The Washington times., 1903-12-04
Stranded Torpedo Boat Is
Found With Hatches Bat
tened Down and Coming
Tower Fastened.
OFFICERS AND THE MEN
TAKEN ON THE PEORIA
WITH WARSHIP IN TOW
The Cruiser Yankton Was
Forced to Abandon Her
Charge, and Has Not
Come Into Port.
SOL . The washington rimes.l


NORFOLK. Va. Dec. 4. I9Os.-The
United States submarine torpedo boat
MoccasiR lies stranded on the Little
Island. Virginia coast, and with the
present weather there is some chance
Of saving the vessel
The Moccasin dragged her anchors in
the fierce storm last night after the
cruiser Tankton had failed to make a
tow line fast. With a forty-mfle wind
sweeping up the coast 1t was predicted
the vessel would be a total wreck by
this morning.
When the ife-savers from Currituck
laiet. which is the next station to Little
Island, managed to get aboard the Moe
casin this morning after much difficulty
they found the decks awash and all Of
the matches battened down tight and
the coming tower fastened.
1t was impossible 10 get into the yes
sci and the life-savers reported they
did not know whether anyone was
aboard or not. The suTfmen reported
they would make another attempt to
get into the AfOccasin later in the day.
1t is not regarded probable that any
men are on the inside, since IL has been
reported the AIocCasin and the Adder
IN tow OF the naval tug Peoria. we're
bound from Newport to Annapolis. where
the bo2ts were to have been laid up for
the winter.
Peoria Tows Adder.
The tug Peoria. which started for Nor
folk with the Adder. the vessel which
was saved, and the cruiser Yankton.
which had TO abandon the Moccasin.
have as yet not arrived in Hampton
Roads Very little fear is felt for the
safety OF these vessels, although they
encountered a stim blow coming I'D the
coast, and may have been driven back.
The Peoria m Isl have had a strenuous
time last night, as the tow line to the
Adde,' did not have much play, the yes
SCI having very little freeboard, and her
decks were continually awash
II Is expected the Yankton and the
Peoria. with the kSder. viii put in an
appearance later 4. the day In the
meantime the Navy Department IS max
ing arrangements TO save the Afoccasin
and VIII send wrecking tugs 70 the
scene The cruiser Baltimore arrived in
Hampton Roads this morning from San
Domingo, and viii convoy the torpedo
boat fe1illa TO the Philippines.
The commandments Office at the navy
.@rd is under the impression that the
Peoria and the Adder proceeded direct
10 Annapolis This, however, is not GER
tain The Yankton lost the tow in the
night. and passed out Of the canes AT 10
this morning. The latest report from
Little Island is that the Moccasin
ashore there. viii be high and dry when
the tide recedes. A life-saver waded 10
the vessel and found her free Of water
and uninjured It Is not thought there
VIII be any trouble in floating the ship
In Good Condition.
The Iife-saving bureau this morning
received the following dispatch from the
keeper OF the lfe-saving station at Cur
rituck Beach:
Submarine torpedo boat previously
reported aground on the beach is the
MoccasiH. No one on beard Boat IN
good cor dition."
Rear admiral Harrington. command
ing the Norfolk navy yard, telegraphs
the Nevy Department as follows regard
ing TIE submarine torpedo boats Mecca
sin ano -sdder.
N occasin on beach five miles south OF
CurritHck life-saving station. about 100
yards out. No life lost. YanktOn has
gone there Weather now moderate"
Rear ADMIRAL Wise. commanding the
training squadron ia Hampton Roads.
sent the following message:
Peoria arrived with Adder Mecca
sin adrift on coast south Of Care Henry
Al crew saved Reports heavy sea
faukton zone 10 hunt for her"
The su marine torpedo boat AIoccasin
II the b 81 vessel of her class IN the
navy. The Moccasin made a record OF
as knots under water and 85 knots on
the SuTnce, thus establishing the record
tor oo.-ts Of its class
II IS the vessel IN which Miss Alice
Roosevelt went 10 the bottom Of Mar
Iagansett Bay last September. The
Aloecasir cost SI75. 600 and was launched
august %, 1901 Miss Grace Day. sis
Ier-in-'aW OF Senator Martin Of Virginia,
was SPONSOR.