Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-12
Admiral Evans Removes Doubt.

Several dispatches from Rear Admiral
Evans regarding the recent catastrophe
to the launch of the Minnesota in
Hampton roads, received at the Navy
Department late last evening. were made
public this morning. They were mainly
confrmatory of the press accounts OF the
accident In one dispatch Admiral Evans
said that Lieut.. ID. NJ Randall of the
Marine Corps was not a passenger In the
missing launch, as was at first supposed,
and that he is now safe in Norfolk.
In another dispatch Admiral Evans
said that the launch of the Minneapolis
was still missing and that grave fears
are entertained that she was run down
and sunk.
Another belated dispatch from Admiral
Evans says:
Request that bureau inform next of
kin that six officers and five enlisted
men previously reported were undoubt-
eddy drowned last night at Hampton
roads. The uniform caps OF Midshipmen
Stevenson and Ulrich have been picked
up afioat this afternoon. -.
Holcomb Formerly Lived Here.
Mdshipman Holcomb, who was drowned
near Norfolk Monday night, was a District
boy He was a son of Thomas Holeomb. a
law clerk of the office of the controller OF
the treasury Mr.. Holcomb was auditor for
the State Department during the last ad-
ministration of President Cleveland. having
come here from Delaware. He had lived In
Washington many years. Although Mid
shipman Holcomb was appoin ted from Del
aware his home had been in Washington
for many years. His father had lived. un-
til recently, at 1913 l street, but Mrs. Hol-
comb some time ago went to Delaware on
a visit to relatives, and Mr.. Holcomb went
for the summer to the suburbs. He went
to Norfolk at once upon receipt of tele-
gram announcing the death of his son.
Friends of Mr. Holcomb in the treasury
and elsewhere We're deeply grieved to know
that death had taken his favorite child
from him..
Franklin P. Holcomb the midshpman,
resided in Washington number Of years.
He was twenty-five years old last Decem-
her. He graduated from the Western High
School in 1902, and shortly afterward was
admitted to the Naval Academy. He grad
uated from Annapolis in September of last
year, and was detailed for duty on the Con-
necticut, to which ship he has been at
tached ever since.
He was the youngest member of the fam
lily and has Older brother living in Phil
adephia. First Lieut.. Thomas Holcomb,
jr. stationed at Camp Harrington, Will
liamsburg. Va. and who is the crack rifle
of young HOlconb.
The young man was said to have been
an expert swimmer. and it is therefore be-
lieved that IL the launch met with a dis
aster it was other than the capsiZing of
the boat. The distressed father left for
Norfolk this morning.
The relatives of Midshipman Franklin P
Holcomb, who is believed to have been lost
in Hampton roads with the others who were
aboard the steam launch of the Minnesota
have received telegram from Capt. Hugo
Osterhaus, commanding the United States
battleship Connecticut. The message states
that it is feared the young man has lost his
life with the others on the launch and that
the search is still being carried on.
InIa flt hnr of tha mic Civ,s
midshipman, is employed in the controller
office of the United States Treasury. His
home is at 174o 18th street. but he Is living
temporarily at 1923 Wisconsin avenue
Mrs. Holcomb, the boys mother, and hel
daughter are visiting in Newcastle, Del.
the old home of the family.
The message the father received from
Capt. OsterhauS is as follows:
Your son, Midshipnan Holcomb. die
not return aboard this morning. 1t is
feared that he was in a party of officers
who returned from a ball given at the
jamestown exposition last night in the
Minnesota's steam launch, which is miss
ing and for which search is now COINS
on"