Middletown transcript., 1916-07-22
HECTOR CREW
SAVED AT SEA
Taken From Doomed Collier BY
Rescue Ships.
HECTOR HOLDS RECORD
Survivors Tell Thrilling Tales-Ves-
sci, Now Total Wreck-Was
Built At Sparrows
Point.

Charleston, S. C.-The 139 seamen
and marines who took refuge in open
boats when the disabled naval collier
Hector was abandoned at sea, seven
miles northeast of Cape Roman, have
been saved.
Captain Bryant, of the Charleston
Navy Yard, announced that the men
had been picked up by the lighthouse
tender Cypress.
Two Vessels To Rescue.
Included among the survivors are 81
marines. The collier was abandoned
when she was driven ashore nine miles
off Charleston lightship after being
disabled in the gale which swept the
Atlantic Coast.
The Cypress and Wilmington were
sent to the rescue and effected a re-
markable rescue in view of the high
wind and extraordinary roughness of
the seas.
Captain Bryant said that the last
seen of the Hector she was breaking
in two.
The steamer Alamo had been stand
ing by the collier, having responded to
her calls when she was disabled some
so miles off here.
When the Navy Department heard
of the plight of the Hector the power
full wireless station at Arlington sent
out a general call to vessels in the
vicinity of the collier to go to her as
sistance and to stand by until the dan
ger was passed. The call was heard
by the Alamo, which forthwith went
to the GOLFERS assistance.
VIgiIant Gets Call.
The first definite news that was re-
ceived from the collier came through
the tug Vigilant, when Captain Hunt
succeeded in getting in wireless COM
munication with the Hector and learn
ed that steamship was standing by.
Later the Vigilant reported that the
Hector was IA miles off Charleston and
was making headway with difficulty at
the rate of four miles an hour. At
the same time the Alamo was still with
her.
AS the Hector approached the Char
lesion lightship her difficulties became
greater and the heavy sea began to
break her in two. Finally she was un-
able to make further headway and
after trying vainly to withstand the
tremendous seas which rolled over her
she sank, it is reported. The Vigilant
reports that part of her superstruc
ture still remains above water
The Hector was bound for Santo
Domingo by way of Guantanamo. The
marines which she carried were re-
cruits to fill up the vacancies in the
expedition now in Cuba and Santo
Domingo.
Hector Holds Record.
The Hector made a new record for
coal in August, 1910, at
the naval coaling station at Bradford,
R. l., when she delivered 2,200 tons in
seven hours. This was at the rate of
nearly five and one-fourth tons a
minute
Soon after she was placed in COM
thieves went aboard the Hec-
tor at Hampton Roads and stripped
the engine room and deck of brass
work valued at $500. AS a result the
fuel ship had to be taken to a navy
yard for repairs.
Propelled by twin screws, the Hec-
tor had a speed of about 1914 knots.
She is a vessel of 1920 tons. Her
are: Length over all, 403
feet, SO feet beam and 1926 feet depth.
She is a sister ship of the Mars and
the Vulcan, which were built in 1909.
Three seamen of the Hector were
drowned on May %, when whaleboat
capsized in Cocoa Bay, Santo Do
mingo.
Cargo Worth $50o,ooo.
The Hector carried coal, oil and
stores valued at $5OO,OOO. The ships
value was $479,6OO, which was the con-
tract price paid to the Maryland Steel
Company, of Sparrows Point, Balti-
more, which completed her in 1909.