Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-01
WARSHIPS In BIG BLOW
LIEUTENANT KILLED AND A SEA
MAN WASHED OVERHEARD.

| BOSTON. October 1-During the storm
| Sunday night which at times blew seventy
| miles an hour. the North Atlantic fleet, at
anchor of Cape Cod. was in serious danger.
Lieut.. John H. Purse of the battleship ILL.,
| nois was dashed against stanchion and
| died Of his injuries yesterday; seaman
| was washed overheard from the battleship
| Minnesota and lost. and the cruiser Des
Moines was damaged by being run down
by the supply ship Glacier.
Boatswain F. H. Bettchal is at the naval
| hospital in Chelsea on the dangerous list
with fractured skull and other injuries.
and three sailors are In the sick bay Of the
Illinois.
The entire fleet at one time was threat
ened with being driven ashore, and waa
saved only by skillful seamanship of the
officers and heroic work Of the crews.
Ships Prepared for Gale.
Previous to signals foretelling the storm.
the fleet had been engaged in target prac-
tice at the scene Of the recent accident to
the battleship Georgia. in which three off,
GERS and eight men lost their lives. When
the storm signals were set the fleet took
every precaution to meet the storm. When
it first broke with the worst gale and the
heaviest rain of the year. besides the ordf-
nary anchor, all ground tackle, Including
the heavy Hedge anchors, were firmly set,
steam was kept up to highest pressure, and
this prevented many of the heaviest ships
from breaking their moorings.
The fleet was riding at anchor In cape
Cod bay about five miles Off the entrance
to Barnstable harbor and the Sandy Neck
lighthouse, a location which seemed safe.
In the first fury Of the storm all ships held
to their anchors.
The first trouble came when the supply
ship Glacier broke from her starboard an
Choir. and her force of full steam ahead
caused her to turn so that she was driven
by the wind toward the DeS Moines, an
chOred on her port.
The first crash was slight. but the wind
caused her to foul the entire length of the
battleship.
Supply Ship and Des Moines Collide.
The two ships crashed together by the
force of wind and waves until the Glacier
had torn away from the cruiser two rear
davits. two big boats and launch. The
Des Moines cleared away under steam and
the Glacier headed out to sea to prevent
being driven ashore
When day broke yesterday morning the
Glacier came to the Charlestown navy yard
for inspection and to get extra anchors for
herself and other ships Of the fleet. Com
mander Bennett of the Glacier reported
that he knows of no further damage to the
other ships
The battleship Illinois came to Boston
yesterday afternoon. where the navy yard
tug Iowona received the body Of Lieut.
Purse and to get the injured sailors who
had been reported by wireless to the local
yard. The Illinois came to the yard when
the tide permitted, and later went back to
the practice grounds.
Fatal Accident to Lieutenant.
The accident to Lieut. Purse, which re-
suited In his death, was caused by heavy
wave. He was one Of the officers on deck
at the time. The wave struck the ship and
an exceptionally heavy gust Of wind caught
him simultaneously. throwing him against
hatch He received internal injuries
from which he died at o'clock yesterday
morning.
Capt. Blockinger of the Illinois sent noti-
f1cation through the navy yard to Judge A.
8. Batcheller Of Littleton. NJ: H.. and to
James Purse Lieut.. Purses brother, who
is connected with the auditors Office Of the
Southern railway at Savannah. Ga. of the
death and asking Instructions regarding the
body.
More than twenty hours the great ships
were tunbled about in the big seas which
surged Into the bay.
Some of the vessels lost two anchors,
while the Minnesota, Kentucky. Ohio.
Caesar. Mayfower and Marcellus each lost
one anchor.
The Kearsarge and Maine also lost their
anchors later getting under way. The
Maine recovered hers. and the admiral
stated that 1t was expected that the other
anchors would be recovered.
Some Of the ships put into Provincetown
while others went to the Boston navy yard
The Two Victims Of the Storm.
Lieut. John H. Purse was bright young
officer, well liked by those with whom he
had served. He was born in South Caro-
lima on April 20. 1880, and was appointed
as a midshipnan at the Naval Academy
from Georgia on May 20. 1897. On June Z.
1903, he was promoted to be ensign and
to be lieutenant from June Of last year.
Following his graduation at the Naval
Academy he served on the New York and
the Isla de Cuba as a midshipman. and
later as an ensign on the Cincinnati, the
Annapolis and the Illinois. His service as
a lieutenant was on board the Illinois. to
which vessel he was attached at the time
of his death.
Seaman Harris Carroll was born In Bak-
ersville, Tenn, and enlisted from Deers-
burg Of the same state.