The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-09
MET WITH HEAVY WEATHER.
MEN-OF-WAR WE'RE ROLLED
ABOUT AND SUFFERED SOME
INJURY
-FOUR SAILORS LOST THEIR LIVES
Three Swept Overheard From the
Maine and Drowned Before They
Could Be Rescued.

| OAA<AASAAl1Ao ~ OANS ~ ", Il GU. Os-fAQ-
miral Bunce's blockading squadron
reached port today after disastrous
voyage from Hampton roads, Three
men were lost overheard from the
Maine during the gale of Friday, ore
man was crushed to death on the Mar
blehead, another was fatally injured,
and six others were so badly hurt that
several may lose limbs. The details
of the accidents on the Marblehead
are not obtainable, but it seems that
the cruiser made bad weather Of the
! blow. Tonight, as she lies off the jet
! ties, she presents a dismantled ap-
pearance. Her forecastle is stove in,
a portion Of her superstructure and
two matches carried away. The heavy
seas that swept her decks also carried
away her searchlight, lower port boom,
smashed the rails and swept overheard
the life boats. Carpenter Shawberl was
crushed to death in the forecastle when
1t was wrecked by a monster wave,
and Plumber Mickey had his skull
crushed by the wreckage and probably
will die. The six seamen who were in
jured are believed to have been hurt
at the same time, but the officers Of
the vessel are reticent as to the de-
tails of the accident. It is understood
that the injured men will be brought
ashore for treatment tomorrow. Car
penter Shawberl was buried at sea.
The other vessels of the fleet show
marks Of their rough voyage, their up
per works and deck hamper being dam
aged.
The squadron weighed anchor Thurs
day morning and put to sea.
Friday evening the weather thickened
and by night was blowing a gale. The
Indiana returned to the roads, owing
to the condition Of her turrets. The
rest of the fleet, however, poked their
noses into the storm and headed south.
When about fifty miles off Hatteras,
the fleet encountered the full force Of
the blow. Open squadron formation
was maintained and the vessels were
put in order for siege of weather.
The Maine rolled in the big seas, the
water washing her decks at every
| plunge. 1T was late Friday afternoon
that the accident occurred, which cost
three seamen their lives and three.
others were rescued only by prompt
and heroic work. A gang Of men were
ordered forward to make more secure
the lashings Of the big guns. The
deck was deluged, and the wind was
freshening every moment. The men
were at work when an unusually heavy
sea curled over her bows and swept
aft. Six Of the gang were picked up
and carried overheard before they
could escape the wave. When the cry
Of man overheard was carried back
| the splendid discipline of the crew was
| apparent. Life buOys were cut loose
and the order quickly given to get a
| beat overheard. The high seas made
| this. work one of peril and difficulty,
| but boats crew, under Naval Cadet
| Walter r. Gherardi, son of Rear Ad-
| nliral Gherardi, retired, was finally
| lowered, excellent seaInanship alone
| preventing the frail craft from being
| crushed against the sides Of the big
| battleShip. The engines had been re-
| Versed, but the momentum of the ship
had carried her some distance beyond
the spot where the seamen were swept
| overheard. The ships crew watched
/ the little boat, as it was sometimes
hidden from the vessels deck, as it
rushed down into the trough Mean
time the drowning men fought bravely.
and three of them managed to keep
afioat until their mates hauled them
| out Of the water. They were Seamen
L
remaining three, Brown, Nelson and
Kogel, were not to be seen. The life
| boat cru1sed back and forth over the
| sea, but the brave fellows had given
up the struggle and met a sailors fate.
Friday night the fleet made heavy
weather Of it, but managed to keep
within signalling distance Of one an
other: Towards morning the squadron
was move to and weathered out the
| rest or the gale in that manner. The
officers all unite in praising the sea
going qualities Of the vessels.
The Fern made this port before the
worst of the gale, being forty-eight
hours ahead of her consorts in making
narbor: The Dolphin, which came up
from the south, arrived yesterday and
experienced no severe weather
A boat from the Maine came I'M
to the city this afternoon with several
otflcers, who visited the collector of
the port. A dispatch from Washington
was awaiting Admiral Bunce, presun
ably from the navy department in con
ncctlon with the blockading maneu-
! Vers.