The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-06-14
ELEVEN LIVES
LOST LOST; STEAMER
SINKS LAUNCH
Dead include SIX Midshipmes
E-esh From Naval Academy
Five Enlisted Men.

Washington. D. G., lane 12--The less
1T ore time OF six bright young mid
shipmen fresh from the academy at
Annapolis and a boatswatn and four
enlisted men attached to the battleship
Minnesota eleven men all together. as
reported briefly to the lavy department
ye~sterday-was II of the most severe
blows that has fallen upon h person
mel OF the navy since the Span.sh Wa,
in the estimation OF the officials.
Evans Gives Up Hope.
The navy department has received 4
dispatch from tea Admiral Evans, IN
command of the United States fleet at
Hampton Roads, which says:
"A dirty box belonging to fireman OF
the Minnesota's missing launch mas
been picked up afloat near berth -. and
I am forced to conclude that the launch
with all on board is lost. Have ordered
board of investigation. Steamer seen
at exposition pier about midnight last
night"
List of Dead seanen.
Admiral Evans telegraphed that the
five missing seanen are.
E. H. DODSON, anna
H. L. VANDERNE, ordinary sea-
man.
F. r. PLUMBER, ordinary seaman.
G.. w. WESTPHAL. fireman, first
class.
JESSE CONN, coal passer.
identity of Lost Midshiprren.
Because of their youth and very re-
cent entry into the naval station the
young officers who We're lost We're not
widely known outside of the naval aca-
deny.
Midshipman Henry c. Murtin, jr-
was a native of Ohio and a member
of the second class of the naval acad-
envy. Like the others. he had bee.
sent aboard the battleship Minnesota
for a unmer course of instruction to
afford the practical education neces-
isary to supplement the theoretical
work at the naval academy.
Philip H. Field was a midshipmap
fro m. Colorado, who belonged to the
first class of the academy.
Midshipman Walter c. Ulrich, Of
the second class, was from Wis
consin.
M%idshipman w. H. Stevenson. of
California, was a member of the Sec
ono class, and Henry l.. Holden, OF
Wisconsin, was a member of the same
class.
Midshipman F. P. Holcomb, second
class, was attached to the Connecticut
and took passage on the Minnesota's
missing launch. He was a member OF
the second class and was appointed to
the naval academy from Newcastle
Del. His father, Thomas Holcomb, is
SllplOyGo dS q AASAh A1 liz 4
lers Office at the treasury department
First News in Press Reports.
The first news Of the calamity
reached the department through the
Associated Press dispatches from Nor
folk. A wireless message was dis
patched from the station at the Wash.
lngton navy yard directed to the fleet
lying In the road, inquiring into the acc
euracy OF the report. Within a half
hour the answer came from Admira
Evans and it dissipated the last hope
that had been cherished that the report
might be untrue.
In the opinion Of the officials of the
department Admiral Evans had de-
layed sending this sad message until
he had exhausted every means of find
ing a trace of the missing men.
Sailors Cling to Hope.
Sailors at the navy department. said
there was always a chance hat the
launch had merely broken her machin.
cry and going adrift without control
in the very strong ebb tides that swept
through the roads had perhaps gone
out to sea with her crew and passen.
gers still safe.
The following Information was re.
reiyed from the flagship Connecticut,
bearing on the accident.
from the Minnesota lost last
night about 1890 o'clock a. M, while
returning from the exposition pier. Six
midshtpmen and the launch's crew OF
five enlisted men are thought to have
been drowned. Caps Of two midship-
men were found floating in the har-
Dor tonight. No survivor to give de-
tails. Indication that launch was run
down by a steamer"
The father of Harley Van Dorne is
c., T.. Van Dorne. of Cedar Ranids tn