The herald., 1897-02-11
OF Accidents on Board the
BIOckaders
CAPTAIN CROWNINSHIELD
Details the Mlshaps Suffered by the
Maine
Tho Squadron Lying OF Charlie ston Harbor
Waiting for the Blockade Runners
Arrival-Torpedo Boat Trial
Associated Press Special wir.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-Secretary
Herbert today received the report Of
Rear Admiral Bunce, giving details of
the accidents on board the battleship
Maine and the cruiser Marblehead dur
ing the progress of the North Atlantic
squadron from Hampton Roads to
Charleston, resulting in the drowning
of three sailors, who we're washed from
the decks of the Maine, and the killing of
one man and the injuring of several
others on board the Marblehead.
Accompanying the report is the state
ment OF Captain Crowninshield Of the
ors and of the attempt to rescue them
The captains statement follows:
"On the morning of the 9Th inst the
sea swept over the decks from the port
side and washed overheard from the
port gangway forward of the aft tur-
ret Charles Hassel, gunners mate, third
class, and Leonard c. Koegel. second
class, who were at work securing
grading. Both life buoys were let go.
the engines stopped. the starboard en-
gine backed and the life boa: was low
cred, Navel Cadet W. S. Gherardi taxi
ing charge, Immediately arter the cry
Of Man overheard and before the life
boat was lowered William j. Creelman.
landsman. jumped overheard from the
poop in an attempt to rescue Koegel.
Creelman swan well. but was unable to
reach Koegel. who sank in about one
minute after he went overheard. Creel-
mans act was gallant, the more so.
perhaps. because 1t was 1T the same time
deliberate. He had run from starboard,
~ II -.
cred. hoped to be able to support Koe-
gel until the lfeboat 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 lifeboat was unable to do more
than take care of itself: the sea was so
tremendous that 1t was in the greatest
danger of being swamped. The swivel
forestring ore broke short off, and the
boat was once nearly filled with water.
The weather had been thick, with
heavy driving rain. To bring the ship
into position to pick up the iifeboat was
q grave matter. The boat was dropping
to leeward, ard the ship had to be turned
through the trough of the sea to reach
It, While turning the ship rolled heav-
lily. water was taken on board over the
ing across from the starboard side.
swept overheard from the port quarter
John Brown. seaman, and Axel d Nell
son. private. l.. s. NJ. G. With the eX-
ception of Navel Cadet 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 these
men were seen after being washed over
board. 4 t 9:15 the lifeboat was brought
under the lee quarter and all of her
crew We're taken out, Navel Cadet Gre
rardi beirg the last to leave the boat
1t was impossible to recover the boat
The men on the life buoy had been lost
sight of. but their general direction had
been noted, and after saving the life
boats crew, the ship was headed for
them. and shortly after they were
sighted. and after maneuvering the ship
for time, they were hauled aboard at
$50 a. m, in an almost helpless condi-
ton
II desire to recommend William j.
Creelman. the landsman. for a ife-sav-
ing medal of the first class. in recogni-
tior Of his gallant action on this occa-
sion.
Naval Cadet Gherardi showed cour-
age and able seamanship in handling his
boat under the most irving circum-
esances Naval Cadet Gherardi COM
mends Perry Herbert, coxwain. for his
courage and resourcefulness as cox
swain of the lifeboat.
The following were the crew of the
lifeboat: Naval Cadet Gherardi. in
charge; John Anderson seaman: Gus
taf A. Anderson. seaman; Axel C. An
derson. seaman; Perry Herbert, cox
swain; Henry c. Brinkman. seaman;
George Liebner, apprentice first class;
Walter Cameron, seaman"
LYING AT ANCHOR.
CHARLESTON. S. c., Feb 10.-The
North Atlantic squadron is lying off the
mouth of the hargor and beyond evolu-
tions for position nothing.in the way of
blockade running has yet been done.
The admiral signaled the positions he
wished the various ships to take and
they have moved according to his direc-
tions. They are now lying strung out
toward the south from the mouth Of the
harbor. 1t is probable that no actual
blockade running will be done until the
arrival of the battleships Indiana and
Massachusetts and the dynamite cruis-
| er Vesuvius. which is to act as blockade
runner The Vesuviua left the League
Island navy yard yesterday morning
| and should reach here tonight or tomor-
| row morning.
ATRIAL TRIP.
BRISTOL, r. l., Feb 10.-Torpedc
boat No 6 left the Herreschoff's wharf
| this morning on her official trial run
with the full board of naval officers on
board. Every man on board was weigh
| ed, and as the COAL equipment and bal
last were officially weighed yesterday
the boat was laden exactly as she will
| be in commission.
The boat started for her fifty-f1ve knot
run, or five times over an eleven knot
course, from Bonnem shoal to Warwick
! light, and was accompanied by the tor
pedo boats Gushing and Stilletto and the
United States tug boat Leyden. the lat.
ter acting as the stake boat. The con
ditions were favorable to the trial, q
light northwest wind. The CONTRACT
calls for 275 knots to be sustained fol
two consecutive hours. The report
states that the boat made 28.72 knots
| The wash in the wake astern was sc
slight at her highest speed that small
naptha launch which crossed her wake
was not affected in any way bytt.
Forged Contract
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.-Expert
| Amos and CarvalhO Of New York 1,