Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-12
TRIED TO CLOSE AIR PORT
Engineer and Diver Were Neck
Deep in Water.
CABIN
LOCKED IN DARK CA
Escaped Only When Pressure Blew
Door open-Bravery Praised in
Capt. Marsh's Report.

Warm praise for heroic work on the
part of Engineer Wotherspoon and a
French-Canadian diver named Micnot
aboard the cruiser Yankee, while an effort
was being made to tow the vessel to New
Bedford. after she had been cleared of
Spindle Rock, is given in report to the
Navy Department by Capt Charles G.
Marsh of the vessel.
The night of December 40, while the ves-
sci was under tow, Capt. Marsh says, was
much the worst since the grounding, the
wind blowing with such force that had
the ship been still on the rocks she very
very likely would have been fatally dam
aged. The report says:
Hours were consumed in trying to tow
the ship. Her draught, eleven feet and
twenty-nine feet, and the heavy list to
starboard made steering impossible. SO
that she took rank sheers. parting the
hawsers, etc. BY 8 pm, the dangers that
threatened were loss of air pressure, for
list was increasing, endangering the ex-
haust from the air compressors. During
the night the Lebanon came alongside, to
give us line, and was swept down upon
US. Any one who has seen the Lebanon
roll will understand our alarm at her
presence. 1t has been stated that the
Lebanon or the Harlin damaged the air
port. OF these statements nothing can be
said one way or another with any ac-
curacy. Suffice 1t to say the air port was
found open.
In Water to His Neck.
''Some time in the early morning, per-
haps about am, word came up that the
OF hod CT ho
news came of the open air port. This
latter information was given to the engi-
nerr, Mr.. Wotherspoone He went below
and then sent for a diver. The behavior
of these two men cannot go by un-
noticed.
"The open afr port was in the stateroon
on berth deck, starboard side. next to the
air compressors Mr.. Wotherspoon went
into this stateroom and shut the door. He
then tried to close the air poEt,. gQk one
dog partly In place and then hung up his
light was blown ont and he was left In
total darkness The pressure against this
port was too great. for him. and he found
himself in water up to his neck In this
closed stateroom. Fortunately the pres
sure eventually carried away the door.
deck.
I'm the meantime a French Canadian
diver named Micnot put on his diving suit
and in darkness went down in sinking
ship to lend his hand at closing that air
port. The diving pump was tended by
Mr.. Wotherspoon, and one Of the COM
pany whose name at this time do not
remember. For devotion to their work
and for courage 1 know nothing better
than these actions.
Extinguished All Fires.
again word was brought me that not
only were the air compressors stopped,
but that water through the air port had
gone into the f1reroom, extinguishing the
fires in our boiler, and hence all pumps
were stopped
Efforts were made to get the vessel un-
der tow, but before long she took water
directly down the engine and fireroom
matches and those on board took refuge
in the port fore-rfgging. The ship sank
quickly. She rests perfectly upright, on q
blue mud bottom. according to the chart,
In forty-four feet of water.