Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-02
SPLENDID DISCIPLINE
OF OUR NAVY SHOWN
During Steam Turbine Explosion on De-
stroyer Wake, Tuesday, Which Cost
3Lives and Injuries 10 6 Others
Heroic Deeds by Survivors.

Swinging i'm toward the Wake. the
Perkins approached as closely as was
safe and though the high seas made it
seem as if it would be fatal to launch
a small boat her commander, Lieut.
John =. jackson, got the destroyer's
whaleboat safely away, filled with ban
dages, in charge of Hospital Steward
Charles Mccullough and four men. Sew
eral times it looked as if the small boat
would be Overwhelmed, and when IT was
worked under the lee of the Wake that
helpless vessel was pitching so that it
would have been suicide to go alongside.
Lieut.. Train, foreseening this danger,
had directed a stream of oil on the wa
ter through which the whaleboat made
its way to the Wakes side and was lift
ed aboard
Lieut.. Train, finding his starboard en-
CINE working all right. signalled the other
ships that their assistance was not need
ed and under half power put back up
Narragansett bay to the hospital ship
Solace to which the wounded were trans
ferred.
The remainder of the Atlantic fleet
here with the exception of the Perkins.
which acted convoy, went about the
days drills as if nothing had happened
Lieut.. Morrison had been detailed
from deck duty to be engineer officer
week ago, and, today. was to have
been his first full speed test He had
looked forward to il with enthusiasm.
He had served 10 years in the navy
and within a week had been recon-
mended to the navy department at
Washington for eHIIantrv
A week ago, while lying in his bunk,
he had heard cry and a splash
alongside. Running on deck he found
that one of the seamen had fallen
overheard. Without moments hesi-
tation the officer leaped into the wa
ter. grabbing the sailor as he was CO.
ing under unconscious. The two We're
hauled back on deck and the matter
reported to Capt. e. W. Eberle. COM
mander of the Atlantic torpedo fotil-
IN. who sent forward to Washington
his commendation of Morrison for he
roic conduct.
The officer was married little over
2 year ago. wife with 2-months-
old baby survive. Any plans the wife
makes regarding the funeral will
be followed out by the navy depart
lti'sttF II was etiltiOuilttt.
Rear Admiral Osterhaus and Capt.
Eherle were the only ones allowed on
the Wake. this afternoon. The cause
of the explosion will not be known
until after the report of the board of
inquiry. which has been ordered.
Whether Lieut.. Morrison was killed
by blow on the head when the cas-
ing Of the turbine split could not be
L.. 4 IT 1. I.
bulkhead pump and it is believed he
died instantly.
Although no visitors were allowed
on the Wake, the rows of yellow
stained blankets in which the wound
ed were rescued. could be seen stretch
ed out on deck to dry.
Washington, Oct 1.--Lieut. Donald r.
Morrison met death in the line OF duty
on the day a letter was addressed to him
by the acting secretary of the navy COM
mending his courageous action in Jump
ing overheard from the Wake on the
night of Sept % and rescuing from
drowning an enlisted man of his crew.
This letter. which Admiral Andrews
wrote today, was in the mail when the
news of the explosion on the Wake
reached the navy department.
Lieut. Morrison was the son of the late
Maj. Jasper Morrison of the Judge advo-
cate generals department. His motner
resides in Washington. He was born in
Missouri 81 years ago.
Harry Lee Wilder first maehInst's
mate, was % years old and a native of
Sparks, New
Admiral Osterhaus reported to the navy
department that the forward emf OF i
steam chest of the port turbine OF the
Wake blew out when she was starting
a full power trial, and naval experts at
Continued on Page Seven.)