The Washington herald., 1913-12-16
OFFICER BROUGHT
DYING TO PORT
Capt. Frederick Chaplin, U. S.
S. Wyoming, iii at Sea
for Days.
FLEET MET HIGH SEAS
Sailors Return from Mediterranean in
Time to Spend Christmas
In New York.

New York, Dec. 15-The superdread.
nought Wyoming, flagship of Rear Ad.
mi--l Badger, commanding the Atlantic
feet, and three other ships of the first
division-the Arkansas, Utah, and Florida
returned from their cruise to the Medi.
terranean today for the Christmas holi-
days. The flagship and the Arkansas
went up to the navy yard. Oficers and
men on the big fighters were glad to
reach New York, but the Homecoming
was not as happy as it might have been,
because of the fact that Capt Frederick
Chaplin, commanding the Wyoming. lay in
his room so i'll that very little hope is
held out for his recovery.
Capt. Chaplin was taken i'll five DAYS
ago while the Wyoming was breasting
westerly gate and huge waves were
sweeping her, fore and aft DR.. Oman,
surgeon of the Wyoming, saw imredi-
ately that the case was a serious one,
but despite his efforts Capt Chaplin
steadily grew worse.
Removed to Hospital.
Soon after the ship reached the navy
yard he was removed to the Marine
Hospital Mrs. Chaplin, in Washington,
was not notified Of her husbands critical
condition until after the ship arrived, it
being thought best not to alarm her by a
wireless message. On the last DAYS of
the voyage Commander c. T. Vogelege-
sang, executive officer, was in command
of the ship.
The big ships have had bad weather
for almost week, or since passing the
Azores. The storm was described In the
Wyoming's log as a whole gale,' which
means that the wind blew at the rate
Of seventy or eighty miles an hour. 1t
was said on board the flagship today
the hat Nha,v
over the number two turret on the for
ward deck, which is forty feet above the
ordinary water line.
Vermont in Peril.
On Thursday a big sea flooded the
ward room and the Junior officers mess
on the deck below. Chairs and various
furnishings went floating about and En-
sign Pearlman took a swim. When the
flagship arrived today her tunnels were
sncrusted with salt, showing that they
had been wet down many times by the
sea.
It was on Thursday during the heavy
weather that the Vermont broke her
starboard shaft. The propeller dropped
pft and was lost. The ships steering en-
CINE was flooded and for a time she lay
unmanageabls while tons of water rush
ed in through the opening left by the
yhaft.
Sailors Given shore Leave.
The Vermont, with the Delaware stand
Ing by, lay rolling in the sea for ten
hours while repairs were made. On board
the Wyoming, it was said, that the loss
Of the propeller was due directly to the
heavy weather, as when the Vermont
pitched her propellers were raised clear
of the water and raced until the stern
settled again. This was also the case
with the other ships and the engineer
officers were momentariIy in fear Of
break down
Oficers and men were blowing their
fingers as they came up the bay today
because 1t was pretty chilly after the
balmy airs of the Riviera. They also
had warm weather crossing the Atlantic.
Many of them were bronzed by the Medi-
terranean suns, and the general health
of the feet was very good. All were
anxious to get ashore and tell Of their
experiences in foreign lands, and 500 men
from each ship were given shore liberty
today.