The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-28
DERELICT USED AS
ANCHOR IN STORM
Miami Courts Destruction Rath-
or Than Abandon Tow.

DANGEROUS moUACo TO SoUW'o' Se 'Ua'-
Iy Carried to Key West and Destroy.
cd, but Not Until After Mastsrfui
ssamanship Had Been Displayed by
Commander.
A thrilling tale Of how the coast
guard cutter Miami, with a derelict as
sea anchor, rode the recent West In
dian hurricane which swept the gulf
of Mexico was contained in the report
Of Lieutenant Blake, commanding Off.
Ger Of the vessel.
Rather than let loose her prize, a
dangerous derelict afloat In the paths
Of steamers In the lower part Of the
gulf, the Miami when Informed Of the
approaching hurricane made fast to
the vessel with hawser weathered a
gale that kicked the sea into noun
tains" and with the exception Of one
accident, in which the heavy seas swept
Gunner DarnOu Off his feet and pain
fully injured his back, reached Key
West none the worse for her expert
ence.
This is the story as reported to the
treasury by the commander of the
Miami:
"Wireless reports told of the ap-
proach of hurricane and indicated
that the Miami would be directly In the
path of the storm. The easiest course
would have been for the Miami to cut
loose from her tow and run away from
so difficult to locate and are such a
menace to commerce that Lieutenant
Blake, commanding the Miami, decided
to take chance Of pulling his prize
into port, notwithstanding the ap-
preaching storm.
Tho Hawser Shifted.
"At 8 p. m. lightning streaked the
southeast and by midnight the wind
was strong gale, with accommodating
intensity. The next morning 1t was
northeast, kicking the sea into noun
tains. A rapidly falling barometer and
driving rain increased the fury of
the storm. Up to this point the Miami
with her tow had been fairly weather
ing the gale, heading up to the sea, but
soon she wns unable to hold up and
commenced to roll heavily.
"The hawser was thereupon shifted
from the towing bits aft and brought
in through the bow chocll, the engine
stopped, and the Miami allowed to ride
| to the derelict as n sea anchor. II
| was splendid piece of seamanship ia
| shift the hawSer in the circumstances
| as several heavy seas broke over the
quarterback and one of them swept
| Gunner Darnou off his feet and pain
| fully injured his back.
Oil Had No Effect.
"At a. m. the storm had reached
| hurricane force, blowing with veloc-
| ity of between ninety and Il hundred
miles an hour The seas were enor
nous and broke heavily. The oil seem
ed to have but little effect during this
period. The cutter was enveloped in Il
white smother of rain and spray and
the derelict was swept clean by the
| seas ana submerged more tnan nall
the time.
"About 7:30 n. m. the barometer
steadied and commenced to rise al
most as rapidly as 1t had fallen. BY
noon the sea had subsidized to such al
extent that the hawser was again shift
ed to the towing bits and the course
to Key West resumed, where the cut
ter arrived safely on the 4th inst"
This is probably the first time dere
lict has ever been used as sea anchor
In hurricane. The report shows i
was very effective In holding the ships
head up to the terrific seas and til,
hurricane force Of the wind. The com
manding officer speaks In the highes
terms OF the Mlaml's qualities as se,
vessel.