ity
this afternoon. She lost one man and
had one injured Exactly what amount
of injury the various vessels sustained
during the STORM cannot now be stated.
The off oars say that their ships behaved
splendidly. 1t was evident, even to q
casual observer, that the vessels received
rough usage. 1t is certain that none
oil them are seriously injured.
Too Marv Ea11ars