Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-10
WORSE THAN WAR.
Terrible Experience Of White
Squadron in the Storm.
Three Men Lost on Battleship Maine
--0ne from the MarbIehead.
Story Of Inc Disaster and Of Heroism BY the
Officers and Men.

Charleston, S. C.,Feb. 9.-The United
Columbia. Amphitrite and Marblehead
arrived Off Charleston bar, Monday
after terrible experience with the
storm which swept up the south At.
lantic coast. Friday and Saturday
All five vessels are at anchor about
two miles off the bar. Admifa
Dunce's fleet ran straight into the
teeth OF terrific storm. Friday night
The warships were 40 miles off the
North Carolina coast, and well below
Eatteras, and while the officers are
unwilling to discuss their experiences
| it Is known that both ships and men
were in great peril.
When the fleet was visited by rep
resentative of the United Associated
Press. 1t was learned that four lives
were lost. eight men seriously injured,
minor injuries sustained by almost all
the vessels. The battleship Maine had
six men overheard. three losing their
lives. The Marblehead had one man
killed and six injured
The killed on the Maine were: L. c.
kogel. apprentice, dashed to death
against the turrets and his body lost
in the sea; John Brown. seaman.
washed overheard and drowned. body
not recovered; A. Il. Nelson, private In
the United States marines. washed
overheard and drowned. body lost
The Marblehead lost Ships Carpenter
strawhat, who was dashed to death by
sunday. several Of ne earpent 1 = gang sss
who were at work on sea anchor were
hurled against the superstructure of the
ship by the sea and more or less injured
The condition of one Is serious. Arrange
ments have been made for placing all the
injured seamen In the marine hospital
here. and they will be transferred from
The New York. Columbia. Xmphi,rlte
and the Maine were or the coast below
Hatteras and about 20 miles out when the
storm S,1,, began e gather, Friday night TIE
the ships to stand together. The storm
was blowing from the southeast. II
steadily increased during the night and
ly did the New York roll that the big
eight-inch guns In the turrets were
dashed down with heavy hawsers as
precaution. During the storm. heavy
panionway was flooded with water which
went down into the officers quarters.
The gun ports and torpedo tubes let great
quantities of water in.
The boatswain while on the forward
deck was struck from his feet by sea
and injured by being dashed aft. A ma
lost his footing and was about to go over
the side when he managed to seize a life
line and save his own life. When the
sea was shipped astern the sounding APP
paratus was Knocked to Finders and one
of the officers was nearly dashed over
the side.
When morning came, the Maine was
sighted and spoken. The battleship ii Is
believed. mad the most trying experience
of the fleet. Friday night. Apprentice
kozel was struck by terrible sea and
rushing waters carried his body over
board. Two men jumped after him as
he was being carried away. They were
Seaman John Brown and Marine Alex
Nelson In trying to save their mess
mate they lost their lives. for they were
carried out into the mountains of black
water.
Charles Haskell was washed overheard
at the same time. When these four men
went overheard VIM, j. Creelman. lands
man. was standing on the poop deck. He
by. Creelman dove over the stern and
struck out to save him. In the mean
time two lfebuoys had been thrown over
Haskell got one. but Brown. Nelson and
kozel disappeared. and Creelman was
struggling far from the buoy intended for
him. Haskell saw him and reached him
in time 10 save his life.
The Maine was brought around in the
storm and lifeboat lowered from star
board. Naval Cadet Gherardi was put
in command with six men. The boat got
only a few yards from the ship when she
was overturned and seven more men
We're in the water.
The men were rescued with life lines.
The lifeboat was lost as was one or more
of the ships boats. They were torn
from the davits by heavy seas.
The Amphitrite. Maine. Columbia and
Marblehead were sighted in the morning
in the order mentioned. The Marblehead
was laboring heavily and had out oilbags.
Grave fears had been entertained for the
but she 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 kOzel.
He will be recommended for a life savers
medal of the first class.
The Columbia, Marblehead. and Amphi-
the storm. They. with the Maine. ar
rived. Monday forenoon. The New York
did not arrive until the afternoon. as she
turned back and went almost to Hatteras
looking for the monitor. The Marblehead
came up to the city. Monday afternoon.
Exactly what amount of injury the
various vessels themselves sustained dur
ing the storm cannot now be stated. The
officers say their ships behaved splendid
observer. that the vessels received rough |
usage at the hands of the hurricane 1t |
IS practically certain that none of them
are seriously injured. 1t is not probable |
that the maneuvers-will be seriously in |
erfered with or retarded by the terrible |
experience through which the fleet |
passed.