El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-28
MYSTERY Of fl
SINKING LII TED.
Final Report on Disaster
, Tells Graphic Story of
Z Mems Struggles.

Washington. D. c. Oct 2S.-In. a
final report by a board Of inquiry
headed by rear admiral Busch, the mys-
terry surrounding the sinking with z
Of its men Of submarine F. OF tne
United States navy at Honolulu IS M
ed The report gives graphic &C
count Of the battle for life Waged DE
the p men Of the submarine.
Examination Of the wrecked nun
after IL had been brought to the sur
face and placed in drydOck convinced
the board that the disaster was caused
by a leak resulting from corroueo
boat through poor diving qualities 10
respond promptly to the rudder chanEe
which should have returned her TO the
surface
Struggled to the Last.
Discarding the theory once advanced
that chlorine gas brought quick reHeI
in death to the crew. the board from
signs within the ruSted and battered
hulk pieces out in its report ORA
matte account Of how the doomed men
strove desperately TO save themselves
as the vessel sank to the bottom
Fifteen met death in the engine room
where they sought refuge at the last;
six died at their posts in the flooded
forward compartment. All members OF
the ships company are absolved from
blame in this tribute.
Not Due to Carelessness.
From the facts established, we find
that the accident resulting in disaster
TO the United States submarine F-4 on
March %. 1915. was not due to care
lessness, negligence. or inefficiency on
the part Of the officers or men of the
vessel. and that, Furthermore, the per
sonnet remained at their respective sta
lions until all effective means employed
TO avert the disaster impending had
failed. and thereafter sought refuge
From its examination Of the vessels
automatic device which was set TO
expel water from the vessels ballast
tanks. at a depth of 100 feet as re-
CURED by departmental regulations. the
board found that the accident which
started the F-4 on her downward
plunge had occurred before the 100
foot mark was reached.
The most effective procedure for
sending the boat TO the surface wa
were set to send her upward valves
opened to empty the forward ballast
tanks and the electric motors started
10 drive her upward. all without avail.
It was then, the report says. some
members Of the crew rushed into the
engine room and the door of the bulk
head was closed Fifteen bodies We're
found there and from this fact and the
position OF valves and rudders, the
board concluded that:
Some member or members Of the
personnel were alive and capable of
action for at least a short time after
the occurrence which led TO the dis
aster
The board locates the primary cause
Of the tragedy forward of the engine
room, bulkhead.
Diving Qualities Not Defective.
The report continues
NO evidence was found that the FL
had poor diving qualities prior to her
docking in February, 1878. when ex
perlmental prOpellers were fitted-the
only known alteration made. and
therefore
The experimental propellers so sub
sututed so affected the influence OF
me a1terdiving rudders as to make il
1lfficult for the diving rudder man to
control the vessel: and, furthermore.
me poor diving qualities cOnse-
luent upon this change Of propellers
were the secondary cause of the dis
lster.
Air valves were found open on for
ward main, middle main, auxiliary and
after main ballast tanks. and. there
In the endeavor to check the yes
'eIs downward momentum, the inter
'aI OF time requisite for the expulsion
II sufficient quantities of water Der- /
nitted the vessel to reach crushing
iepth."