Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-18
TWO BOILER TUBES
Blown Out From the Steam
Yacht Sylph.
LIEUT.. EVANS REPORT
RECENT ACCIDENT TO THE PRESI-
DENTS YACHT DESCRIBED.
Disposition Shown at the Navy Depart
ment to Minimize Action of
Capt Hatville.
LIEUT.. EVANS REPORT

Secretary Morton has received report
from Lieut. f. 7. Evans, commanding tha
Presidents yacht Sylph, in regard to the
recent accident to that vessel of Cape
Hatteras last Tuesday night. From this
report Ii appears that two boiler tubes
were blown out and the machinery dis
abled so that the vessel was unable to
make any Roadway, also that two men. 7.
F. Murphy. machinists mate. and J. j.
Dalton. seaman. were badly scalded by
the escaping steam. Assistance was rem
dered by the Morgan line steamer FL Cid,
which towed the Sylph into Hampton
Roads, where the injured men Were trans
ferred to the Naval Hospital at Norfolk.
Only Synopsis Given Out.
Only synopsis of the report was made
public at the Navy Department. and a dis
position was shown to minimize the re-
ported action of Capt Hatviile of the
United Fruit Company's steamship Oteri.
in refusing To tow the disabled naval vessel
20 a place of safety
Lieutenant Evans says: Shortly after
dark on the night of the 18th a steamer,
which l have since been Informed is the
Oteri, of the United Fruit Company of
Baltimore, passed the ship. l made dis
tress signals to her and she headed In
passing within fifty yards of the Sylph.
disabled He refused to assist me- did
not even slow down. and passed out of
sight. l beg that the department take
further action in the matter"
According to the published reports ema
mating frori Lieut. Evans, the Sylph was
nOrthbound after leaving Mrs. Roosevelt at
Charleston, S. c., and when disabled OF
Cape Hatteras Lieut.. Evans is credited with
saying: Soon after the accident the
United Fruit Company's steamer. bound for
Baltimore. hove in sight. Answering our
signals for help, she signaled We are not
a towboat,' and passed on
Statement of Capt. Hatville.
On his arrival at Baltimore Capt. Hatville
of the Otero gave his version of the affair,
rs follows:
1--WE saw the signals of distress and
came up alongside about 1 o'clock in the
morning. | did not know what vessel 1t
was as it was very dark; but that would
have made no difference, anyway, for L
would never have failed to aid any vessel
in danger. She asked us to tow her in, and
l replied that II was impossible as / had
periShable cargo, and was in haste to make
port. At that time she riding easily
in fourteen fathoms of water, while there
strong wind blowing. | supposed
she was at anchor, and told them to drop
their anchor if il was not already down.
In her position she was absolutely safe
and could have ridden out any gale / said
that l would report her condition at the
cape, for we We're then within about eighty
miles of Cape Henry This / did, reporting
to the pilot boat that there was vessel In
distress and that tug should be sent to
her at once. This l believe, was done 1
never signaled We are no towboat, did
anything of the kind. If the yacht had
been in any danger l would most certainly
not have refused her aid, perishable cargo
or not. Anybody aboard her who tells the
truth will bear out what | say"