The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-14
Ensign Butler of Louisiana Meets Tragic Death on
 Hudson River
II OTHERS ARE SAVED
 FROM WATERY GRAVE
Nearly Two Million View Fleet From Shore-President and Secretary of Navy Will Review the
 Fleet Today

New York, October 13.--Ensign Andes Haldley Butler. '. & N. appointed from Louisiana to the United States Naval academy, from which he was graduated last spring, was drowned in the Hudson river today while returning with three fellow officers to his post on the battle ship Rhole Island In the line of the great Atlantic Armada. at anchor here for presidential review In another ac- cdent on the river, six sailors from the battleship Maine rescued Il persons from drowning. It is estimated that 2oo,oo0 sghtseers boarded the larger ships of the fleet and that more than 1,5oo,OoO persons visited the fleet from shore during the day and this evening, when the ships were again illuminated
 Accident Hard to Explain The accident in which Ensign Butler lost his life his fellow officers found hard to explain. He and his party had spent the night in the city and were on the way back to the ship in a small private launch The little boat was making head- way with difficulty against the strong tide. When still 40 feet from the battle ship, young Butler was seen to step out from beneath the canopy and to pitch Into the water. It is believed he thought mis- takenly that the launch had a sort of rum ming board outside the canopy. as naval launches have. and that he intended to step on this to make preparations for tho landing. The strong tide carried him down and under the battleship. One of his companions dived for him, but was unable to reach him. and was rescued with difficulty. Buffers body had not been recovered at late hour tonight. Butler was 2s years old. He was pop ular on board his ship and his death Is mourned on the Rhode Island. Reports were current during the afternon that a seaman from the Rhode Island was drowned also. but this was declared to be erroneous.
 Eleven Pulled from Water The rescue in which sailors from the battleship Maine figured as heroes oc- cured when a small launch In which Bernard Bauer and his family and friends were visiting the ship was cut squarcly in two by the sharp bow of the bigger steam launch Vixen and the occupants
 
 and four women, were thrown into tho rover. The launch foundered almost im- mediately.
 Six sailors were on the Vixen and they were the first to plunge over tho side to the rescue of the women. All hands were taken aboard safely but not without difficulty as the tide was running strong.
 Aside from the excitement caused by the days accidents and the presence of So many thousands of visitors. the blue- jackets were occupied with prepHra- tions for the official visit by the Sec retary of the Navy and President and their guests tomorrow.
 The only event on the days pro- gramme was the arrival of Secretary Meyer and his aides, but as this ar rival was scheduled as unofficial" no salutes or other demonstrations were made when the Secretary boarded the dispatch boat Dolphin. When he breaks out his flag at 9 o'clock tomor- row It will be greeted by 1s guns. sign aling the start of the great review. the programme of which has been an- nounced. President Taft is expected to make port on the Mayflower just about the time that the Secretary fisishes his review, and when tho President breaks his flag every ship with guns will boom salute. The presidential review will follow
 Assemblage Greatest Ever There was never so large a fleet of warshps assembled in American waters, therefore never such a roar of salutes as will mark the Presidents arrival. In the evening the President. members of his cabinet and 5000 naval officers will be cstertained by the city at an official dinner at the Hotel As l .l.A the ships on Tuesday as they pass out to sea.
 The crowd of visitors which sailors and others carried to the various ships today was probably the largest ever handled on the river Every one of the sl battleships and 9l vessels of other classes were open to inspection and all of them were overrun The strongest were the Araknsas and Wis consin, the largest commissioned bat tleships in the world. over whose great fighting strength the visitors all were enthusiastic.
 The amteur tars of the South Caro- lima naval militia, who won over New York naval militiamen and regulars from several other states in all three of the interstate boat races yester- day, were presented today with tho trophies. The presentation commonly took place on board the old training ship Granite State.
 New York. October 1s-The yacht Vixen. which ran down the launch, k said to he the Vixen which is owned bv John D. Archbold president of the Stand ard oil Company of New Jersey. Tho launch which she struck was the p-foot Madvic owned by Bernard Bauer of tho Hudson River Yacht club. Mir. Bauer was not sure whether MT Archbod was on board the Vixen at the time. but be- lieves that a man who directed the rescue of some of the men was Mir. Archbold. After the viven had taken the rescued parties to the shore 1t disappeared and | up to a late hour tonight there had been no communication with those on board