Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-08
Wireless Message Tells of De-
stroyer's Safety.
GOING UNDER OWN STEAM
Will Reach Norfolk Navy Yard at
10 O'Clock Tonight.
WORST STORM OF THE YEAR
Nearly Every Vessel in Fleet Dam
aged-Only Loss Of Life Was
From the Salem.

The United States torpedo boat de-
stroyer Terry, which became disabled
in storm between New York and
Bermuda. is safe. A wireless dispatch
received at the Norfolk navy yard
this afternoon said the Terry was pro-
ceeding under her own steam for the
Virginia capes, and would arrive at
10 o'clock tonight. The scout cruiser
Salem. which also was buffeted by the
heavy seas. will reach Hampton roads
tonight, too.
Anxiety Of officials.
Anxiety was felt early today by Off
cials of the navy for the safety Of the
Terry and her crew Of three officers
and eighty-three men. The little ves-
sci, which left New York last Thurs
day In company with seven battle
ships Of the Atlantic fleet and the
mother torpedo vessel. Dixie, convoy
ing FIVE destroyers. was discovered
yesterday fioundering about in the
heavy seas in a helpless condition half
way between New York and Bermuda.
Her low-powered wireless apparatus
sent out faint appeals for help. which
were picked up by the Royal Mail liner
Tagus, which left Bermuda Saturday for
New York. Capt. Laws OF the Tagus,
who rescued Walter Wellman and his
crew from the balloon America when
the transatlantic voyage of the air craft
came to grief, directed his vessel to the
Terry. He found the little vessel unable
to make any headway with her engines
disabled and DumDS out of order.
Lieut.. John C.. Fremont, in command,
informed Capt. Laws that his men had
had q terrific experience in the most
severe storm of the year on the western
separated from the other vessels Of the
feet. The Tagus stood by the Terry and
with her wireless flashed out appeals for
help.
South Carolina Goes to Rescue.
News of the plight of the destroyer
reached the Navy Department yesterday
aud hurry orders were dispatched to rev.
enue cutters ana wafships to go to
the assistance Of the disabled vessel. The
battleship South Carolina, which was at
sea. picked up the wireless calls for as
sistance and sent word that she was
stood by the Terry until assurance was
received that naval vessel would soon
be alongside the Terry to give her ade-
Quate assistance.
stroyers Sterrett Per ms. Ammen and
Wake. which, after terrible experience,
reached Bermuda yesterday. was source
Of relief to naval ofiicials. The storm has
been one Of the most severe that had
prevailed OF the coast for many years.
and it was said today to be almost a
miracle that none of the little destroyers
f0undered. The Dixie was badly battered
up by the heavy seas.
The destroyers had more trying
in shipshape at Bermuda, where the
courtesy Of the British. dockyard has
been extended to the American vessels.
Nearly Every Ship in Fleet Suffers.
Nearly every ship in the Atlantic
feet suffered more or less from the
effect of Friday nights severe storm.
The Salem fs the only ship. however,
that has reported the loss of any of
their crew. Taylor Bagwel1 OF Bell
Haven. Va, and Herman Goldstein, 213
East 1926 street, New York, the two
seamen on the Salem who were washed
overheard during the storm, are the
only lives reported lost.
The same wave that washed these two
men from the Salem threw ten other
members Of the crew of the Salem on
their faces on the hard steel deck OF
the cruiser, and they were rescued by
shipmates in a half frozen condition.
The Salem, besides losing her lifeboatS
and davtts. also lost a portion of her star
board rail, and her bridge was damaged.
The seas were SO high at times, 1t Is
said. that water poured down the smoke
stacks of several vessels in the fleet.
The Delaware lost two lifeboats and a
steam launch during the storm.
Mountain-high waves beat over the big
ships. tearing the lifeboats from the
davits and snatching the steam launch
from the deck. where 1t was lashed with
stout ropes.