Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-22
SAILED FROM DOMINGO
DURING THE HURRICANE
New Wreck Reported Today Be-
tween Catalina and Saona Islands.
WIRELESS MESSAGES ALL FAIL
Communication Lost With San Juan
Before Report Could Be Veri-
fied-Revenue Cutter to Re-
sumo the Search.

SANTO DOMINGO, November 22.-Col.
John Jacob Astor's yacht Nourmahal
sailed from here November L. during the
hurricane.
The captain of a European steamer ar
irving here today reports that hes saw the
wreck of a steamer lying between the is
lands of Catalina and Saona. These is
lands lie in tie path of vessels proceeding
east from here for Porto Rico.
A revenue cutter has been ordered to
sail Immediately for the scene of the
wreck
KEY WEST, Fla. November 22.-Mys-
terry still surrounds the whereabouts of
the steam yacht Nourmahal with the
New York millionaire, John Jacob Astor,
her owner, and a party of friends ON
board.
Failure of confirmation through Key
West this morning by means of the only
present intact method of communica-
ton with the West Indian island-the
government wireless telegraph system
has had the effect of casting doubt on
the correctness of the report received
yesterday from the steamer Caracas at
Willemstad, Curacao, which said the
Nourmahal arrived at San Juan Novem-
Der IA and was safely anchored in the
harbor there on the 18th.
Reasons for Doubt.
Reason for doubling the correctness of
this report is twofold. In the first place
the operator at the government wireless
station at San Juan declared early today
that he knew nothing of the presence of
the Nourmahal there and that If she
were in port he doubtless would have
known it. At the same time the San
Juan operator volunteered the informa-
ton that there was at present a large
steam yacht in San Juan harbor. but
that 1t belonged to Cuban. This yes
sci might easily have been mistaken by
the captain of the Caracas for the miss
ing Nourmahal.
1t is practically certain that no wire
less communication will be established
by the station here with San Juan during
today. The reported interruption of the
cable service to that city may prevent
any positive news as to the presence
OF Mr.. Astor's yacht. except by wire
less. This means that it will be Tues
day morning, sometime after midnight
possibly just before daybreak, when the
wireless service is at its best, that any
ships at sea or other stations forward
the news.
That the friends and relatives of Col.
Astor are not as confident of the safety
of the party is indicated from the num-
Der Of messages sent to the wireless sta
tion here inquiring for the yacht, and
asking for any particle of information
that can be secured. The operator here
has been on duty constantly for the last
twenty-four hours. and has sent calls
10 every station within the zone affected
by his call. Every other service is made
subservient to that of gaining some in
formation relative to the Nourmahal.
Operator Loses Connection.
1t was shortly after O'Clock this morn
ing that the naval wireless operators at
tempted TO communicate with San Juan.
They began by calling the naval station
at Guantanamo and asking whether COM
municaticn could be established with San
Juan. While this question was being
asked San Juan station answered but
the response came feebly. Later commu-
nication with San Juan improved and
Key West station was able to send a con-
siderable number of messages addressed
TO Col Astor and his friends. The wire
ieas communication continued until short
ly before d o'clock. when atmospheric
conditions destroyed the wireless waves
1t is anticipated that the investiea.
tion of the submerged vessel off the
hof III codsl VI Cupd VIII Oe MADE some
time today or early tomorrow morning.
and an immediate report of the wrecks
identity will be made. This vessel is on
the shoals just off Elbow key and will
be found easily. Capt. Schlaikier of the
German steamer Wotan is positive that
he saw three masts. He was first in
formed that the Nourmahal had only
two masts. He immediately said that
the vessel he saw was not the Nourma-
hal When informed that the Nourma-
hal has three masts he said that the
probability was stronger that 1t was
this vessel. He declared that the inasts
he saw were not those of a schooner. as
they were too close together and of
smaller shape.
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