The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-06-18
SIX MIDSHIPMEN AND
FIVE SAILORS LOST
Minnesota'S Launch Sunk by a
Steamer in Hampton Roads, Va.
VICTIMS RETURNING FROM BALL
Boat Left jamestown Exhibition Pier
at Midnight and Dropped Out of
Sight--Run Down by Excursion
Boat--Fleet Joined in Search.

Boat--Fleet Joined in Search.
Norfolk, Va. - Six midshipmen
fresh from the Naval Academy in An
napolis and FIVE seamen, all of the
battleship Minnesota, lost their lives
in Hampton Roads when their launch
was cut down by steamer. 1t was
announced here that Rear-Admiral
Evans, in command of the Atlantic
feet, of which the Minnesota is a
unit, has absolute knowledge of the
identity of the steamer, and that the
officers will be arrested within TWEEN
ty-four hours. The Rear-Admiral de-
layed sending report of the disap-
pearaLoe of the midshipmen and men
IT, Washington in the hope that the
launch might only have broken down
and been carried out to sea. But
evidence was found proving the colli-
sion and making it clear that all in
the launch had gone down without a
chance of escape. 1t is said that the
steamer passed over the men strug-
Cling in the water
The men lost were
Midshipman W. G. Ulrich, second
class, Wisconsin.
Midshipman w. H. Stevenson, sec
ond class, North Carolina.
Midshipman Philip H. Field, first
class, Colorado.
Midshipman H. L. Holden, second
class, Wisconsin
Midshipman E. p Holcomb, second
class, Delaware.
Midshipman Henry Clay Murfin, Jr.
Seaman R. H. Dodson
Seaman H. l.. Van Dorne.
Seaman F. R. Plumber.
G.. w. Westphal, fireman.
Jesse Conn, coal passer of the Min
nesota.
The midshipmen were returning
from a ball in the exhibition grounds.
They had gone ashore in charge of
Lieutenant David M. Randall, who
was supposed at first to be among
the dead. But investigation has de-
veloped that Randall remained
ashore and came to this city with
friends. Several witnesses have
come forward with statements that
the launch was run down by the
steamer going at high speed. 1t was
about 1890 o'clock when the mid
shipmen returned to the launch and
at once put out for the Minnesota.
No alarm was felt for the safety
of the launch until next morning,
when a detail from the Minnesota
discovered that the party was not
ashore. AS soon as the news was con-
veyed to Rear-Admiral Evans he
sent out scores of launches searching
the waters. Several hours passed
without anything being found, and
hope grew that the launch had
broken down.
The first proof of the disaster was
the picking up of ditty box. 1t was
after he had been informed of the
find that Admiral Evans confirmed
his worst fears to Washington in the
following message.
A ditty box belonging to fire.
man of the Minnesota's missing
launch has been picked up afioat
near berth 81, and I am forced to
conclude the launch with all on board
is lost Have ordered board of in
vestigation. Steamer last seen at
Exhibition Pier about midnight last
night"
officers of the feet were emphatic
In their statements that all the men
could not have been lost had not the
steamer rode over the party. they
pointed to the fact THAT the launch
was buoyed up by many alright COM
partments, yet its destruction appar-
emily was so complete that not part
of it remains afloat.
The belief is that the launch was
cut clean in two, and that the wreck
age was crushed under the weight of
the vessels hull. 1t is also said that
probably the collision was attended
by the explosion of the boiler In the
launch, and that in this event many
of those aboard must have been
instantly killed. Those officers who
spoke about the case agreed that had
any of the men got clear of the
steamer they would have reached
shore by swimming.