The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-10-03

Superior officer Who Must Face
Courtmartial - Several ohioans
Among Those Who Lost Lives.
New York, Oct. 3. - Twenty-nine
sailors from the battleshp New
Hampshire were drowned by the up
setting OF a tender in the North riv-
or, off One Hundred aud Fifty.second
street. The sailors were returning
20 the New Hampshire after shore
leave AID more than 100 OF them had
crowded aboard the tender, which
was being towed to the battleship.
About 900 yards of shore the craft
either swamped or was upset, and
the entire load of jackies was precip-
ttated into the water.
Boats we're Immediately put out
from the New Hampshire, and wher-
ever a bobbing head showed a man
was rescued. But in the darkness
many sank and others were almost
unconscious when dragged to safety.
Ordinary Seaman McMaine, who
enlisted from indianapolis, before the
board OF inquiry told the story of the
accident as he had witnessed it. In
the telling his seaman's respect for
superior officer made him gloss
over the part he himself had played
and dwell with pride in the exploits
OF Ensign Chevalier, who was in
charge of the return party and who
must face a courtmartial.
George Stewart of the Jew Hamp-
shire was coxswain OF the sailing
launch" said he, land n. Il. Setley
was coxswain OF the steamer. l was
bowman OF the steamer and Mr..
Chevalier rode in the steamer after
we had the sailing launch filled at
the wharf. l should guess that be-
tween 20 or so sailors piled into the
sailing launch at the wharf; there
vas big crowd there, all anxious to
set back to the ship.
First thing felt was a jerk, and
looked back from where was
standing in the bow and saw several
OF the men in the sailing launch
stand up. Then / felt another jerk
and the whole bow of the sailing
launch just simply dove under. IL
didn't go under slowly; II Just jump
cd under, and the water came back
and swept ever man into the river,
that is, every man who did not jump
frst.
"All / saw in the light OF our Ian
tern-it was very dark then-was
lust white dots all blotched about in
the water. They were mems faces,
those white dots, and there were
wells and 'hollers,' a number not be-
ing able to swim. II made my heart
Jump up Ia my face to hear those
yells. .IIus..
Then l heard Mr.. Chevalier yell
stop! Stop! Settley, shut OF the
steam in the engine. Back her!" MIR.
Cheyalier called. but Settley didn't
dare to back, for he was afraid or
cutting into the men who were swim
ming around in the water. Mr.. Chev-
alier was at the bits trying 10 cast
off the towing painter. | helped him,
end as soon as we got the slack we
cast off. couldn't see anything OF
the sailing cutter; she must have
been flled to the gunwhales.
81 saw Mr.. Cheyalier strip to his
underclothes and go over the side.
There we're five or six poor devils
right near the stern who yelled that
they couldn't swim. | grabbed up the
life buoy and hove 1t out to them and
saw them reach for II. Then | ran
forward, ripping of my clothes as
ran, and | picked up the forward life
buoy. Three or four fellows were
Hghting the water about 10 feet away
from the bow, but they were on the
down side and when | cast the for
ward life buoy out 10 them 1t fell
short and the tide started to carry
Il back to the steam launch.
Seeing this, jumped in, naked
grabbed the life buoy and swan with
II to where the men were. They were
excited and started to grab for me
but | fought them off and yelled tc
them TO put one hand each on the
buoy and paddle TO the launch.
went along with them, helping then
some, and the crew OF the steam
launch pulled them aboard.
when | climbed aboard the steam
or again I could see Mr.. Chevalier''
head bobbing about in a group o
four others and he seemed to be help
ing all OF them toward steame,
v hich lad come from shore. All thu
tine he was yelling to others aroun'
ir the water to keep up, that the!
would be saved. Though there wer'
some civilian launches out there b!
this time, the water was still dottec
with bobbing heads. Whenever
face would turn in the light OF on
lantern it would show an awfu
white, then turn again and ther
we're hands reaching up where n
faces vore The Louisiana got he
,earchlights on the spot about /
minutes after the accident, but be
foro trat time We had no light, an
men were dropping under in tn
darkness
The Ohioans among the dead sal
oTs were: II. Combs. gunner's mate
on.ingaald. Graana oilar Clay,