The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-08-08
UNEARTH MYSTERY
Of MISSING ship

WASHINGTON, D. c., Special
Divers will so down into the sea of the
Virginia coast and learn if the sunken
hulk reported by the United States
Revenue Cutter Unalga yesterday is
the navy tug Nina, Whick steamed gall
lantly out of Newport News February
6, 1910, and was never heard from
again.
Reports so far received at Washing
ton are not such as to indicate what
appearance the sunken hulk offers TO
those who have seen il, and the prob
lem Of its identity so far only offers
ground for speculation. No formal
report at all has been received by the
Navy Department. it was said at the
Bureau of Navigation yesterday.
At the Revenue Cutter Service Off
ces 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 with the aid Of divers, and
headquarters here will decide today
whether this will be allowed.
Captain Crisp's dispatches stated
that there was an obstruction to navi-
cation, in the form of the Sunken hulk
reported, about five miles northeast by
north of Winter Quarters Light Ship,
off the Virginia Coast. The Unalga
located the hulk in cruising for an OBJ
struction to navigation. supposed to be
the hulk reported May 10th by the
master of the tug Leuffenbach, who
reported having struck some obstacle
under water.
The SoundingS reported were 6 y
fathoms in one spot adjacent and IL u
in another. The obstruction was re-
ported again, and all belief that the
Leuffenbach. which had two barges in
tow and was proceeding close to shore.
had only run aground on sandbar
was dispelled and a search for the OBJ
struction instituted.
How much of the hulk was appar-
ent through the water has not been
reported to the service in Washington.
The Revenue Cutter Onondaga is
standing by the locality of the wreck
and has placed buoys to mark it.
Possible discovery of the Nina
aroused great interest in Washington.
The disaster made a distinct appeal to
the sympathy of Washington people.
It's commanding officer. Chief Boat
swain John S. Croghan, and his next
in command, Chief Boatswains Mate
iC. S. Fowler, were residents of Wash
ington when their vessel put to sea
and vanished from the knowledge of
man. Besides the personal interest,
there was the interest which heroism
always creates, and which mystery
ever keeps alive. There likewise was
much gossip to the effect that the
Nina was considered unseaworthy and
that her voyage to Boston was for the
purpose of receiving much-needed re-
pairs to machinery and boilers and a
general Overhauling. She was an old
boat and of an, antiquated type.
These defects some persons yet be-
lieVe were the cause Of her loss.
A heavy nor'wester 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 washing
lated by some to have been hard to
handle in seaway, and of such build
/ that once she was in the midst of the
/ turmoil it was practically impossible
| to swing her out of the teeth of the
wind without subjecting her TO almost
certain loss.
. Search Coast For Tug.
On that account many believe that
Croghan, once he was out in the stress
could do nothing but drive ahead, and
that finally the sea proved too much
for the old boat, and she foundered
with all aboard.
Battleships, cruisers, revenue cut
terS and tugs swept the whole Allan
tic coast for many Gays, but not a
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 declared
formally the Nina to have been lost
as from that date, AND her men with
her. The vessel was stricken from the
navy list, and the men were regarded
as having died on March Is. 1910"
After that a lifeboat- from the Nina
1oated ashore, and Chief Boatswain
CrORban'S father. Holm CrOehan went
down from Washington to the Norfolk
navy yard 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.
There were many other hearfbreak-
ingly false reports OF traces of the
Nina.
Paul Croshnn. or 17z7 willard
Street, brother % the Nina's conn
s1erisbed 50 neDs,