The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-06-15
/ DROWN NEAR NORFOLK
SIX MlpSHIPMEN,. A BOATSWAIN
AND FOUR ENLISTED MEN
ARE LOST.
RECENT ENTRIES A ACADEMY
at Annapolis Very Long and
Were Not Widely Known
Outside of School.

washington, June lZ.-Ile loss al
one time of six bright young midship-
men, fresh from the academy at An
napolis, a boatswain and four
enlisted men attached to the
big battleship Minnesota-eleven men
altogether, as reported briefly to the
navy department-was one of the most
severe blows that has fallen Upon the
personnel Of the navy since the Span
ish war, in the estimation OF the OFF,
Gals.
The navy department received a dis
patch from Rear Admiral Evans. in
command of the United States fleet
at Hampton Roads, which says:
Found Fireman's Ditty Box.
A ditty box belonging to a fireman
Of the M~innesota'S missing launch has
been picked up afiOat near berth 81
and | am forced to conclude thai the
launch, with all on board, is lost. Have
ordered an investigation. Was last
seen at exposition pier about mid
night Monday night. Later Admiral
Evans telegraphed that the five sea-
men are: R. H. Dodson, seaman; H.
L.. Vandern, ordinary seaman; F. R.
Plumber, ordinary seaman; G.. w.
Westphal, fireman, first class; Jesse
Conn, coal pasSer. MidShipman +. p.
Holcomb of the second class was at
tached 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 clelh in the comptroller's
office at the treasury department.
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 staff hoped that there
had been a mistake because there had
been received no word from Admiral
Evans, the commander-in-chief of the
Atlantic fleet, who was present in
Hampton Roads. A wireless message
was dispatched from the station at
the Washington navy yard directed to
the feet lying in the road. inquiring
into the accuracy of the report. With
in a half hour an answer came from
Admiral Evans and it dissipated the
last hope that had been cherished. The
department sent a wireless message
to Admiral Evans, requesting him to
furnish the naTtes of the five enlisted
men who made up the crew of the
missing launch.
Young Officers Not Widely Known.
Because of their youth and very re-
cen entry into the naval service, the
young officers who were lost were not
widely known outside of the naval
academy. Midshipman Henry G. Muir
fin, Jr., was a native Of Ohio and a
member of the second class at the
naval academy. Like the others, he
had been sent aboard the battleship
Minnesota for a summer course of in
.struction, to afford the practical educa-
ton necessary to supplement the the
Oretical work at the navy academy.
Colorado, who belonged to the first
class of the academy. Midshipman
Walter c. Ulrich, of the second class,
was from Wisconsin. Midshipman w.
H. Stevenson, of California, was a
member of the second class, and Henry
L. Holden, of Wisconsin, was a mem
Der of the same class.