The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-09
Attacked by n Furious Storm While
on the Way to Cha ri eston, and
Swept by Huge Waves.
SIX MEN WASHED OVERLOOKED
THREE RESCUED BY BRAVE Blue
JACKETS FROM THE MAINE.
Cruiser Marblehead Almost Disman-
tied, a Carpenter Killed and Sew
en- Men Badly Hurt.

CHARLESTON, s. c., Feb. S.-Admiral
Bunce's blockading squadron reached here
to-day after a disastrous voyage from
Hampton roads. Three men were lost over
board from the battle ship Maine during
the gale of Friday, one man was crushed
10 death on the cruiser Marblehead, an
other 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 jetties,
she presents dismantled appearance. Her
forecastle is stove in, a portion of her SUI
perstructure 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 over
board the lifeboats. Carpenter Shawbert
was crushed to death in the forecastle when
it was wrecked by a monster wave. and
Plumber Hickey had his skull crushed by
the wreckage and will probably die. The
six seamen who were injured are believed
TO have been hurt at the same time, but the
officers of the vessel are reticent as to the
details of the accident. 1t is understood that
the injured men will be brought ashore for
was buried at sea. Other vessels of the
fleet show marks OF their voyage. the up
per work and deck hamper being damaged.
Admiral Bunces squadron weighed an
chor in Hampton roads Thursday morn
ing 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
Of he to1 bair
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 a
siege of weather. The battle ship Maine
rolled in the big seas, the water washing
her decks at every plunge.
1t was late Friday afternoon that the ac-
cident on the Maine occurred which cost
three seamen their lives and three others
were rescued only by prompt and heroic
work. a gang of men were ordered for
ward 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 with the lashings
when an unusually heavy sea curled over
her bows and swept aft. Six of the gang
fore they could escape the wave. When the
cry of man overheard was carried back
there was a scene of momentary confusion,
but in an instant the splendid discipline of
the crew was apparent. Life buoys were
cut loose and the order quickly given to get
a boat overheard. The high seas made this
a work of peril and difficulty, but boats
crew under Naval Cadet Walter r.
of 1rair rdi
retired, was finally lowered excellent sea-
manship alone preventing the frail craft
from being crushed against the sides of the
big battle ship. While the engines had
reversed at the first signal from the bridge,
the momentum of the ship had carried her
some distance beyond the spot where the
seamen were swept overheard, and the set
of the current was carrying them further
away every moment. The ships crew
watched the rescuers as they pulled man.
fully in the heavy seas, the waves running
so high that the little boat was at times
hidden from the vessels deck as it rushed
down into the trough. Meantime the
drowning men fought bravely and three of
them managed to keep afloat until their
mates hauled them from the water. They
were Seamen Hassel, Cronan and Freeman.
The remaining three-Brown, Nelson and
Kogel-were not TO be seen. The life boat
cruised back and forth over the spot, but
the brave fellows had given up the strug
gle and met sailors fate. Cadet Gherardi
and his boats crew were highly compli
mented by the officers for their brave work.
Friday night the fleet made heavy
weather of it, but managed to keep within
signaling distance of one another. To-
wards morning the squadron hove to
and weathered out the rest of the gale in
that manner. The officers say it was one
of the worst gales the fleet has ever ex-
perienced.
The Fern made this port before the worst
of the gale, being forty-eight hours ahead
of her corsorts in making harbor. The
Dolphin, which came up from the South
arrived yesterday and experienced no
severe weather n boat from the Maine
came up TO the city this afternoon with
several officers. They visited the collector
of the port, and filed kilograms. A dis
patch from Washington was awaiting Ad-
miral Bunce. presumably from the Navy
Department, in connection with the block
aiding maneuvers.
No Advices Mt Washington.
WASHINGTON. Feb S.-Inqury among
Al. TAy.s