Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
The Naval Authorities win
Continue Investigation
Into the Death Of Privaies
Stevenson and Mcintosh
Regardless Of Fact That the PolIe,
Insist No Foul Play.

New port. r. l., Feb. 1..-Suspicion
that there might have been foul play in
connection with the drowning here
Sunday of Priyates Benjamin u.
STEVENSON and John Mcintosh. was re :
moved, SO far as the local police werr
concerned, by the story told Monday
by Capt. F. W. Rich and, crew OF the
tug Annie r. Wood and other men
aboard the tug at the time the marines
We're drowned. The witnesses when
closeted with Chief Crowley and In
spector Griffith of the city police, told
corroborative stories. The two marines
had met Capt. Rich Of the rug and
Olaf Hanson ana Neil Olsen OF the
dredee Urban in lunch room here
Sunday and had asked permission to
go down the harbor with them on the
tug to Fort Greble
The party was in the pilot house as
| the tug steamed away and after a time
Private Mcintosh said he was going
aft to get something to eat. He went
below but not to the galley, and was
never seen again. When his absence
was noted it was thought he must have
jumped overheard. His companion.
Private Steenerson. hurried all over tho
boat in search for Mcintosh and re-
turned in rather peculiar mood. Ac-
co'ding to Capt Rich and others in
the pilot house Stevenson talked wild.
~ about the loss of his mate He took
of his coat and suddenly stepped 10
the deck and jumped overheard. One
OF the men threw a life preserver 10
STEVENSON and it landed within three
feet of him but he made no effort to
reach il and he sank
The only trouble about the tug, ac-
cording to the testimony of all was q
little argument between Olsen and q
man named Champion. Their dispute
about some trivial matter led to some
blows and the marines attempted %
act as peacemakers. Olsen's black eye
was received from Champions fist, il
was said. but the little fight soon end
ed and agreeable relations were es-
tablished.
The Police were satisfied with the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the witnesse.s'
story and after the examination dis
charged all tie men but Olsen. He is
detained in case the county or naval
authorities desire 10 make further in
vestigations of the incident The po-
were uEder the influence Of liquor a,
the time; that Mcintosh accidentally
fell overheard while going below and
that the fate OF Mcintosh temporarily
dcranged Steenersons mind.
Although the Newport police have
abandoned the investigation. partly be-
cause the drowning occurred outside
their jurisdiction, and In part because
of Chief Crowlcy's belief that thers
was no foul play whatever iI the at
fair. the naval authorities at the train
ing station are by no means satisfied
With the result of the police investiga-
ton. Launches from the training sta
ton have been engaged all day in a
search for the bodies but thus far
without success. The search will De
continued and as soon as the bodies
are recovered an inquest will be held
under the direction Of the naval de-
partnent. to determine il possible. this
manner in which Stephenson and Nc
Intosh met their deaths.
First Lieut.. Richard B. Creecy, who
is in charge of the marine squad at
the naval training station. said to-
Continued on Page Two.)