The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-03
INQUIRY BOARD
CONTINUES WORK
Midshipman Chevalier, Hero of the
Occasion, Tells Story of the
Loss of Lives.

that seven bodies had been picked up
and taken aboard the hospital ship
SOlace. making thirty-six known dead
and five still missing.
All night long and through the morn
ing the fleet and police patrol boats
used every method in the attempt to
locate other dead bodies in the Hudson
river. TWenty-nine bodies were recov-
cred, and il was ascertained by check
Ing off the names of the sailors on the
battleship New Hampshire that twelve
We're still missing.
In hope that the twelve had overstay-
ed their shore leave. detachments OF
sailors were sent ashore in the attempt
to round up some OF the missing men.
Early reports We're that the search had
been futile and the gloom deepened on
the great war fleet
The searchlights Of the .battieships in
the river flashed through the hours OF
the night. marking the path for police
and battleship patrols in their quest for
The dead Heavy nets and graphing
hooks were used and other boats were
stationed off the Statue OF Liberty and
Governors Island, in case the tide car
reg the bodies out Of the river and into
the bay.
dead
missing whose place Of residence was
near enough TO New York tC enable
lnem 10 arrive here since SATURDAY,
night thEonged the New Hampshire to
day
Commander T. s. Rodgers. commando
or the battleship, was bombarded with
pleas from the weeping mothers SIC
tiers, and sweethearts-
The hoard of irr-,ir-- ..---s-.,
rear Admiral Nreeland. commando. Of
the fleet TO which the New Haupsbire
was attached, continued its work of
PfoplhS the disaster today. The board
acers: meet u
Capt a. G. WinterhaItey. command
~ lle LOUISIANA; Lieut.. Com. y T.
.. IN executive officer of the Kansas,
al-u lieut. Com Arthur Macarthur, jr.,
Ad Iettllg OIucer Of the Louisiana
ensign A s. Farquhar of thu Iouisi-
ana IS secretary Of the board. An initial
session was held last night on board the
louisiana Lslan WheE survivors Of the disas-
tVl 6@Fe their testimony The inquiry
was then adjourned until today in hone
tAaI some OF the missing would turn IN
III the meantime.
Midshipman Godfrey Dec. Chevalier.
VI eeeloTur Mass, who was in charge
OF the steam cutter which was toyyine,
the barge from the quay to the battle
snip, ana who proved the hero of the
rom eXerton, was an interesting wit
ness.
Chevalier's Story.
I suppose there were about 100 men
In the barge" said he. The barge
didn't seem 10 be overloaded for the
water was calm and there was a GOOD
twelve inches Of Ieeway between the
gunnel and the water line.
q vg-pra a ,nr7+ lUa --.,.7- g.
when the barge seemed TO tow under.
heard a shout and looked back. II
was almost dark but 1 could see that
the craft had foundered. I shouted for
all who could swim to strike out.
u was suffering from a wounded
hand, but in my excitement 1 forgot an
about that and plunged into The water
orders were given 20 all hands on the
cutter 10 stand by the rail and pick I'M
every man in sight
Chevaher had completely recovered to-
day, and was cheered when he made his
Appearance on the deck of the New
Hampshire Although so fatigued that
ne could scarcely stand, he insisted on
being assigned TO duty when he was
taken aboard after the accident Al
though he viii have to face the in
VeSugatorS, 1t is accepted by both ranl;
ana ME OF the WarShipS that the ordeal
VIII result only in CommendatiCn OF HIS
heroism.
"Chevalier is the hero Of the fleet to-
day, said one Of the officers Of the
New hampshire. The men who we're
serving under him when the accident
happened swear by him, declaring Tat
when they finally. had TO use force to
prevent him from plunging back irto
the river, taluung from exhaustion, he
had already saved twenty jackies"
The best theory Of the cause Of the
disaster so Tar pat forth is that when
the launch started FOR the battleship
the rUdder Of the whalebOat was not
thrown FAR enough over. The result
was that the launch pulled the head Of
the whalebOat sideways, and IL tipped
enough so that the water flowed in.
Another theory is that the boat may
have struck a piece of floating wreck
age, which acted as drag, and pushed
It's nose under.
Most Of the officers Of the squadron
were inclined today 10 insist that the
whalebOat was not overloaded They
claimed that il was customary in port,
where the water was smooth, TO fill
the boats that~take the liberty parties
back 10 their ships as full as possible,
they beiGr considered unsuitable. Be
sides the ensign commanding, there
were but FIVE men in the launch that
was towing the whalebOaL They
were the regular crew.
Just why the SearchlightS Of the
fleet We're not brought into play at
once. when the cries of the men pre-
GpltdJcd into the water We're hrsi
heard, is a question that cannot b.
satisfactorily settled Had they been
brought into use, it is considered Ger
tain that some at least Of those who
were drowned, might have been saved
Because a large number Of those on
the whalcboat had been recipients Of
much hospitality on shore they were
hardly en- a condition to do much to
aid themselves. and this also added TO
the horror Of the catastrophe.
IT z Bonsell. an ordinary seaman, Of
Philadelphia. reported as having been
seen on the barge. telegraphed from
Philadelphia today that he was all right
but had overstayed his leave.
a. D. Wiuell. buSler OF Peabody,
Mass. reported at the ship today.
The boat which turned over was haul
ed out on the Louisiana today and ex-
amined by the court Of inquiry. As far
as could be seen II had no defects, and
there seemed no reason from its appear
ance for 10 having overturned.
There are stiIl thirty-nine members of
the New H'mpShires crew missing, and
while II Is admitted by the officers that
one or two may have taken adva TIA &c
of the opportunity TO desert. while an
additional one or two may have over
stayed their leave. tho indications are
that all Of the others are at the bottom
OF the Hudson.