New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-02
DEATH LIST MAY INCREASE
Number Of Men on Shore Libert7
Makes II Impossible for
Officers to Give Acer-
rate List of Dead
MIDsHIPMAN PROVES A HERO
Dragged Out of Water Unconscious
After Rescuing Fifteen Msn-Ss--
enty-fve in Cutter. Say Off
GERS, but Others on Shore
Insist There Wers
Many More.

MANY MOTE.
At least fourteen sailors from tho bats
tieshjp New Hampshire. at anchor Vfti,
the second division Of the North Atlantic
feet off West 15Sth street were drowned
last risht. shortly after Z O'Clock. vshe,
the cutter in which they we're Being
lowed TO the bsttIeship from the shors
was swanped IN heavy sea that vas
running The accident was 81 sIddsn
that before help could be called the
struggling men were being swept up the
river by the strong food tide. II il noe
known definitely Just how many Of tts
sailors were drowned, the estimate run
ming all the way from fourteen 10 forty
A splendid Incident Of the disaster.
and one which brought out the heroisrn
OF the officers and men Of the boat. vas
furnished by the sight OF strong swirl
nlers among The struggling men helping
- rescue the weaker. When Midship-
man Godfrey De e. Chevalier. in eharzs
Of The boatlOad Of sailors. saw the dan
ger OF his men. he threw OF his uni
form coat and plunged overheard. res
cuiny fifteen sailors who had become ex-
hausted by their struggle in the water
After pulling ths last man 20 safety
De Chevalier was dragged unconscious
TO the deck Of the launch When he re-
gained his senses. later, in the hospital
ward of rhe New Hampshire. the youns
officer. learning the full extent OF tbs
disaster. lost his reason temporarily. and
his grief was so pitiful that he had To
be restrained from doing himself bodily
harm.
Many Had Shors Leave.
Two hundred and fifty men from the
big battleship had shore leave last night
and spread themselves all over the city
According to several eyevftnesses On
the pier ar the time the cutter he az
least ninety men as she was towed oet
irto rnidstream by the battleship
launch. and the burden weighted the
boat so heavily that her gunwales We're
only a few feet above the waters edge
The cutter was lowed by a seventy-1ve
foot hawser. and once the launch got
under full Roadway the bow Of the boat
was scarcely above water
When the two boats had reached =
point about three hundred feet from the
shore and were between the battlssnips
Kansas and louisiana the sea beams
very rough and choppy and the tide vas
running like a u1i1lrace. At every foor
of the passage the cutters bow was
plunged under water AS the boats
neared the Louisiana. several or the
sailors went forward to the bow OF the
cutter. and this caused her to ship 4
ousn1fty Of water The boat began TO
vaIlow in the trough of the sea. and
Midshipman De Chevslier saw that they
we're I'm danger of capsizing- He was
cautioning the men and telling them 70
be careful when an exceptionally large
wave struck the boat head on. her bow
n,Irnsed downward and she capsized-
When the cutter was finally overturned
b,- the heavy seas and fiOated bottom
upward. the greatest confusion followed
in the darkness Some chung TO the cap
sized boat. while the stronger swimmers
gave aid 10 their weaker comrades On
every hand were seen evidences OF tho
heroic conduct Of the men.
Midshipr,an Rescues Many.
Midshipnan de Chevalier was amona
the first to leap to the rescue. and he
believed out his orders for the handling
of the boat while he was pulling ex-
hausted men from the water. He vent
fiercely at the work OF rescue. seeming
to be possessed Of remarkable strength
and only stopped when he became un-
conscious.
The sailors clinging 70 the boat and
those who could keep their heads above
the water shouted for help for fully i've
minutes. The launch which had been
towing the cutter also lent her aid by
blowing her whistle. II was not betors
ten minutes had gone by. however. that
the calls for help were heard aboard the
New Hampshire and the other ships
The launch in the mean time had been
irving to pick up all the men she could
reach.
A dozen small boats from the New
Hampshire and other battleships were
soon out on the water. and aided by the
powerful searchIights from the battle
ships. picked up more than twenty OF
the men. The tide was running IN so
swiftly that the struggling men were
carried I'D the river. and SO out Of sight
and baiIing distance of the ships boats.
Other boats set out from the floats
and club houses along the river rront.
however. when they heard the calls Tor
help. and these rescued probably thirty
more men. Joseph Zwicker of No. flo
West I36th street. in command OF the
oS foot launch Jennie. heard the shouts
and put out into the middle Of the rtver
al full speed He and his mate, Arthur
Mclaughlin. picked up twelve men and
took them 70 the New Hampshire.
sixteen men were taken from the rivsr
-, FREDERICK scott Of No c49 4sth street
Brooklyn. and George Reeves. OF No. los
Fast t0sth street. who we've aboard ms
50 foot launch Mary
Captain Mott OF Hsrhor squad \, Uas
D..ks -