Mexico Missouri message., 1907-06-20
ak MIpsHlPMEN. RoATswAlN
AND FOUR ENLISTED MEN
ARE LOST.
RECENT ENTRIES At ACADEMY
The Young Officers Had Not Been
OF Annapolis Very Long and
Were RIOT Widely Known
Outside Of School.

Washinston--The loss nj one time
the academy at Annapolis, and boat.
swain and four enlisted men attached
to the big battleship Minnesota--elev.
en- men altogether. as reported briefly
10 the navy department-was one of
the most severe blows that has fallen
upon the personnel of the navy since
dhe Spanish war, In the estimation OF
the officials
Tho navy department received dis.
patch from Rear Admiral Evans. in
command Of the United States feet
at Hampton Roads, which says:
Found Firemsn's pltty Box.
A ditty box | ,longing to a fireman
of the Minnesota's missing launch has
been picked up aHoat near berth q
and | am forced to conclude that the
1aunch. with all on board. is lost. Have
ordered an investigation. Was last
seen at explosion pier. Later Admiral
Swans telegraphed that the Ave sea.
men are: II. II. Dodson, seaman; II.
l.. vandern. ordinary seaman; +. r.
Plumber. ordinary seaman; G.. w.
,Westphal. fireman, first class; Jesse
Conn, coal passer. Mldshipman F. p.
Holcomb of the second class was at.
tnched TO the Connecticut and took
passage on the Minnesota's missing
launch. He was a member of the sec
ond class and was appointed to the
naval academy from Newcastle, Del.
His father. Thomas Holcomb, is EN-.
ployed as a clerk in the eomptroller's
office at the treasury department
Hoped There Had Been a Mistake.
The first news of the calamity
reached the department through press
dispatches from Norfolk. Acting Sec.
rotary Newberry and Admiral Brown
son. chief OF the navigation bureau.
and the seasoned naval officers who
make up the stan hoped that thore
had been a mistake because there had
been received no word from Admiral
Evans. the commander.in-chief OF the
Atlantic feet, who was present sn
Hampton Roads. A wireless message
was dispatched from the station at
the Washington navy yard directed TO
the feet lying In the road, inquirinR
Into the accuracy of the report. with
in q half hour an answer came from
Admiral Evans and II dlssipated the
9ast hope that had been cherished The
department sent a wireless message
90 Admiral Evans. requesting him to
furnish the names OF the Ave enlisted
men who made up the crew Of the
missing launch.
YSuns Officers Not Widely Known.
Because of their youth and very re.
cent entry into the naval service, the
young officers who were lost were not
widely known outside OF the naval
academy. MidshipmRn Henry c. Muir.
I'M. Jr., was native OF Ohio and q
member OF the second class at the
nacal academy. Like the others, he
Lad been sent aboard the battleslAp
Minnesota for n summer course of In.
struction, to afford the practical educa.
ton necessary to supplement the the
Oretical work at the navy academy.
Philip II. Field was midshipman
from Colorado. who belonged TO the
first class of the academy Midshipman
Walter G. Ulrich. of the second class,
was from Wisconsin. Midshipman w
II. Stevenson. OF California, was
member of the second class, and Henry
l.. Holden, of Wisconsin, was G mem.
her of the same class.