The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-10
Sights the Dere1ict.


AT about $3.50 p. m. we raised the
derelict about II miles southeast of
Fenwick Island lightship. She proved
to be a large steel vessel, bottom up,
down by h stern, and with only
h forward part Of her underwater
Chalker to loo her over and he re-
ported hat there was nothing to
make fast to either for towing or
placing mines. I sent him with two
boats to get a line across the derelict,
| put mines on one side. and counter
weight with CRATE bars. This he did,
but the mines failed to explode. Not
deeming it safe to try to get them,
he cut the electric cable and left
them there. I think he acted with
prudence. 1t now being night. /
hoisted the boats and lay by, keeping
h derelict in sight, as long as there
was any moon. I also had ali YES
sells arned hat came near.
ION the morning of the 7th it was
apparent that the derelict had
grounded aft. 1t being impracticable
to tow her and very difficult to use
mines, l ran close to her and fired
nine siX-pOunder shells into her side
but only eight took effect. Imme-
diately air and oil gushed out, and she
began to settle, but very slowly.
sent Lieutenant Chalker to place
81 HAi O. S14O " ~ iI1IIS IL ~
He did so, but the mine had practi
} cally no effect, the water pressur,
within being as great as without.
Il then fired eight more shots. fou.
into her bottom, three into the sid
opposite to where l first shot her
and one glanced off without pene
! tratiOn. She now began to settl
: quite rapidly, going down most by tn
: stern. AS the stern settled the boy
lifted, and we could see her name
Oklahoma, which left no doubt As t
e her identity. At about 1915 p. n
8 she disappeared. At 1 p. m. Lieuten
ant Chalker sounded over her, findin
e a least depth of eight and one-hal
q fathomS and II athoms around he.
d She is apparently lying on her sid
y The position by observation checke
o up by a run to FenWick Island gs
buoy is 3S.13.3O N, 74.45 w. o
came u in great quantities, nal
n ing a slick as far as we could see,
,e leeward.
:. Sailors Identify the Dead.
II "Ail OF the dead bodies~raken fro,
the lifeboat were wrapped in canva
and placed in the motor launc
where they would be protected. Tv
Is were recognized by members Of OIL
N crew as Johan Garrison, deckhan
p about 90 years old, and Villa
lie (Bill) Smith, steward, about 81 yea
~ oAN i1 III q Iol
p He was the one we worked on. +
as was about 35 years old, we'll bui
TO with reddish hair and mustache, a.
as with two old scars on his left ST
which looked as if a bullet had go
II : through the side just above the h
to He was dressed in blue suit and h
n. OF hip boots. The other two h
vo IN very little clothing. having apps
entity just come out Of their bunl
at Upon arrival at Tonlpkinsville Il
morning. January 8, / sent word
the coroner Of Richmond Borou
ial that | had the bodies on board a
Tut woul turn them owe to him.
sent ar undertaken for them and
delivered them to him at the Ton
INT kinsville landing.
ed The lifeboat VIII be delivered
nd the owners on application. 1t is
he good condition.
les The letters 'D-k-L' in the Fl
he report were doubtless meant for
XII the beginning Of the vess'
en- name"