The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-05
THE LINE SNAPPED.
There Was a Call for Volunteers, and
He Leaped From the Peoria into
the Icy Waves and Swan to
the Adder. The Moccasin
Still Ashore.
Still Ashore
(By the Associated Press.)

Norfolk, Va, Dec. 4.-The naval tug
Peoria arrived at this naval station this
afternoon with the submarine torpedo
boat Adder in tow, and left tonight for
Currituck to aid the Yankton and Vixen
in floating the Moccasin now high and dry
upon the beach.
The bravery of Boatswain Deery, of the
Adder's crew, is alone responsible for
that craft escaping the Moccasin's fate.
In the teeth of thirty-four mile gale,
with mountainous seas crashing over the
Peoria and burying the drifting submarine
boats beneath tons of water. Deery re-
sponded to the call for volunteers and
with slender line fastened around his
waist plunged into the ocean and battled
with wind and tide for full hundred
yards, finally reaching the Adder and
gaining her deck.
There he hauled thick hawser aboard
by means of the life line and made it 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 it almost impossible to retain a
position upon her scanty decking, but
Deery held on and accomplished his
work. Then he went back to the vessel
overland on the hawser.
A great amount Of confusion was caused
this morning and afternoon by conflicting
reports regarding the whereabouts of the
Peoria. Adder and Yankton. The navy
yard is without any information whatever,
and the coast weather bureau reported the
tug and the submarines as going direct to
Annapolis. In naval circles the circum-
stances together with the inability of life
savers to enter the stranded vessel caused
some uneasness, especially over the con-
dition of the Mocco"in. The Curritucll
life saving station isports the Moccasin
in good condition, without any water in
her
From the coast reports 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 the beach - low water and directly
in nasty surf a. high tide.
1t was ste ed at the navy yard today
that Boat wain Deery will be at once
commented to the President for bravery.
and that it is possible he may be ordered
to prepare for examination for promotion.
The Adder is leaking and her electrical
machinery is badly damaged.
Lieutenant English. commanding officer
of the Peoria, says the little boats ,owed
very well, indeed. until they were just
off the Virginia capes. There the heavy
seas running at the time proved too much
for the frail towing bits of the Adder,
which was towing first, following the tug
They snapped short and the two SUBJ
marines went adrift.
The Peoria sought to catch them, but
bafn tbo ind
RAPIDLY. There were only the broken bits
on which to get hold. so the tug could
only run in between them and keep them
from humping together.
The seas were running entirely too
high for the tug to run alongside the
boats, and it would have been suicidal
to have lowered a boat. All the Peoria
could do. therefore. was to keep the
boats apart.
All Wednesday night this continued
ard then the line between the boats snap
ped.
It was then that Boatswain Deery. ol
BROOKLYN. performed heroic act in a las'
ottemnt to save the boats. With line
about his waist and another in his hands
he leaped into the icy seas that Were
sweeping tug and torpedo boats and swan
to the Adder He made fast his line and
succeeded. at the risk of his lite. IL
regaining the tug.
It was then seen that it would be i'm
possible to anchor the Moccasln. as hao
been determined when 1T was seen tha
the tug could handle but one OF the boat'
in the heavy seas. The Yankton appear
ed and the Moecas.n was left to her. while
the Peoria fought her way up the coas
with the Adder. Green seas swept he'
bows all night and she had a hard time
reaching port.