Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-13
VARIOUS ARTICLES ARE FOUND,
Believed That Men Will Be Found in Boat
When Located=Message of Sympathy
from Pres. and Mrs. Roosevelt.

Norfolk. Va, June 12.-The eleven
men OF the navy who sailed from Dis
| covery pier Exposition grounds in the
early morning on the return trip of
| their steam launch to the battleship
Minnesota, have been given up for
lost. All day long and until tonight the
search and dragging instituted by the
| naval authorities for any signs of the
launch and its occupants has progress
ed but the bodies of the victims of the
catastrophe have not been found. A
piece OF canvas supposed to be part of
the canopy of the launch, a fireman's
ditty box and coat and cap supposed
To have come from the launch have
been found.
w hlie an investigation has been or
dercd no arrangements have been per-
1ected for it, and no statement has
been made as to its trend. In mara
time circles it is not believed that any
steamer or vessel that fouled the
launch is aware Of it. The night was
rough and drizzIng rain and the i'm
perfect light on the launch are be-
lieved to be responsible.
Admiral Evans today admitted that
there could be no further question that
the disaster occurred. The finding OF
the portion of the canopy of the launch
and the coat and cap has confirmed
the superstition that the launch went
down and all on board were lost. While
Virginia day was participated in in or
der not to break the program arranged
in advance the navy officers have de-
cEnrd al new invitations to partici-
pate in festivities and celebrations and
ball game between the army and
navy. scheduled for this afternoon, was
called off
Norfolk, Va, June 12.-It was re-
ported today that the disaster in
Hampton Roads Monday night which
resulted in the sinking of a launch
rom the United States battleship Min
ncsota and the drowning of II men, in
Guiding six midShipmen, who were re
turning from the army and navy ball
at the jamestown Exposition that
night. and five seamen who made up
the crew of the launch resulted from
the Minnesota's launch being run
down by q tug and coal barge which
the former was towing.
The report hich. it was stated had
been made officially on board the bat
ltSIllD AllII1tSbld, uil NOT give inc
name Of the tug or the barge. 1t was
said, however that the tug stopped in
the Roads Immediately following the
accident, but finding no trace of the
object which had been struck or any
sign Of life or anything in the water.
resumed its course with the coal barge
in tow. The presumption is that the
launch, a small craft, sank Immediately
in the darkness of the stormy night,
the II occupants being caught in their
canvass covered craft with no posi-
bic way Of escape and carried to the
bottom. drowning like rats in a trap.
It was raining and the Choppy seas
were sending spray to such an extent
that it became necessary for those in
the launch to have the canvas cover
ing bUttoned tightly to tho sides Of the
little vessel. There was an opening on
each side Of the canvas for the pas
sengers 10 entcr and leave the launch,
but 10th Of these, it is believed, had
been buttoncd down Immediately upon
the launch leaving Discovery Landing
at the jamestown Exposition pier,
shortly after Midnight and the little
launch was making rapidly through
the heavy seas for the battleship Min
nesota when she was suddenly struck
and sent to the bottom in several
fathoms of water.
The only opening in the canvas cam
npy which covered the launch is sup
posed to have been in the front, just
enough for the coxswain, who was
steering the craft. to see ahead.
The crash is supposed to have been
so sudden that not even the coXswain
had time to jump through the opening.
Torpedo boats have been continual
~ searching Hampton Roads for some
trace of the bodies of the missing II.
or objects of some kind from the lost
launch, but the only things reported
found so far are one cap supposed to
have belonged to one of the lost men
and a fireman's ditty box, supposed to
be from the Minnesota's launch. These
were found by the fleet tug Potomac.
The weather continues stormy in the
Roads and the waters are too choppy
to attempt to drag for the missing
launch as yet, but this will be begun |
as soon as the elements will permit. No !
is yet obtainable in Nor /
folk as to the identity of the tug and |
coal barge which are said to have |