Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-06
PART OF suPERsTRuc1URE SHOWS
In Connecting Broken Haw~er. Tug 10
Slammed Against Side Of Recently
Ffoated Warship-Impact Smashes
in Compartment Which Rapidly
FiIIs-May Vet Be Saved.
(By Associated Fress.)

NEW bfbfonb. MASS.. Dec. u.
With only portion of her forward
deck. her funnel and her masts pro-
icctinG above water the United States
cruiser Yankee. and which only yes
terday was tioatcd from the danger
Gus Hen and Chicken ledge at the
western entrance to BuzZards Bay,
where she had been held for ten
weeks. rested tonight on the bottom
Of Buzzards fay, not far from Peni'
kec island. &
Although the Yankees position and
condition are most unfavorable, It IL
tn" opinion among wrcckers and ma
val officers that her raising will not
prove IA much more difficult under
taking here than was her freeing
from the Hen and Chicken ledge. i.
Some Marrow Escapes. *
Although no lives were lost,
Charles c. Marsh. In command OF tho
cruiser. and Engineer William Wal.
lace Wetherspoon and Captain James
r. McAllister, who were In charge Of
salvage operations and six members
Of the crew. had to climb hastily into
the rigging and then jump on board
of one OF the tugs to escape being
carried down with the ship. II
The Yankee sank six fathoms deep
early today near what is known a.
the Sand Spit. while being towed to
this city for repairs.
The sinking occurred a. four o'clock
this morning. exactly IA hours after
she had been hoated from the ledge
The cause OF today's accident, the
elimination OF series of misfor-
, tunes which have befallen the Yankee
was an unusually heavy sea kicked Up
by high northwest gale.
Tug Hurled Against Cruiser.
! The Yankee, in tow OF the tugs
John Harlan and Powhatan and con
yeyed by the naval collier Lebanon
was proceeding slowly from Spindle
Rock 20 this port The hawsers had
parted for the tenth time and the tug
John Harlan was trying to connecr
another line when she was lifted On
wave and slammed against the size
o! the cruiser.
The impact smashed in port 10 the
iccmpartment where three air com-
pressers were at work.
Water. which poured in through the
oocn port. disabled the air pumps.
after which the compartment rapidly
filed The cruiser did not sink ~
once.
Filled Suddenly and Sank.
Captain McAIlister. who was IN
charge Of the marine engine OF the
wrecking work. warned the members
of the wrecking crew TO leave the
ship. All but six CT the 80 men LETT.
The Yankee was then straighteneo
as well As the wreckers could do u.
| and an attempt was made 10 drag her
to Pcn!kese island. and beach her
there This plan seemed likely to-
succeed whey not far from the is'and
the cruiser filed suddenly and sank
in g. feet Of water The YANKEES
| went down in sheltered position ana
| took, bottom on an even keel
| She rested on sand.
| Tho collier Lcganon Is standing ~.
| Tho wrcckiag crew. Commander
Marsh. Captain McAilister and BE-
| ginccr Wetnerspoou were brouens
here during the day by the Powaac
tan and the John Harlan
Tho tug John Harlan suffered some.
what from the impact against tse
Yankee. the railing and stanchioss
about the pilot house Of the tug oe-
ing carried away. while the commsn-
der NJ tho tug. Captain Chase. had .
narrow escape from serious injury.