The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-21

Newport News, Va, June 18.-Tcdav
the waters Of Hampton Roads gave up
the bodies of four more victims Of the
Minnesota's launch disaster, two dead
midshipmen and two bluejackets beiDc
picked up about a mile off Fort Wool
Grip Raps) within half a mile OF
where the launch was SINK. 'fhe
cOrpSeS were those Of MidshipmcC
Walter Carl Ulrich and Herbert Lean
der Holden; ordinary Seaman II L.
VandOrn and Coal Passer Jesse Conn.
Rea: Admiral Emory, commanding
the American feet now in Hampton
Roads, left for Washington tonight.
1t is understood that h. goes to the
capital to make a complete report upon
the tragedy and confer with the navy
department in regard to tie investiga-
ton which is 10 be begun. Before
boarding the steamer Washington, the
admiral said to the representative of
the Associated Press that the bodies
of eight of the eleven who were on
boarI the launch had been recovered
SHNt ~
recovered were the remains Ct Mid
shipmen Philip ". Field, of Virginia,
who graduated fast !"Ir II was at
taCked to tho bo.::esnl1 Minnesota;
Midshipman William EOldctpr Stew
enson, of North Carolina, who gradu-
ated last year and "a attached to the
Minnesota; Midshipman F. p. fiol-
comb, Of Delaware. who graduated in
February of this year II belonged to
the Connecticut; Midshipman Car
Walter Ulrich, of Wisconsin, who grad
uated in February and was attached
to the Minnesota; Ordinary Seaman
H. l.. VandOrn. first lass Fireman
George w. Westfall and Coalpasser
Jesse Conn, all of the Minnesota's
crew.
Still missing are the bodies of Mid
shipman Henry Clay Murfin, OF Wis
consin, who graduated in February
and was assigned to the Minnesota;
Seaman r. H. DObsOn, of New YORK,
and Ordinary Seaman +. r. Plumber,
Of Mabtor, Washn., both OF whom We're
attached to the Minnesota.
Since three dead midsllipmen were
found yesterday launches and tugs
have been searching all over lower
Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads.
This morning about 10 O'Clock the ex-
cursion steamer Mabel Goldman sight
ed and picked up the body OF a blue
Jacket which was afterwards Identified
+ho+ ~f Nr1inapU Seaman . ~ L.
Vandorn. The body was towed to the
government pier at Old Point and
later taken to the Minnesota. Later
near the same place, h tug Mohawk
found the body of Midshipman Holden
the tug Potomac that of Midshipman
Ulrich and the launch of the battleship
Maine that of Coalpasser Conn.
All of the corpses were aiken aboard
the Minnesota and there identified and
examined by board of surgeons, before
being placed aboard the Potomac and
carried to the marine hospital at
Portsmouth. At the hospital the cas-
kets are being helG for instructions
from the relatives of the dead men.
Tonight the search is still going
forward. A stiff breeze is blowing and
a misty rain coming down, but all
the searchlights in the feet are play
ing on the tugs and launches as they
pass to and fro hauling grapnels. The
officers are confident that the other
three bodies will be found within The
next t~wenty-four hours.
Late this afternoon the launch CT
the battleship Iowa picked up the
body of F. r. Plumber. ordinary sea-
man. near where the other four were
found earlier in the day. The body OF
Midshipman Henry Clay Murfin is now
the only one missing.
Norfolk. Va, June 1S.-The investi-
CATION by local steamboat Inspectors
Tapley and Bry today of the sinking
of the battleship Minnesota's launch
was barren of result save that the wit
neSSeS. all Of whom were members OF
the crews of the tug Crisfield and car
float No. 10 of the New York, Phila-
delphia and Norfolk railway. testified
to their lack Of knowledge of any col
lission between their vessels Il an
other through which the loss Of the
launch might have resulted. No light
whatever was thrown upon the
tragedy.