Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-11
WAS A CLOSECALI
That Trip Of the Warship Maine
to Charleston.
VESSEL HERSELF IN MUCH PERIL

Had to Turn in the Storm and Shipped
Water Over the Tops Of Her Turrets-
Gallant Act of w. j. Creelman-Goes
Overheard to Save a Life and Is Reco-
mended for . Medal - Lifeboat Crew
Nearly Lost.
Washington. Feb. 1i.-Secretary Her.
bert has received the report of Admiral!
Bunce on the voyage of the north At
lantic squadron from Hampton Roads
to Charleston. The admiral encloses q
report from Captain Crowninshield, Of
the Maine. making a thrilling tale Of
danger and high courage. Captain
Crowinshield's story Of the loss of his
three sailors, and the attempt to rescue
is as follows: "On the morning of the
9th inst. a sea swept over the deck from
the port side and washed overheard
from the port gangway forward of the
after turret Charles Hassel, gunner's
mate. third-class, and Leonard c. Ko-
gel, apprentice. second-class, who were
at work securing a grating. Both life
buoys were let go. the engines stopped,
the starbOard engine backed and the
life boat was lowered. Naval Cadet W.
Il. Gherardi taking charge. Immediate
ly after the cry of man overheard and
before the life boat was lowered, Will
lam j. Creelman. landsman, jumped
overheard from the poop in an attempt
to rescue Kogel. Creelman swan well,
but was unable to reach Kogel, who
sank within about one minute after he
went overheard.
Creelman's Was q Gallant Act.
"Creelman's act was gallant; the more
so, perhaps, because it was at the same
time deliberate. He had run forward
and says that seeing the life boat about
to be lowered hoped to be abble to sup
ort Kogel till the life boat came, or to
take him to the buoy. Hassel reached
the buoy soon after being washed over
board, and on seeing Creelman swan
toward him, making every effort to
share the buoy with him. In the mean
time the life boat was unable to do
more than to take care of itself, and the
sea was so tremendous that it was in
the greatest danger Of being swamped.
The swivel fortstring oar broke short
off and the boat was once nearly filled
with water. The weather had become
thick with heavy driving rain.
Names Turrcts Dip Water.
ITO bring the ship into position to
pick up the life boat was a grave mat
ter; the boat was dropping to leeward,
and the ship had to be turned through
the trough of the sea to reach her. While
turning the ship rolled heavily; water
was taken on board over the tops of the
turrets, and one sea sweeping across
from the starboard side swept overheard
from the port quarter John Brown, sea-
man, and AXel d. Nelson, private u. 8.
NJ. c. With the exception of Naval Ca
Diet Knepper. who threw a grating to
Nelson. and a boy who thought he saw
Brown dead in the water. no one can
be found to say that these men were
seen after being washed overheard.
About s:15 the life boat was brought
under the lee quarter, and all of her
crew were taken out. Naval Cadet
Gherardi being the last to leave the
boat.
Had to Lose the Life Boat.
1T was impossible to recover the boat
The men on the life buoy had been lost
sight of. hut their general direction was
noted and imediately after saving the
life boats crew the ship was headed fol
| them, and shortly after they were
Il
ship for a time they were hauled aboard
at about $3.50 a. m. in an almost hope.
| less condition.
| Creelman Recommended for Distinction.
Il desire to recommend William ]
| Creelman, landsman. for a life sayins
medal of the first-class in recognition
of his gallant action on this occasion
Naval Cadet Gherardi showed courag,
and able seamanship in handling hi.
boat under the most trying circum
stances. Naval Cadet Gherardi com
mends Percy Herbert. coxswain, for hi.
courage and resourcefulness as coz
swain Of the life boat"
Mrs. Beecher Still Alive.
Stamford, Conn.,, Feb. lit was state
last night that Mrs Henry War,
Beecher continued in a comfortable con
dition. and no apprehension Of her i'm
mediate death was felt.
/