The evening world., 1903-10-27
Sergt. slack" Heffner, a Cabin
Boy and Boatman, Flung from
Capsized Dory Of Govern
ment Transport Kirkpatrick.
SOLDIER WAS ON THE
WAY HOME FROM CUBA.
Belonged to Eighteenth Com
pany of Coast ArtiIIery-Q.
M. Sergt. Hoover, One of the
Rescued, Tells Thrilling Story

sergt. Jack" Heffner and Jack
Rogers, captains cabin boy. of the
United States transport Fitzpatrick, were
drowned in the harbor of Portland. Me-,
Saturday night last. while returning to
the ship from shore leave. The boat
man, Fred Stamford. of Portland, who
had been ferrying soldiers between the
ship and shore all the evening. also was
drowned. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Will
lam Hoover, Privates Black, Neal Day
haw and Frank Rout, who were In the
dory at the time of the accident, were
rescued.
Tho Fitzpatrick left Havana Oct. 10
with four companies of coast artillery,
the Eighteenth. Twenty-first. Twenty
third and Twenty-fourth. the last of the
United States troops In Cuba, and pro-
ceeded directly to Portland. Me-, where
the Twenty-fourth and Twenty -third
companies were landed.
The ship rode at anchor some two
miles off shore. and Saturday evening a
number OF the members of the two
companies, which were to come to this
city. obtained shore leave. Stamford
with his dory set them ashore, taking
six besides himself at each load.
The men began to come back to the ship
again shortly after 6 o'clock and one
boatload was brought off safely. Stani-
ford put back for another, and when
within a few fathoms OF the steamer
his dory filled and turned turtle. All
of the passengers except the cabin boy
belonged to the Eighteenth Company.
When the Fitzpatrick locked at Pier
u, East River. to-day. Quartermaster-
Sergeant Hoover. who was one OF the
rescued, told the story OF the accident.
Dory turns Turtle.
Several boatloads of US had been
ashore and about 7 o'clock Heffner,
Dayhaw, Rout Black n myself started
back for the ship. The boatman had
already taken of one load of six. Just
captains boy, came down and piled into
the dory. All of US sat. in the stern
sheets, or on the after thwart, except
midship. thwart and helped the boat
when about half way out to the ship
over the stern n called the boatman's
attention to 1t, but he laughed and said
there was nothing to worry about. He
was a big six footer and pulled a sturdy
-
When only a few hundred feet from
the ship a swell struck us n the
water poured In yer the stern in a vol
ume. The boat settled by the stern and
went down. the bow sticking UP out OF
the water n turning over backward.
We were all thrown out. and l think that
the boy and the boatman were under the
boat as It turned over.
Soldier Couldn't Swim.
Neither Heffner nor the boy could
swim and they ank Immediately. Our |
cries for help were heard OF board the
transport and Immediately hfe-preserv-
es. camp stools and all sorts of NOV
furniture was thrown over to US.
1.-TWO of the men were picked up with
ropes from the ships deck, while two
others. clinging to the overturned boat,
some five ships lengths astern |
with the tide, which was running strong. |
Second officer TIbbetts lowered a boat
and picked these men up"
The Fitzpatrick brought two companies
of artillery here, The Eighteenth will
go to Fort Schuyler and the Twenty
first to Fort McHenry. Baltimore.
When the soldiers left Havana they
were given an ovation by the Cubans.
Mounted police, rural guards and Cuban
artillery escorted them to the pier where
they were to embark n the procession
was reviewed by President Palma and
other officials.
A feature OF the evacuation was the
appearance OF Ave young Cuban women.
brides of United States soldiers who
accompanied their husbands on the
transport.