New-York tribune., 1912-01-16
SALEM IN FOR REPAIRS
Scout Cruiser Badly Battered in
Southern Storms.
2 OF HER CREW DROWNED
Giant Waves Cleared the Decks.
but War Graft Proved Her
Seaworthiness.

one Of the worst battered war vessels
that has ever visited this port in the piping
time of peace came In yesterday and went
10 the navy yard in Brooklyn. 1t was the
scout cruiser Salem. which went out with
the fifth division of the Atlantic squadron
to fight an imaginary foe, and found her
self I'm a real encounter with seas more
rerciless than the armored inventions of
man.
There were officers on board who had
seen service for twenty-seven years; men
who had been through tvphoons in strange
waters. and all declared that life aboard
the Salem from January TO January s
was the worst they had ever known. Three
men were washed overheard. Two OF them
were drowned. but the third was picked up
nv a friendly comber and slammed back
on the deck from which he had been swept.
Six men were injured and are now in the
hospital In Norfolk. Practically everything
movable on the Salem's decks was filched
by the waves Even the stout steel davis
that held her small boats were snapped OF
flush with the deck.
The fast scout cruiser whose typo had
been adversely criticised by naval men anu
constructors was put through test on
the night Of January that proved hcr
STAYING powers In a real gale. She was
about three hundred miles north OF Ber-
muda when at 10 p. m. on that DAY she
ran into a west-northwest gale. captain
TIoyd chandler hove her to under steam
during the eIghty-mile blow. in the nope
,b., ehe would ride through II without
mishap. There had been some small sea
coming aboard and three men were sent
on deck 10 clear the wreckage. 1hey ma"
about finished their task when great wall
of water curled up or the starooard side'
throwing the Salem over fifty degrees 10
mort When she righted, swinging thirty
degrees 10 starhoard, the sea had sweep
her clean. The only thing movable on
dock was the starboard lifehoat, winch
swung from It's daylts al the place "here
tho counber had struck. The port lifehoats
and dayits went by the board. as dld th'
pun covers two cutters. n whaleboat'
sailing launch. a motor launch and a Gig'
Herman Goldstein. Taylor F. Bagwell anu
u cunningham, sailors who had peen
working amidships. went over the siue WIN
tho vreckage. Goldstein and Bagwen were
drowned. Cunningham. who was knocked
Penseless, vas unaDle 10 eAP'a'" ~
got back on the deck. lie remembered
having been lifted into the air with h'S
two companions ard hurled into the sea
and subsequently swimming. but could not
recall having climbed back aboard 'he
Salem.
The cruiser was hit again by a similar
vase at midnight and by another at a. IN
the next day She reported her plight 10
the flagship Connecticut and was ordered oS
Admiral Osterhaus 10 proceed to NorioiH'
When within se"enty miles OF the capes
she was ordered 10 pick up the disaoieu
torpedo boat destroyer Terry The salem
then put about. and when back to her orig
inal position was Informed that the Terry
was all right
when she again headed for Norfolk she
so, wireless message from Rear Admiral
Wirslop TO go 10 the assistance OF 'he
destroyer Roe. which was out OF fueL
Finally she found the Roe, but az Doth
vessels were without boats no lines could
be put out for towing. The Prairie. now
ever. came TO the relief OF the Roe ana
the Salem steamed for Norfolk