Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
HIS BRAVERY PRAISED
LIEUT.. ENGLAND DESCRIBES
BoATSWAIN DEERY'S DARING.
Swan in Heavy Sea to Attach Tow
Line to the Submarine Torpedo
Boat Adder.

The Navy Department has received the,
report OF Lieut.. England, commanding the
U. $. s. Peoria, which had in tow the two
submarine torpedo boats Adder and Mecca
sin, which recently went adrift off Cape
Henry. Lieut. England, after detailing the
conditions of weather and sea up to the
time when the tow line parted, which he
said were favorable, states that Wednesday
last at $3.50 pm. when about eight miles
from Cape Henry lightship, the towing bit
OF the Moccasin. the first boat in tow, car
r1ed away. The submarines began a once
to drift to the south. BY the time the
Peoria reached the boats they were lying
close together and humping into each
other. Several unsuccessful attempts were
made to drag for the tow line when il was
decided to stand by until daylight the wind
and sea constantly increasing A further
attempt TO drag for the line was made. but
without success. The submarines would
separate at times the Peoria ATTEMPTED
to catch the line by steaming in between
them, but that also failed. Continuing, he
says that all attempts being unsuccessful
Boatswain 2. Deery volunteered 20 swim to
the Adder and carry line to her.
Boatswain Deery's Bravery.
In spite of the heavy sea. wind and in
tense cold' says Lieut.. England. by his
heroic efforts lie was able to reach the
rolling heavily and seas constantly dashing
over her, he climbed up the side, and after
great efforts made fast line from the
Peoria to the tow line between the SUBJ
Marines
During all this time, says Lieut.. England,
BoatsWaln Deery was in constant danger OF
betng washed overheard and crushed be-
tween the two submarines. adding: "He
never faitered in his work and only LEFT
the Adder when his work was accomoIisb-
cd boar h,
completely exhausted Lieut. England
calls the attention of the Navy Department
TO the extreme bravery of Deery whose
act he says, was an inspiration 10 all who
saw it, and he requests that he be given
such recognition as the department may
see fit.
Lieut. England remarks that after seeing
mat II was impossible to tow the subma-
rlneS he came TO anchor and made prepa-
ratlonS for dropping boat down to the
MoccaSin and making "A line fast to her
pow on he says, was used on the water,
but with no apparent effect. The sea was
running very high and breaking over the
submarines, and they We're rolling and
pitching at a tremendous rate Volunteers
offered to man a boat, but, he states he
did not consider it good judgment to risk
their lives in what seemed to be a hopeless
attempt. He further states that all of
this time the Peoria and the submarines
We're slowly dragging in toward the beach,
but about l pm. the line to the tow parted
and the submarines were again adrift TIE
Peoria steamed between, them dragging a
small anchor for the tow line, and a sec
ond attempt was successful in catching
the line. AS the Peoria was getting in
close to the beach, she finally made an ef-
fort to get out to sea, but had to abandon
this and come to anchor.
Had to Leave the Moccasin.
At this juncture Lieut.. England decided
to cut the tow line between the boats,
anchor the Moccasin with it's heaviest
anchor, tow the Adder into Hampton Roads
and return to the Moccasn. The tow of
the Adder had been fixed and the anchor
almost secured to the Moccasin. when he
states, she gave an unusually heavy plunge
and parted her line. He finally abandoned
the Moccasin and started for Hampton
Roads with the Adder The Yankton,
which had been sent from Norfolk to the
rescue, hove in sight and stood for the
Moccasin. On anchoring In Hampton Roads
an examination of the Adder showed there
was considerable water in her and her
storage batteries were in bad condition.
Otherwise she was not Dana ged.
In his Endorsement transmitting the re-
port to the department Admiral Harring-
ton referred to the extraordinary heroism
and self-devotion' of Deery, and suggests
proper recognition.