Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-02
NEWS OF THE OLD DOMINION,
DIVERS FOR LOST NINA.
Revenue Cutter Men Want Permiss-
ion to Explore Hulk to Find
Bodies.

Washington, August 2.-Divers
will go down into the sea off the
Virginia coast and learn if the sunk
en- bulk reported by the United States
revenue cutter Unalga yesterday is
the navy tug Nina, which steamed
CALAMITY out of Newport News Feb.
6, 1910, and was never heard from
again, about twenty persons being
aboard when the vessel disappeared.
Reports so far received at Wash
ington are not such as TO Indicate
what appearance the sunken bulk Of
fers' to those who have seen it, and
the problem of its identity so far
only offers ground for speculation.
No formal report at all has been re-
ceived by the navy department, it is
said at the bureau OF navigation,
Wednesday,
At the revenue cutter service Of
fees in the treasury department, it
was stated that the reports from
Captain Crisp, of the Unalga, were
brief. He asked for authority to
explore the wreck, and headquarters
here will decide today whether this
will be allowed.
Captain Crisp's dispatches stated
that there was no obstruction to nav
igation, in the form of the sunken
bulk reported, about five miles north
east by. north of Winter Quarters
Light Ship, off the Virginia coast.
The Unalga located the hulk in cruis
ing for an obstruction to navigation,
supposed to be the hulk reported
May 16 by. the master of the tug
Leuffenbacii, who reported having
struck some obstacle under water.
Possible discovery OF the Nina
aroused great interest in Washington
The disaster made distinct appeal
to the sympathy of Washington peo-
pie. It's commanding officer, Chief
Boatswain John S. Croghan, and his
next in command, Chief Boatswain's
mate C.. S. Fowler, were residents OF
Washington when their vessel put to
sea and vanished from the knowledge
of man. Besides the personal inter-
est, there was the interest which he
roism always creates, and which mys-
terry ever keeps alive. There like
wise was much gossip to the effect
that the Nina was considered I'M
seaworthy and that her voyage to
Boston was for the purpose of re-
ceiying much-needed repairs to ma
chinery and boilers and a general
overhauling. She was an old boat
and of an Anticipated type.
These defects some persons yet
believe were the cause Of her loss.
A heavy Northwestern was blowing
down the coast when the Nina put
out to sea. The vessels which spoke
her as she passed out OF the harbor
were vessels seeking haven from the
storm. They brought word that the
Nina, bucking the seas was making
heavy weather of it, the waves wash
ing clean over her.
Battleships, cruisers, revenue cut
tiers and tugs swept the whole At
lantic coast for many days, but no
sign of the Nina did they ever find.
Finally the navy department gave up
hope and the anxious kinsmen OF
the crew did likewise and on March
IS, 1910, the navy department de-
clared formally the Nina to have
been lost as from that date, and her
men with her. The vessel was stric
en- from the navy list, and the men
were regarded as having died March
Is, 1910"
After that lifeboat from the Nj
ma floated ashore, and Chief Boat
swain's father, John Croghan, went
down from Washington to the Nor
folk maynard to see it. There were
signs that the boat had been used,
but there was no trace OF its possible
occupants. Since then the father
died.