New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-06
Oklahoma, Broken in Two,
Goes Down Fifty Miles
Off Sandy Hook.
BAVARIA'S CREW
SAVES EIGHT
Manuel CalvO, First to
Sight Distressed Yes
sci, Is Helpless.
HAD NO SEARCHLIGHT
HAD NO SEARCHLIGHT
TenadOres Out=ManPuvred In
Attempt to Win Laurels
from Rescuing Craft.

Thirty-two men are believed 10 have
lost their lives when the tank steamer
oklahoma sank about fifty miles
southeast Of Sandy Hook early yester-
day morning. Eight men. including
the captain, Alfred Gunter. were saved
by lifeboats from the Hamburg Amer
lean steamship Bavaria, in charge Of
Captain Graslfs. The Bavaria's CONF
mander said he saw lifeboat with ten
men put off from the oklahoma, so
there is a possibility that they were
saved.
The Oklahoma was broken in two by
the mountainous sea, and the forward
section, II is believed, is still afloat.
The eight saved are:
Captain Alfred Gunter Bentil Iver-
son, first mate; Knute Dahls, second
mate; Karl Eklund. third mate; Will
lam Davis, wireless operator; ID.
Rasmussen, boatswan Herman
Erickson, carpenter. and Hamilton
Powell, quartermaster.
Those known 10 be aboard and prob
ably lost are: Captain Loring A.
Gates, Christian German, quar-
termaster; John J. Fogh, chief engi-
neer: r. Dodd, first assistant engineer;
Christian Nelson. second assistant;
Walter Hanan. third assistant; Fred
Thompson. machinist c. ]. Nicklasson,
water tender; Frederick Boas. store
keeper; s. Simonson, oiler; Manuel
Cover, fireman: Eduardo Caramas,
wiper; George Johnson wiper; Is
Raas. able seaman; W. Haaht, able
seaman: II. Vader. able seaman 3.
Pierce. able seaman; A. Anderson, able
seaman, and John Kosich, able sea-
man.
Wireless Solves Mystery.
wireless message received short
" before noon yesterday at the Ham
rg-American Line office in this city
from the steamship Bavaria cleared up
the mystery as to the identity OF the
disabled oil tank which had been re-
ported by the Spanish liner, Manuel
Calvo. TO be sinking at dusk Sunday.
There were seven vessels rushing to
the aid of the helpless tanker on sun
day night. two Of them. the big Whits
Star freIghter George and the Manuel
Calvo, getting within hailing distance,
but both being unable 10 render any
assistance. The Bavaria, which was
one OF the last 70 come upon the scene,
went in close, sent out boat promptly
and snatched from death eight men
who were clinging half frozen 10 tha
deck fittings and gear on the forecastls
head. which was practically the only
part Of the craft above water
An explosion in the engine room ait
or an escape Of deadly oil fumes IS
believed TO have been the cause OF
the disaster. This at least is the con-
sensus OF opinion Of several Of the
shippers who came in yesterday after
having looked at the half-submerged
craft.
The most striking and pathetic part
of the tragedy became known late yes-
terday with the arrival Of the Manuel
Calvo. when her master, Captain Juan
Bonet. declared he might have stood
by throughout the night and saved
those on the tanker when the weather
moderated il he had had searchight
on board.
The Spanish navigator, who lost ono
lifeboat and had four OF his sailors
laid up in the ships hospital through
his efforts 10 get 10 the Oklahoma be-
fore dark, put all the blame for his
failure to stand by upon the absence
OF a searchlight He was confident
that with such equipment he could
have cruised in the vicinity despite the
weather and beel OF material assist
ance when the high seas had moder-
ated and the wind had gone down.
Captain Bonet was much distressed
over his inability to stick by the ship,
whose plight was first made known
through wireless message sent by his
vessel 10 Sea Gate.
Neither Captain Bonet nor his wire
less operators and officers Attempted
TO screen the fact the Calvo went
away from the oklahoma when dark
ness cut her off from view. This ma
nnuvre seemed open 10 criticism for \
time. but the skipper made explanation
when ne came down from the bridge on
arrival at the pier.
SesrchIight Necessity.
IL is apparent from what he said that
a searchlight is as essential in circum-
stances like those Of Sunday night as
are lifeboats and wireless in attempt
ing work OF rescue at sea.
Il did what | could 10 save the liyes
OF those on board the tank steamship"
he asserted. but IL would have been
risking the lives OF those aboard my