Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-12

Maine's Boat Rammed.
1t was learned tonight upon excel.
lent authority that the launch from
the battleship Maine was run into and
seriously damaged by an unknown
launch early this morning and many
express the opinion that probably the
Names launch struck the missing
Minnesota's launch. 1t was said that
the Names launch had large hole
stove In her bow anu that she en-
countered great difficulty in getting
to the ship. 1t was necessary for the
lanch to be hoisted UP with the pull
leys and 1t Is said that the launch
is damaged until she is almost use.
less. &
The news of the missing launch
has cast a great sorrow over tho ships
of tho North Atlantic fleet and 1t Is
reported that all social functions
have been called off and that the Of
Ulcers of the ships will decline TO par
ticipate in further entertainments.
A GoX Belonging to the fireman OF
the launch was found floating near
here today.
Lieutenant Randall Safe.
Lieutenant David Randall, Unit
ed States Midshipman, came
asohre last night in the launch
of the Minnesota and it was first
thought he had accompanied the par
ty on their return trip, but 1t was
learned tonight that he was safe In
Norfolk. He did not take passage on
tho Minncsota's launch as had been
supposed.
While the launch carried good
sized party no one has been found
who can say exactly how many occu.
pants the launch contained, The men
In the launch appeared to be in high
spirits after an evening of dancing.
How the launch buoyed UP by so
many alright compartments could
have been lost Is yet mystery. The
theory Is that 1t was run into and
cut In two by a passing vessel which
may have passed completely over the
unfortunate occupants of the launch
and another Is that the boiler in the
launch exploded. tearing up the
launch and killing the occupants.
Those in the launch must have met
with sudden death az 1t Is likely that
some of them would have swan
ashore had the launch merely foun.
dered.
Minncsota's Captain Refuses to Talk.
The commanding officer of the
Minnesota tonight refused to take any
notice Of wireless messages from
press Representatives asking for in
formation. The coast on all sides OF
Hampton Roads is being patrolled to-.
night for bodies that may possibly
wash ashore. The police of the sur
rounding cities and towns and the.
tYtt, tl. L. L.
Exposition have been asked to assist
IN the search for the men known to
be missing. Naval officers are to.
night using every effort to ascertain
who was In the launch. A large num-
Der of men are reported missing from
the various ships. Men have been
detailed to search Norfolk, Ports.
mouth, Newport News and vicinity.
The vessels Of the fleet are keepfng
In constant inter-communlcation by.
wireless telegraph. s.
Third Accident.
This makes the third accident, in
Which lives were lost, occurring to
the Atlantic Squadron since the ships
came to Hampton Roads to attend tho
jamestown Exposition. On the night
OF April 90, the launches of tho Viz
sinia and Connecticut colllded off Old
Point and Chief CoXswain Karl Au-
gustave Stein lost his life by drown
ing. On the night of May 18th the
launch from the Kearsarge was run
down and Seaman Biedes was drown
ed. III
IL had been expected that the Sec.
ond division of the squadron would
sail for the South tomorrow, but TO.
oh t. Lon