Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-15

mac. The body is that of G. W. Westphal,
first-class fireman on the launch Accord
ing to statements of naval officers on the
Potomac, no trace of the other bodies has
been found. Doubt still exists as to the
number of men on the Inflated boat when
it left the exposition pier early Tuesday
morning after the Georgia ball. and now
1t may never be known whether some of
| the ships liberty breakers were in the
launch that night or are deserters from the
navy
Badly Crushed In.
The launchs wood work and canopy are
crushed in. and it would seem to be clear
that the little craft was run down. Appar-
emily the other bodies fioated out through
the opening in the canopy made by the COL
lision all of the men except the firemen
got away from the launch without succeed
ing in saving their lives When the launch
was hauled to the surface it was held by
the cranes of the Potomac, which were not
| sufficiently strong TO raise it out of the
water, and floating derrick was sent from
| the Norfolk navy yard In tow of two tugs.
| The derrick reached the scene at 10 o'clock
and Immediately went to work on the
| launch. raising it and depositing it on decss
in short order.
Big Hole Forward.
The Minnesota's launch as it rests on
the deck of the floating derrick presents
a picture of partial wreck. A hole about
four feet high and two feet wide, with
stove in on the starboard side about eight
fleet from the stern
The hole is largest on the bilge of the
hull. and the break extends down to the
keel. On the brass peak of the bow the
metal is bright in several places and there
steel cable.
This leads the naval officers who made
the examination of the launch to the con-
viction that the tow line of a-tug with a
tow figured in the collision. Some of the
officers hold to the opinion that the cable
was responsible for the large hole in the
starboard side of the boat which, after
striking the hawser, doubtless overturned
and struck bottom on end. The smokestack
is bent considerably to starboard. The iron
pipes forming the canopy frames are badly
twisted and in the rear the canopy and
frames were mashed down almost fat
They had to be torn away this morning be-
fore The naval board and the supervising
steamboat inspectors could prosecute their
investigation Some of the effects of those
aboard were found, including caps and hats.
The air compartment of the boat was pene-
trated SO sharply and completely that il
the hole was not made by coming in con-
struck the tow after colliding with the tow
line.
Will Make an Inspection.
The board of inquiry, which has been in
session aboard the battleship Indiana, will
make an inspection OF the boat, and its find
ings as to the cause of the sinking, as de-
veIoped by the examination of the wreck,
will be incorporated in its report of the
tragedy. Afterward the launch will be taken
to the navy yard on the derrick. West
phars body was sent aboard the Minnesota
to await the claim of relatives.
Metallic Caskets Prepared.
- Eleven metallic caskets have been pre-
pared and are ready for the reception Of
the bodies just as soon as they are recoV-
cred. The plans are to carry the bodies
first to the battleship Minnesota and there
shroud them, and the likelihood is that they
will then be brought to the Naval Hospital
in Portsmouth and from there shipped TO
wherever may be directed by the parents or
next of kin of the victims.
Just where the inqueSs in the will
be held and by whom they will be conduct
ed has not yet been determined, so far
as is known here. There will lie search
ing investigation. however, and it is likely
that the board Of inquiry which has been
appointed in the case will direct that the
launch Immediately upon its being raised
be brought to the Norfolk navy yard for
minute inspection The "telltale" piece OF
hawser towing rope reported found by the
divers who discovered the launch last night
will be carefully held for comparison with
the hawser of the New York Philadelphia
and Norfolk railroad barge which is
ported to have passed. through Hampton
roads about the time of the disaster Mon
day night, early Tuesday morning.
The flags of all the vessels of the At
lantic fleet which remain in Hampton roads
have been placed at half-mast, and there Is