New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
YANKEE SINKS AGAIN
CRUISER STRUCK BY TUG.
Ref0Qted Vesseg Goes Do,on-Hr.
.1rbuckIe Viii Try Once More.

ton of her forward deck. her funnel and her
nasts projecting above the water. the bhl'7u
States cruiser Yankee. which WAS hoated yester-
day from the dangerous Hen and Chickens ie0se
at the western entrance 70 BuLzard's Bay, where
she had been held for ten weeks, rests to-n1sht
on the bottom Of BuzzaTd's Bay. not Tar Uolh
PsnikeSe Island, on which the state leper settle-
rrent Although the Yankees present position and
condition are most unfavorable II the general
opinion among wreekers and naval officers that
her raising viii prove TO be much less dfhealC
undertaking here than was the freeing her from
Spindle Rock % the Hen and Chickens ledge.
The cause of yesterdays accident the elimination
Of series Of misfortunes which have befalien the
Yankee, unusually heavy sea kicked up oF
a high northwest gale The Yankee IN Tow OF 'ie
tugs John Harlan and Powhatan- and conveyed d
the naval collier Lebanon. proceeding slowly
from Spindle Rock TO this port In the gale ana
heavy seas the hawsers had parted for the TENN
time. and the tug John Harlan vas trying 10 con
meet another towing line when she was hIled OF 9
wave and slammed against the side Of the cruiser
The impact smashed in port in the compartment
where three air coulpreSsors were at WORK Nat7-
which poured in through the open port asa o'eu lIe
air pumps. after which the compartment Ia+iui'
filled
The cruiser did not sink at once Captain James
7 McAIiister who in charge OF the marine
~engine OF the vreckins work, in view OF the
danger. warned the members Of the Wrechlhs
crew TO leave the ship. All except six OF the
ninetytwo men departed. The Yankee was ile"
straightened as we'll the wreckers could 90 IT,
sud
island sand beach her there This plan seemed
likely to succeed when. not far from the island
the cruiser filled suddenly and sank IN ioIlH-'W'
feet of water. Commander Charles e Marsh
OF the Yankee. Captain McAlister, the ehgNheeI'
WetherspCon and the six members OF the "ieNH
ing crew who were on board. ran up the rigging
and later jumped safely board the PoWhatan.
The Yankee went down in a sheltered position
and took bottom on even keel She restst on
sand Her forward deck, spars and the top OF
her funnel are above the surface Of the water
The collier Lebanon is standing by The WrecNlhs
crew, Commander Marsh. Captain McAlIlsler anu
the engineer were brought here during me oaE o
the Powhalan and the John Harlan, but the wreck
ing crew and the crew Of the Yankee returned 10
the wreck later
The tug John Harlan suffered somewhat from
her impact against the Yankee the railing ana
stanchions about the pilot house OF the tus oelhS
carried away. while the commander Of the tug
Captain Chase. had narrow escape from serious
injury.
Washington Dec 5-OfHciai notice from Com
1nandrr Marsh. in command of the Yankee, to-day
advised the Navy Department Of the sinking OF the
vessel after it had been raised. court OF inquiry
will be appointed establish the responsibility
for the accident.
John g ArbIckle said al his Brooklyn home, No
al5 Clinton avenue. yesterday that another at
tempt would be made raise the United States
cruiser Yankee from the bottom OF Buzzard'S BAY
Il the reports that it not badly damaged IN
sinking proved correct. 4 brief dispatch from
Captain NcAlIister to Mr. ArbuCkle says that the
boat was not 50 badly injured that il will he I'M
possible 10 raise it again. The present resting
place Of the Yankee three miles from its former
position.
Nj ArbuckIe said that he stiIl had faith IL the
efficacy q compressed air in raising sunken yes
sells and that as ships of n,e5l and 12.oS tons
burden had been foated by the compressed air
method. he believed there would be little trouble
in getting the Yankee. which is OF 5000 tons bur
den. TO the surface agein.
The sinking Of the Inflated cruiser in BuzZards
Bay Yesterday was the elimination Of an un-
fortunate cruise from Newport to the neighbor-
hood of Martha's Vineyard to attend the sub
marine iotilla in their fall manCeuyTes- While on
her way from Cuttyhunk to Newport for supply
of coal the Yankee struck on Spindle Rock, part
of the Hen and Chickens reef at the western en-
trance 10 Buzzard's Bay, during thick fog on
September 2S. After persistent efforts by the gov
eminent to free the cruiser had failed, John
Arbuckle, the New York sugar refner. believing
that he could float the vessel by use of com
pressed air. offered his services, and contract
was made between Mr.. Arbuckle and the Navy
Department. by the of which the sugar
reiner was TO get $3.50 if he fiOated the Yankee,
while, If ne failed he to receive $4,000 as
part payment for his services. A long and diff
kee hoated.
The commander Of the Yankee. Commander
Charles c Marsh remained on board. Up to the
mander Marsh had left her only once. and or that
navy officials on the plans for floating the vessel,