Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-05

NEW YORK, Feb 4-The steamer. Ken
lucky, of the Alaska-Paclflc Steamship
company Is sinking, while struggling
through heavy seas 240 miles southeast Of
Cape Hatteras today, its captain and the
seventy-five men of It's crew meanwhile
struggling to keep the vessel afloat until
aid can reach It.
News OF the Kentucky's desperate plight
was received here in dispatch from the
United wireless telegraph station at Cape
Hatteras.
The first distress call from the Ken
lucky was recey ed by the Mallory line
steamer Alamo, which Immediately pro-
ceeded to the rescue heading for latitude
32:1S, longitude 76:43. where the Kentucky
reportd its position.
The message was the new international
distress IS o. s." signal, the most urgent
call that can be sent for aid to a disabled
craft.
The Kentucky was recently bought by
the Alaska Pacific Steamship company
from the Eastern Steamship company for
the passenger trade between San Francisco,
Seattle ana Alaskan ports. 1t was fitted
out ->here for its trip TO the Pacific and
just before its sailing wireless apparatus
was installed.
BOat Leaking Badly.
The Kentucky is somewhat over 200 feet
In length, is commanded by Captain Moore
and for it's trip around the Horn shipped
a crew OF seventy-five men, 1t sailed from
New York to Seattle on January %. Six
hours after 1t passed Sandy Hook. wire
less dispatch was received from 1t saying
it was leaking badly. Before 1t reached
IN, FOR alvs
it nearly turned turtle during a heavy
storm. Repairs were effected at the -vlr-
ginia seaport and 1t sailed on February
in continuation of it's long voyage.
Since it's departure from Newport News
the Kentucky found itself buffetng seas
which battered it's sides and opened its
seams The weather off Hatteras has been
very heavy recently and fears were ex-
pressed that the steamer might not sue
cessfully make the trip.
| T. A. MacLarney, according to wireless
reports the operator who manipuates the
key on the Kentucky between here and
Newport News, declined to continue with
the steamer further his place being taken
by W. G. Maginnis. who sent out the dis
tress call today. On board the ship when it
left here was the superintendent engineer
of the Alaska Pacific company, e. Palas-
kettle of Seattle, who superlntended the re-
fitting Of the steamer at this port
The Kentucky was built in 1897 at Bath,
Me, and christened the Lincoln It ran
between Boston, Bath md Booth Bay for
the Kennebeck Steamship company, which
sold It 10 the Fagler interest for service
in Florida. The steamers name was
changed to the Martinique. and after some
service between the ports OF Miami and
Eastern Steamship company for service
between New York and Boston. 1t was
then rechristened the Kentucky.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Feb 4-The wire
less station here today intercepted a mes
sage from the steamship, Kentucky. OF
the Alaska-Paciflc line on it's maiden voy-
age from New York to Pacific ports, say
ing that It is sinking in latitude 80 IS, longi-
, tude, 7e,4S The Mallory liner, Alamo is
proceeding with all haste to it's assistance.
, Navy Department Acts Quickly.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Within five
, minutes after the first word of the Ken
tuclSys peril was received in Washington
the machinery Of the revenue cutter ser
vice and the Navy department was set in
) motion 10 send aid to It,
Rear Admiral William p Potter immed-
lately dispatched orders by wireless to the
battleship Louisiana, cruising off the the
t coast on speed trial to proceed to the Ken
: thcky.
The revenue cutter service rushed wire
= less orders to the cutter Yamacraw. which
was within fifty miles of the imperiled
ship on a hunt for a derellct and also ord
cred out the Seminole at Charleston.
The revenue cutter service, informed OF
the condition Of the Kentucky by the As
, ISOLATED Press, Immediately gayo orders tC
the wireless stations at Savannah and
Charleston 10 pick up the Yamaoraw and
order 1t to the vessels assistance
The Yamacraw left Savannah yesterday
I afternoon TO hunt for a derelect reported
y In just about the latitude and Longitude a
which the Kentucky !e sinking.
Officers OF the revenue cutter servlc,
have figured out the location OF the Ken
4 lucky as being 80 miles from Charles o.
and they estimate the position OF the reve
nue. cutter Yamacraw as being within fift!
!, miles OF the sinking steamer.
Tho Yamacraw. II II has not only learle,
p through its wireless apparatus Of the Ken
\ tucxy's plight. will receive notification i'm
n mediately through the coast wireless sta
+ lions. II should cover the fifty miles unde
Q forced draughts within three or four hou !
4 In addition TO ordering the Yamacray
TO proceed forthwith TO the KeBtuckY'E "a