The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-08
SEAMANS HEROIC ACT
Swan With Line in Storm Lashe
Sea to Submarine Boat Adder.
MoccAslN HIGH UPON eEAcI
Boats~ ain Deery's Heroism Saved the
Adder From Like Fate, As She Wa,
Being Tossed About Like Cork
and Leaking.

Being Tossed About Like a Cork
and Leaking.
Norfolk. Va. Dec. 1.-THE naval tug
Peoria. towing the submarine torpedo
boat Adder, has arrived at the navy
yard here The Adder was saved Dy
the heroism Of Boatswain Seery' VINO
responded to call for volunteers ana
swan 100 yards with line to the
Adder from the tug and pulled ha"'
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 Currltuck 10 aid
the Yankton and Vixen in floating the
Moccasin. which is now high and dry
upon the beach.
When Boatswain Deery responded 10
the call for volunteers to swim to the
Adder. 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 and bat
tied with the wind and tide for a full
100 wards. finally reaching the Adder
and gaining her deck. There he hauled
a thick hawser aboard by means OF
the life line and made IL 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
manner as To make II almost impossi-
bic 10 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 Moccasin in good condition
without any water In her. From the
reports received, however. It is not
thought any Roadway can be made
toward floating the vessel without the
aid of wreckers, as she is high and
dry upon ,he beach at low water and
directly In q nasty surf at high tide.
II vas said at the navy yard that
Boatswain Deery will be commended
at once TO the president for bravery.
The Adder Is leaking and her electri-
cal machinery is badly damaged
Lieutenant English commanding Of
fccr o. the Peoria. SAYS the little boats
towed very well indeed until they were
inst of the Virginia capes There the
heavy seas running al the time proved
too much for the frall towing bits OF
the Adder. which was towing first. fol
lowing the tug. They snapped short.
and the two submarine vessels went
adrift. The Peoria sought to catch
them. but they drifted southwark be-
fore the wind rapidly. There were
only the broken bits on which to get
a hold. so the tug could only run in
between them and keep them from
humping together
The seas we're running entirely too
high. the lieutenant said. for the tug
10 run alongside the boats. and II
would have been suicidal to have low
cred a boat. All the Peoria could do.
therefore. was 10 keep the boats apart.
II was when the line between the
boats snapped that Boatswain Deery,
who comes from Brooklyn. performed
his heroic act in a last attempt 10
save the boats After he had made
fast his line 10 the Adder and succeed
ed at the risk OF his life in regaining
the tug. consideration was given TO
anchoring the Moccasin, but II was
seen that II would be impossible to
anchor her. The tug. it was found
could handle only one Of the boats in
the heavy seas. The Yankton ap-
peared and the Moccasln was left to
her fate. while the Peoria fought her
way Mp the coast with the Adder Great
seas swept her bows all night and
she had a hard time reaching port