New-York tribune., 1910-10-03

who could swim dived and swan under
| the water until they were clear of it,
but probably not a few were knocked
unconscious during the first struggle.
The Tide Was Against Them.
The swift tide began to get in its work
The weak swimmers and those who could
not swim at all were rapidly carried up
the river, their cries for help coming
over the water to guide those who were
attempting to save them.
Midshipman Peyton had the deck OF
the Louisiana, and he was the first to
notice trouble on the sailing launch He
had the siren sounded, sent over the life
boat and ordered two steamers away.
With the sounding OF the siren the other
ships of the division trained their
searchlights on the dark waters, and
! quickly picked up the swamped launch.
Orders were promptly given for boats to
be lowered. and in a few minutes half
| dozen steamers We're circling the two
boats of the New Hampshire.
The survivors were carried to the
Louisiana. the closest battleship, and
later transferred TO their own ship. They
were mustered. and fifty odd men an
swered TO their names.
Arrangements have been made by
Captain Rodgers with the police to have
two patrol boats on the spot day and
night for the next few days. No at
bodies OF the lost men,
Captain Rodgers, who has had COM
mznd of the New Hampshire for nearly
a year, was visibly affected by the trag-
edy. His voice trembled as he talked
about it. He said ne did not care TO
express any opinion as to its cause, or
as to any responsibility for it. Last
night he ordered kilograms sent TO the
nearest relatives of the missing men,
telling them of the accident.
Rodgers Hopes Others Will Return.
7 still hope said Captain Rodgers,
that many of the men reported missing
and unaccounted for may yet turn up
and that we will find that they simply
overstayed their leave. I am strength
ened in this belief by the fact that two
men whom we thought were surely lost
reported lbI uGAN NliAo iiAcA 'AAiS'
Lieutenant Commander Scoyille, in
discussing the swimming powers OF the
enlisted man, said that in pursuance TO
orders from the Navy Department the
men from the New Hampshire were
given swimming lessons when the ship
was at Guantanamo.
.Out OF a complement of $40 men and
| forty officers" he said, Eve found that
about $40 OF the men could not SWIM
but when we got through those lessons
all except twenty were able to, at least
they could all swim fifty yards or more
! Swimming instruction is given When
ever the circumstances permit.
One .pecuiiar feature Of this accident is
that II will never be possible 10 say
with exactness how many men were act
ualIv drowned. The New Hampshire is
aue 70 .,ail on Friday, and not until that
limo will il be possible to say with GER
taintv the number lost, for men on Ho-
ortv often overstay their leave and come
struggling back anywhere from an hour
70 week later than they are supposed
10 report.
Nv, Friday all of the New Hampshire's
men who intend reporting will have done
ca Even then there will be the posi-
b;;,v that some of those supposedly
drowned may have deserted.
Rut descrticns from the shio have been
,x+rer,elv rare since Captain Rodgers
has l,oeu in command. The captain Is d
capable officer and popular with his men,
ond tbe officers under him are well liked
~ the crew. Last month there was not
a single desertion reported.
chevaIier Still Oazed.
I'm the quarterback and i'll the fore
castle the talk yesterday Ola the New
FJanpshire WAS of the heroism OIL Mi"-
sbipman Godfrey de COurceiles CheFa-
rer who commanded the steamer anu
sailing launch on Saturday evening
Down in the wardroom of the battieShip
| c,t.yalter sat with bent head. seemingly
ol,Iivio,,s to all the excitement going on
on deck He was like a man dazed.
O-asrs were given that no mention OF
the accident should be made TO him or
| in his hearing.
| when he was brought on board on
Saturday night hfs mental condition was
alarming. The terrible picture OF the
nights happenings. combined with utter
exhaustion. had proved too much for
him. and he was unable to get away
from the horror Of fl all The loss OF ms
men preyed on his mind until il drove
him wild
The resi-. combined with the efforts of
the doctors. put him iii better plight
| Yesterday. and at noon he was allowed
&. leave the sick bay and 40 To the
5unior wardroom for his luncheon. He
still seems TO be in q trance: sits with
head bent. thinking. thinking all the
time. His brother officers tried to cheer
him up. When directly addressed Che
waller would look up and smile for a sec
ond but rarely replied 20 any remark.
and ia a second or so would resume the
same ustiess attitude, staring into space.
His mother had come down to Ne"
| York from her home in Bedford, Mass,
m l.e with him while the North Atlantic
fleet was here, and as soon as she heard
az the accident she got shore boat and
went out to his ship. She stayed with
him an hour ,r so-as long as the doc
tors thought advisable.
.~hevalier. as soon as lie took In the
situation on Saturday evening. threw off