The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-13
Admiral Abandons Hope For the
Minnesota's Men.
STEAMER SENT HER DOWN
Canvas Top OF Warship's Launch, with
Several MldshIpmon's Caps.
Found AfIoat.

NORFOLK, Va, June 13.-That the
motor launch OF the battleship Mime
sota, carrying six midshlpmen and Ave
sailors, which was lost on Its trip
from the jamestown exposition 10 the
Minnesota during the night, was run
down aud sunk by steamer or tug
has been pretty well established. An
official report was made to the captain
Of the Minnesota that the launch was
In collision with tug that had n coal
barge In tow. Admiral Evans believes
that all were undoubtedly lost and has
asked the navy department to send OH
cial notice 10 the next OF kin.
A late report from Admiral Evans
says boats OF the fleet are dragging the
waters for the missing launch and the
bodies OF the victims. and a board Is
investigating the catastrophe. All hope
has been abandoned for the missing
men.
The report did not give the name OF
the tug or the barge. II did say, how
ever. that the tug stopped In the roads
Immediately following the accident.
but finding no trace OF the object
which had been struck or any sign OF
life or anything I'm the water resumed
It's course.
The canvas top Of the Mlnnes0ta's
launch and several mldshlpmen's caps
were found by dredgers among the
ships Of the second division Of the At
lantic feet. The search for the bodies
has been renewed with yigor.
The presumption II that the launch.
a small craft. sunk Immediately. the
eleven occupants being caught In their
canvas covered craft with no possible
way of escape aud carried 10 the bot
tom. drowning like rats In a trap.
II was raining. and the choppy seas
were sending up sprays 10 high that
II became necessary for those In the
launch To have the canvas covering
buttoned tightly 20 the sides Of the 1T
tie vessel There was an opening on
each side O, he canvas for passengers
10 enter o. ve the launch. but both
% these. 4, - believed. had been but
toned down Immediately upon the
launch leaving Discovery landing nj
the Jamestown exposition pier shortly
after midnight.
The launch must have been making
rapidly through the heavy seas for The
battleshlp Minnesota when she was
suddenly struck and sent 10 the bot
tom OF Hampton Roads In several
fathoms OF water. The only opening
In the canvas canopy which covered
the launch Il supposed 10 have been
In the front. with Just enough space
for the cockswain. who was steering
the craft. 10 see ahead.
The crash II supposed 90 have been
20 quick and sudden that not even the
cockswaln had time 90 jump through
the opening.
Torpedo boats have been searching
Hampton Roads for some trace Of the
bodies Of the eleven men or objects Of
some Kind from the lost launch. but ~
90 this time the only things found are
the top. two capes. supposed TO have
belonged 10 one Of the lost men. and
q fircman's dltty boz. supposed TO b
from the Minnesota's launch.
Up 90 this time no Information Il oh
tainable IN Norfolk ~ 10 the Identity
Of the tug and coal barge which STRUCK
the Mlnnesota's launch aud caused the
accident II II believed that when the
launch II recovered the bodies Of sl
eleven men will be found In II. NJ Il
would be impossible for any one OF the
bodies 10 get out of the canvas Gov
cred craft.