The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-13
Tragic Death of Ann
 apolis Midshipmen
WERE RUN DOWN BY TUGBoAT
Canvass Covering Dragged Them
 to Bottom of Sea.
Little Launch is Believed to Have Struck a Boat on Stormy Night During
 Rough Sea.

Norfolk. Va. June 12.-It was report. ed today that the disaster in Hampton Roads Monday night. which resulted m the sinking of launch from the united States battleshfp Minnesota and the drowning of eleven men, fn- ciudlng six midshipmen, who were re- turning from the army and navy ball at the Jamestown Exposition that night, and five seamen who made up the crew Of tho launch, resulted from the Minnesota D lar nch being run down by tug and coal barge which fhe tug was towing.
 The report which, 1t was stated. had been made officially on board the bat tleship Minnesota, did not give the fame Of the tug or the barge. It was said. however. that the tug stopped in the roads immediately following the accident, but finding no trace of the object which had been struck, or any sign of life, or anything in the water. resumed It's course with the coal barge in tow.
 The presumption is that the launch. small craft, sank immediately in the darkness of the stormy night, the elev- en occupants being caught in their canvas-covered craft with no possible way of escape and carried to the bot tom. drowning like rats in a trap.
 Canvas Covering Butfoned.
 It was raining and the choppy seas were sending spray to such an extent that 1t became necessary for those in the launch to have the canvas cover ing buttoned tightly to the sides of tho little vessel.
 There was an opening on each side of the canvas for the passengers to en- ter and leave the launch but both of these. 1t Is believed. had been buttoned down immediately on the launchs leav- ing the exposition pier. shortly after midnight and the little launch was making rapidly through the heavy seas for the battleship Minnesota when she was suddenly struck and sent to the bottom in several fathoms of water.
 The only opening in the canvas can opy, which covered the launcA is sup posed to have been in the front. just enough for the coxswain. who was steering the craft to see ahead.
 The crash is supposed to have been so sudden that not even the coxswain had time to jump through the opening. The only things reported found so far are one cap. supposed to have belonged to one of the lost men, and a fireman's ditty box, supposed to be from the Min nesotas launch. These were found by the fleet tug Potomac.
 The weather was stormy in the roads and the waters are too choppy to attempt to drag for the missing launch as yet. but will be commenced as soon as the elements will permit. No information is yet obtainable in Norfolk as to the identity of the tug and coal barges which are said to have struck the Minnesota's launch. Lieutenant Randall, of the marine corps. who came ashore with the mid- shipmen, missed the launch on the re- turn trip and remained ashore over night.
 Later Developments.
 A special to The Ledger Dispatch from Newport News says that. after a searching investigation in the marine disaster. 1t had been ascertAined that the only barge that reached Newport News Monday night after having pass- ed through Hampton Roads were the Annie and Gwennie. which arrived in tow of the tug Eureka. The officers and crew of the Eureka say positively that their boat was not the one that struck tn eMinnesota's launch and that they knew absolutely nothing about the affair.
 Admiral Evans tonight telegraphed the navy department that the boats of the fleet were dragging the waters for tho missing launch and the bodies of the eleven victims and that a board is Investigating the catastrophe. Tho ad- miral also stated that the general op- inion was that the launch had been run down by steamer. The admiral stated that all hope had been abandon ed for the men.