Evening journal., 1903-12-05
HEROIC SEAMAN
SAVES THE ADDER
Swan With Line in Storm,
Lashed Sea to Submarine
Boat
MOCCASIN HIGH ON BEACH
HOatswsin Derry's Heroism Saved the
Adder From Like Fate, As She Was
Being Tossed About Like a Cork
and Leaking.

Norfolk. Va. Dec. 5.-The naval tug
Peoria. towing the submarine torpedo
boat Adder, has arrived at the navy
yard here. The Adder was saved by
the heroism OF Boatswain Deery. who
responded to a call for volunteers and
swan 100 yards with a line to the
Adder from the tug and pulled haw-
ser after him. The Moccasin is ashore
at Currituck and appears to be only
slightly damaged. The Adder is leak.
ing badly.
The Peoria left for Currituck TO aid
the Yankton and Vixen in floating the
Moccasin, which is now high and dry
upon the beach.
When Boatswain Deery responded TO
the call for volunteers TO swim TO the
Adder, a 34-mile gale, with mountain
Gus seas. was crashing over the Peoria
and burying the drifting submarine
boats beneath tons OF water. Deery,
with a slender line fastened around his
waist, plunged into the ocean aud bat.
tied with the wind and tide for a full
100 yards. finally reaching the Adder
and gaining her deck. There he hauled
a thick hawser aboard by means OF
the life line and made II fast
All this time the Adder was being
tossed about like a cork one minute
and driven far beneath the surface the
next. rolling and wallowing In such a
manner as to make IL almost impossi
BILE TO retain a position upon her
scanty decking. but Deery held on and
accomplished his task. Then he went
back to the tug hand over hand on the
hawser.
The Currituck life saving station re
ports the Moccssin in good condition
without any water in her. From the
reports received, however, It is mo-
thought any headway can be made
toward floating the vessel without thu
aid Of wreckers. as she is high ani
dry upon the beach at low water ant
directly in nasty surf at high tide.
Lieutenant English. commanding oi
fcer Of the Peoria; says the little boat
towed very well indeed until they wer
just OF the Virginia capes. There tn
heavy seas running at the time proves
too much for the frail towing bits o
the Adder. which was towing first. FOL
lowing the tug. They snapped short
and the two submarine vessels wen
adrift. The Peoria sought to catcl
them, but they drifted southwark be
fore the wind rapidly. There wer'
only the broken bits on which to ge
a hold. so the tug could only run II
between them and keep them from
humping together.
The seas were running entirely too
high. the lieutenant said, for the tul
to run alongside the boats, and /
would have been suicidal to have low
cred boat. All the Peoria could do
therefore. was to keep the boats apart
II was when the line between th'
boats snapped that Boatswain Deery
who comes from Brooklyn. performed
his heroic act in a last attempt 4
save the boats After he had mad
fast his line TO the Adder and succeed
ed at the risk Of his life IN regaininI
the tug, consideration was given Il
anchoring the Moccasin, but II wa
seen that It would be impossible u
anchor her. The tug, II was found
could handle only ohs Of the boats Il
the heavy seas. The Yankton az
peared and the Moccasin was left L
her fate, while the Peoria fought he
way up the coast with the Adder Grea
seas swept her bows all night, an
she had a hard time reaching port