Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-06-13
LIKE RATS In TRAP
Grew Of the Minnesota's launch Had
No Chance to Escape.
MEN CAUGHT UNDER BOAT COVER
Belief that it Was Run Down by Tug
or Barge.
DREDGING FOR BODIES BEGINS
Part Of Canopy Brought Up by Launch
Of Alabama.
SEAMENs CAPS WASHED ASHORE
Inspector CAST Thinks Boat Was
Overturnsa ~ the Heavy Sea
which Was Rum
ming.
sEAMENs CAPS WASHED AsHoRl

O-fOLK, Va, June 12-ft was re-
ported today that the disaster IN Hampton
Roads Monday night which resulted in
the sinking Of a launch from the battle
ship Minnesota and the drowning OF eleven
men. including six midshipmen who were
returning from the army and navy ball at
tho jamestown exposition that night, and
Eve seamen who made up the crew Of the
launch, resulted from the Minnesota's
launch being run down by a tug and coal
barge which the tug wns towing
The identity Of the tug and barge are as
yet unknown. II was said that the tug
stopped after the accident, but finding no
trace OF the object struck nor any sign OF
life in the water resumed its course with
the coal barge in tow. The presumption is
that the launch sank Immediately in the
darkness Of the stormy night, the eleven
occupants being caught in their canvas
covered craft with no possible way of es-
caps and carried to the bottom. drowning
like rats in a trap
II was raining and the choppy seas were
sending sprays to such an extent that It
became necessary for those in the launch
to have the canvas covering buttoned
tightly down from overhead 20 the sides
OF the little vessel. It il not yet positively
known whether the tug and barge were
outward or Inward bound, or that the tug
men knew what they had struck.
From the jamestown exposition grounds
II was announced today that officers frum
the feet reported that an excursion
steamer out TO witness the illumination
of the warships Monday night had. On
returning from Norfolk. struck an un-
known object having no light upon IT.
II is believed this was the Minnesota's
launch.
Drcdging for Bodies.
Dredging for the missing launch and
bodies will begin from the Discovery
landing and course followed similar TO
that which 81 is supposed 90 have taken.
A special from Newport News says that
; search is being made for two men from
the torpedo boat destroyer Worden. who
went from that vessel yesterday morning
in q small launch 70 Newport News. They
had some trouble win their engine and.
repairing It as best they could started
for the worden. This. the special says.
is the hast seen OF the men
Supervising inspector OF Steam Vessels
CAST said today that all the excursion
steamers which were out Mona-y night
20 view the Illumination OF the feet had
come In before the Minnesota'S launch left
the exposition pier. He believes the launch
A swift tide was running ard q gale was
blowing Monday night
The weather and tidal conditions pre-
vented a number Of steamers from land
ing that night at old Point and Pine
Beach.
A report came ashore from the war
ships this afternoon that q small piece
of canopy. presumably part OF the cover
ing OF the launch, had been brought up
by the battleship Alabama's launch while
dragging in the reads. Divers win be
sent down down at the spot whore the
piece OF canopy was found The hats OF
several seannen have been brought 10 the
surface. They bear no marks, but are
supposed TO belong 20 the seamen aboard
the launch.
NEWPORT NEWS. va, June i1-shortly
before noon today articles were wsrhed
ashore at BuclrOe beach supposed TO come
from the Inflated launch OF the NJ We
sofa which was sunk in Hampton R~AdI
Monday night The articles consisted oi
two sailors caps with capbanSs missing
making Il impossible TO iden. ify them
and other portions OF the cloth similar &c
that used for cushions on naval launches
a sleeve from the blouse of a sailor and &
portion Of an awning similar 10 the one
that covered the launch in question.
President seaas Message.
BALTIMORE. Md-. June IA Telegram
expressing the shock and grief Of Fresiden
and Afrs Roosevelt az the news OF the dis
aster In Hampton Roads yesterday wa
written by the president on the train anS
sent from Baltimore a. follows;
Rear Admiral r. D. EvanA care Nav
Department, washington, ID. C.--We are in
expressiniy shocked and grieved by III
news OF the disaster.
WASHINGTON. June l2-A dis Rtcl
from Admiral Evans requesting tina tn
next OF kin be Informed that the ofaocr
aud enlisted men previously reported q
missing were undoubtedly drowned. wa
made public al the Navy department 20
day The dispatch adds that the uniform
eapes Of Midshipmen Stevenson ana Ulriel
have been picked up.