The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-01
DIED FOR OTHERS,
Lieut.. Com. Roper, Of the Petrol,
Loses His Life
In Attempting to Save His Men
From Suffocation.

Washington, April 1.-The navy de-
partment has received a ca.blegram
from Admiral Remey, commander-in-
chief of the Asiatic station, giving a
brief account of a fire in the sail room
of the gunboat Petrol and of the death
of the commanding officer, Lieutenant
Commander Jesse Minis Roper, a s a re-
suit of a. heroic effort to rescue the men
below. The dispatch shows that %
other officers and men were prosuated,
but all are recovering. Admiral Rem
ey's dispatch is as follows:
'Cavite, March 31.-Fire discovered
sail room Petrol O'Clock this morning.
Roper commanding. After going below
once went again against advice. At
tempted recovery of men below. He
suffocated, died at 7:45. twenty-five
officers and men entirely prostrated.
All recovering. Damage immaterial.
Send Roper's remains by Buffalo.
-REMEY."
The department at once sent a tele-
gram to Mr.. H z. Fay, the brother-in-
law of Lieutenant Commander Roper,
at 73 Monmouth street, Longwood.
Mass, asking that he inform Mrs
preston of sympathy and appreciation
is also made:
with this sad news. the department
sends to Mrs Roper deep sympathy in
the highest appreciation of the gal
lantry and self-sacrifice with which
Lieutenant Commander Roper gave his
life for his fellow men. 1t was hero's
death"
The deceased was born in Missouri
and entered the naval service June 25,
1868 He was commissioned to the rank
held by him at the time of his death on
March 81, 1899, and ordered to COM
mand the Petrol November Is, 1899. The
Petrol was one of the vessels under Ad-
miral Dewey at the battle Of Manila
bay when she was in charge of Lieu
tenant Commander E P. Wood The
latter officer came home shortly after
and Lieutenant Commander Roper sue
ceeded him.
The Buffalo. on which the remains
will be sent home, is now used for the
transportation of troops and is about
to return to the United States by way
OF the Mediterranean
Details of the accident are given in the
Associated Press report from Cavite.
The report runs:
AT 7 O'Clock this morning a fire was
discovered in the sail room of the
Tinted States gunbOat Petrol. Iieuten-
ant Commander Jesse Minis Roper COM
1nanding. The sail room is a small COM
partment adjoining the magazine The
heat was intense, the smoke suffocating
and the flames difficult to extlngulSh-
Lieutenant Commander Roper was
the first to descend into the hold, but
he was forced to return to the deck
Others then Went down. Seaman RaL-
rick Toner was prostrated and about to
perish when Lieutenant Commander
Roper endeavored to rescue him and
was suffocated in the attempt.
Lieutenant Josiah Suits Mexican and
Cadet Lewis suffered severely in bring
ing the body Of Lieutenant Commander
Roper to the deck.
twenty-five of the crew were pros
trated. Toner Evarts. F1aherty Lar
sen. Kessler, Cahey, Burton, Smith, Sui
livan and F'orsbOon seriously, but al
will recover.
The contents Of the sail room were
destroyed, but the damage to the gun
boat was slight. The origin Of the fire
has not been ascertained, possibly it was
a case Of spontaneous combustion.