Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-17
BOTH DROWNED.
Two Marines Jump Or Fall
From Government Tug
Into Narraganseit Bay and Sink
Beneath the Surface.
One Son Of congressman...soul
One Son Of congressman...soul
Play Is Suspected.

NewpGrt, II l., Feb. 1.-the mEs-
ferrous drowning today Of two men pc
lielrd Il be Benjlmin Sttentrsoi, Il
son Of Congressman HalVer Strener-
son o. minnesota. and John NJ. MrlH-
tush, b"th privatcS in tho United
states hlariiIe Corps. is being inNestl-
gated by tn. nolice Tie two mtn WeE"
OH board the tug Annie L. Wood.
buunl from Newport for Fort GrcDl'''
At Dutch Island harbor, when they
went overheard and were drowned. Al
though the bodies have not been recoN-
r,.i and the two men were strangers
10 tIIn captain Of the tug, f. w. Rich
and the members of his crew, friends
of STEVENSON and Mcintosh in the
Marine barracks at the naval training
sr-.tinn, are confident that they were
the victims Of the tragedy.
According to some OF the members of
the crew the two men, VINO are Sa!d
IL have been drinking, jumped over
sud,i. My into the water and We're
drowned before they could be rescued.
Tie police, however, say that they be
licye the circumstances warrant an
Investigation and tonight Emil Olsen,
II l'tllt, W ihp W. '54'4P4'N w va -
drcdgrr Urban and who was also on
the tug was held as 4 witness. There
l., said to lave been a dispute between
the Two marines and Olsen on the tug.
one of Olsen's eyes IS blackened as IL
by . blow. According 10 the police,
Olsen and the two marines, together
villa Charles Ringer, who was en-
ployed on the Fort Adams steamer
s,Uarthout. had been drinking to-
g,ther during the day, although the
TWO M; rineS were strangers TO the
other men.
Steenerson wore his uniform, While
Mcintosh, who had served nearly his
fill time and vas awaiting his dis
charge papers from Washington, was
in citizens clothes Friends Of the two
men AT the marine barracks are not
Inclined to credit the theory that the
men jumped overheard voluntarily and
committed suicide Both were vigor
Gus ana active young men and it Is
declared that neither had any reason
for ending his life.
Newport, r. l.. Feb. 1.-Two men.
one in the uniform of the United States
VII! iiit y VI ~ anu tll'f
clothes. julnped overheard from the tug
Annie Il. Wood. While on the way from
Newport to Fort Greble, and Were
drowned, today. Although no positive
identification has been made. the man
IN uniform was thought to have been
Private Benjamin G. StecnerSon. u son
of Congressman StocnerSOn ri Mime
sofa. The other man is believed to
nave been John NJ Mcintosh. 4 marine,
who was awaiting his discharge from
the service.
Just hefor" the tug left Newport for
Fort Grrhi" this afternoon, the two
men appeared on the wharf and asked
Capt i. W. Rich To allow them to go
with him to the fort. Capt. Rich did
not know either of til" men, blI; as one
was IL uniform. he gave them permits
sion.
According to capt. Rich. the men
showed some evidences that they had
been drinking. but they did not seem
greatly under the influence of liquor
OF ronanicnt point, both men jump
ed over the side Of the vessel without
any warning. The man in citizen s
dress Went under and was not seen
again. The uniformed man rose to tho
surface and was held up for q short
time and dragged alongside Dy boat
hooks held by some of the crew. just
as it appeared certain that he would
be rescued the man slipped ont Of the
uniform coat by which he was being
held and sank from sight. Life pre-
servers We're thrown over and the tug
cruised around the place for some time
but neither Of tho men reappeared up
on the surface.
The uniform coat was brought to the
police station in this city. where some
Of StrenerSOn'S friends identified it rs
belonging to him SteenerSon and Me-
mtoSh are said to have left the marine
barracks at the training station to-
gether this afternoon. Their descrip'
ton corresponds to that Of the two
men on the tug.
Private SteenerSon enlisted oct. =.
1907, at East Grand Forks, MINI. II
the record of enlistment his age wa:
given as - years. The enlistinen
papers and other records Of Mcintosh
arc in Washington. awaiting his dis
charge.