The Washington herald., 1910-10-03

sey. ne held as high record in hop tri.
umphs with the girls as on the track.
Ordinary Seaman c. j. McMaine. who
enlisted from Indianapolis. had eharg'
of the New Hampshire's No. steamer
when IL went 10 the dock to tow out the
sailing launch full of sailors on Saturday
nignt. To-day. after he had appeared to
give his testimony before the court OF
Inquiry on the Louisiana. he stood by
the side Of the after turret and told the
story Of the accident as he had wit
messed IL In the telling. his seaman's
respect for superior officer made him
gloss over the part he himself had play
ed and dwell with the emphasis OF pride
on the exploits OF Midshipman Chevalier.
Seaman Tells of Accident.
George Stewart. Of the New Hamp-
shire crew, was coxswain of the sailing
launch" said McMaine. and n. E. steley
was coxswain OF the steamer / was bow
man OF the steamer and Mr.. Chevalier
rode In the steamer after we had the
sailing launch filed at the wharf /
should guess that between seventy and
eighty sailors piled into the sailing
launch at the wharf There was a big
crowd there and everybody was anxious
to get back to ship before their sohre
leave expired.
There wasn't room for everybody to sit
on the thwarts. / remember that for
ward In the sailing launch there were
men sitting down with other fellows
some on their knees and some crouched
up on the floor. / wouldn't say that the
boat was overloaded: but there IS no
doubt that there was a pretty heavy
load aboard when the steamer started to
pull 1t out. Besides Mr.. Chevaiier. there
were only the fve men OF the crew
aboard the steamer The regular length
of painter was let out as tow line. /
don't know how long the line was, but
should say that IT wasn't fifty feet
Somebody told me since that Il was the
regulation length OF painter.
when we started for the ship there
was a pretty stiff wind blowing from the
southwest and the tide was on the ebb.
There was no steamer In sight, and, CON
sequently, no wash from a boat 10 bother
US Everything seemed 20 go all right
until we were about half way between
the shore and the Louisiana.
First thing felt was q jerk and
looked back from where / was standing
In the bow and saw several OF the men
In the sailing launch stand up quick
Then l felt another jerk and the whole
bow Of the sailing launch just simply
dove under. II didn't go under slowly. II
Just jumped under. and the water came
back and swept every man into the river:
that is, every man who didn't jump first
Bodies Dot the Water.
IAN saw in the light our lantern cast
and the river was very dark then-was
just white dots all blotched about In the
water. They were mems faces, those
white dots. and there were yels about
being drowned ard not being able 10
swim. Il made my heart jump to hear
those yells.
Then heard Mr. Chevalier yell:
StOp!'
Setley shut of the steam.
Back her. Mr.. Chevalier called. but
setley didn't dare TO back far, for he
was afraid Of cutting into the men who
were swimming around in the water. He
backed her little while I was running
aft Chevalier was at the bits. trying
TO cast OF the towing painter. I helped
him. and as soon as We got the slack
we cast of; I couldn't see anything Of
the sailing cutter then: she must have
been nlled 20 the gunwaIes
Officer Rescues Many.