Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-13
Every Effort 10 Recover Officers
and Men lost IN Launch
Disaster Proves Futile.
ACCIDENT sHRouDED IN MYSTERY.
The One TUG That Came into New.
port News On Monday Might Did
Not Hit Launch. says the Crew
Dragging Hampton Roads for Bod.
les and Pieces of the Boat.
Daily Press bureau,
Hampton, Va, June

Daily Press Bureau,
Hampton, Va, June IL.
According to orricers coming ashore
from the ships OF the North Atlantic
squadron last night, nothing has
been heard from the missing launch
of the battleship Minnesota. which
was lost In Hampton Roads early
Tuesday morning
Although the small launches of the
vessels kept up a diligent search all
day yesterday, the night came upon
them without the slightest trace OF
the launch or its occupants.
Many reports were in circulation
around Old Point last night bIt none
of them could be verified. One report
had 1t that the launch was found ut
the Virginia capes in very much
( delapidated condition and that the
body Of midshipman was taken
from it. Another report was to the
effect that the launch hal been pick
ed up at Cape Charles and that all
of the missing men We're alive. No
credence Is given either of the rum.
ore In navy circles.
Capt George Elliott. who is IN
charge of a large fishing smack. re-
ported ITO the authorities yesterday
.nthut HIS lhcll lueSuuy
picked up seaman's overcoat float.
ing in Hampton Roads. The coat waa
found just few hundred yards from
Armstrong; shore and the fishermen
are of the opinion now that the coat
/ is' the property of one of the missing
seamen.
Early yesterday morning report
reached Sheriff r. X. Curtis that
large amount of clothing belonging
to sailors had been washed ashore
just above Buckroe Beach. The sher-
iff went to tie scene and found that
the articles found we're very old and
he Is of the opinion that the small
/ fragments found here could not have
belonged to the men on the missing
launch. There were two sailors caps
Z In the lot, but as the bands had been
washed out the Identification was i'm.
possible. A small piece of cloth was
found and 1t was said an arm of
sailors shirt was among the effects.
Cloth, having every indication OF be-,
ing a part of decking, was also
picked up.
Piece of Canopy Recovered.
A report came ashore from the
warships this afternoon to the effect
that piece of canopy, presumably
part OF the covering of the Inflated
launch OF the battleshfp Minnesota.
which was lost Monday night will,
eleven men had been brought up from
the waters depths by the battleship
Alabama's launch. Dragging in the
Roads is in progress, and 1t was
while engaged in this search that
the. piece OF canopy was brought up
Divers will be sent down at this point,
JUharn tho nj t1roc
The hats of several seamen have
been brought to the surface. They
hear no marks. but are supposed to
have belonged to the seamen aboard
the launch.
Officers coming ashore from the
fleet tonight said the. missing men
have been given as lost. The only
hope for the men now is that they
may have been picked up by outgoing
vessels, but ghis Is improbable as
they would likely have signalled Cape
Henry that they had. these men on,
board.
One report today was that the Min
nesota's launch was ruiz down by a
tug and a coal barge which the for.
mer was towing. The report did not
give the name of the tug or the
barge. 1t was said. however. that the
tug stopped IN the Roads Immediately
following the accident, but finding mo-
trace OF the object which had been
struck or any sign of life or anything
In the water. resumed its course with
the coal barge in tow.
The presumption is tina, the launch
small craft, sank Immediately In
the darkness OF the stormy night. the
eleven occupants being caughtin their
canvas covered craft with no posi-
BILE way of escape and carried to. the
bottom. drowning like rats in q trap.
1T 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 COW
ering buttoned to the sides of the
little vessel. There was nm opening
ON each side Of the canvas for the
passengers to enter and leave the
launch, but both of these. tits taliev.
ed. had been bnnttoned down upon
the launch's crew after leaving Dis.
covery Landing at the Exposition