New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-12
WARSHIP LAUNCH LOST
ELEYEN NEN ABOARD.
FeGr That Sir M;ddics and Fire
.So;}crs PerishcG off Norfolk.


left Discovery Landing. at the jamestown ex-
nostion grounds shortly after midnight on a
la1,ach Of the hattleship Minnesota are missing
and il IS believed that the launch. with the
eleven on board, has gone to the bottom of
Hampton Roads
The missing mdshipmen are Philip H Field.
William H. stevenson. Franklin p Hocomb, H
1. Holden Henry Clay Murfin, jr., and Walter
Carl Ulrich. The lost seamen are r. H Dod-
son. Jesse Conn Frank r. Plumber, Harley L.
Van Dome and George w. Westphal
Al midnight the following information was re-
ceived from the flagship Connecticut hearing on
the disaster.
Launch from the Minnesota lost last night
about 1870 a. m while returning from the ex-
position pier. Six midshipmen and the launch's
grew Of five enlisted men are thought to have
been drowned. Capes of two nlidshipmen were
found floating in the harbor tonight No sur
vivor TO give absolute details. Opinion is that
launch was run down by a steamer"
SAY STEAMER RAN LAUNCH DOWN.
It said here tonight that the naval off,
:ials had absolute knowledge Of the identity OF
steamer which ran down the launch, and that
the arrest of the crew Of the steamer was ex-
oected 10 follow soon.
= box belonging TO the fireman Of the launch
was found floating near here to-day and as the
rom the exposition pier officers of the feet
gave up all hope Of ever seeing the men.
The six rnidshipmen. accompanied by Lieuten-
ant D. NJ Randall. came ashore last night in the
launch Of the Minnesota. which has been lying
In Hampton Roads, TO attend a ball on the
position grounds. Il after midnight when
the party got away on The return trip. officers
of the feet to-day expressed the opinion that the
aunch was IN collision with something and that
The boat with its occupants went down. The
accident caused great excitement here. An in
restigation has been ordered by Rear Admiral
Evans.
Early tonight the monitor Florida found a
cape afoat in Hampton Roads which has been
identified as that which worn by Mdship
nan Ulrich last night. Lieutenant Randall, OF
The United States marine corps. who was IN
.Iudcd in the first list Of missing, has arrived
here safe. He did not take passage on the
Ninnesota's launch, as had been supposed.
BOILER MAY HAVE BURST.
While the launch carried a good sized party,
no one mas been seen who can say exactly how
many occupants the launch contained. The
a1en in the launch appeared to be in high spirits
after an evening OF dancing. How the launch.
buoyed up by so many alright compartments,
sould have been lost is yet a matter Of specula-
Ton. One theory is that 1t run into and
eut IN two by a passing vessel, which may have
passed completely over the unfortunate occu-
pants Of the launch, and another is that the
boiler In the launch exploded, tearing up the
aunch and killing the occupants. Those In the
launch must have met with sudden death. as IT
S likely that some of them would have swum
ashore had the launch merely foundered
The commanding officer Of the Minnesota TO-
aiEht refused to take any notice Of wireless mes
rages from press representatives asking for in
,ornoatlon. The coast on all sides OF Hampton
Roads is being patrolled tonight for bodies that
may possibly wash ashore. The police Oh the
surrounding cities and towns and the Powhatan
Guards at the jamestown exposition have been
asked 10 assist in the search.
Naval officers are tonight using every effort
70 ascertain who were in the launch. A large
humber Of men are reported missing from the
various ships. Men have been detailed TO search
Norfolk, Portsmouth Newport News and vicinity
The vessels Of the fleet are keeping in constant
rterconlmurication by wireless telegraph
Washington. June 1.-THE loss in a launch
h Hampton Roads last night Of six midshlp-
men fresh fro-l the academy at Annapolis
soxsyYain and four other enlisted men attached
10 the bettleship Minnesota-eleven men a4'o-
gether-was reported briefly TO the Navy De-
partment to-day This is one Of the most
severe blows that have fallen upon the peTsoilAe4
Of the navy Eince the Spanish War.
The Navy Department tonight received a dis
patch from Rear Admiral Evans in command
Of the United States fleet at Hampton Roads
which SAYS:
"a ditty box belonging 10 fireman Of the
Ninnesota's missing launch has been picked up
IAoat near Berth 81. and I am forced TO con-
sude that launch with all on board Is Iost
Have ordered board Of investigation. Launch
asst seen at exposition pier about midnight last
night"
The first news Of the calamity reached the de-
psrtment through press dispatches from Nor
folk Acting Secretary Newberry and Admiral
srownson chief of the navigation bureau
hoped that there had been a mistake because
hey had received no word from Admiral Evans
VINO vas in Hampton Roads. wireless mes
Eage was dispatched 10 the fleet lying In the
Dads. inquring into the accuracy Of the report.
Within half an hour there came an answer from
Admiral Evans. and II dissipated the last hope
'nat had been cherished.
In the opinion Of the officials Of the depart
merit Admiral Evans had delayed sendlhg Ihe
TAD message until he had exhausted every means
u finding trace Of the missing men me
failork az he Navy Department said that thefe
vas always a chance that the launch had mercy
Frozen down her machinery. and, Going adrlt'
"lthou; control :n the Yery strong ebb tides t'al
sweep through the roads had perhaps gone out
o sea w:h he- crew and passengers stil safe.
mere was also the chance that, having been run
''"n hr some big steamer the men hac peeh
1auled aboard, while The launch had gone DOWN
IA either event IT was thought news wouid
"I'f been received before o'clock. when Al
a-'al Evans made hts report. Undoubtedly ne
Aal sHept the nearby waters with the small