Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-15
ALL SAFELY TAKEN
FROM WRECKED SHIP
Officers and Crew and Ma
rines Rescued From Naval
Collier Hector.

were landed here this morning
from the tug Wilmington. They
were brought in from the strand
ed collier, which is now lying off
Charleston lightship. Four in
jured men were sent to local
hospital. The injured men
brought here are Chief Engineer
c. E. Mercer, skull fractured; T.
Christ, carpenter, broken leg and
knee-cap; Fireman McDermid,
skull fractured, body burned;
Oiler Singleton, leg broken.
The Cypress arrived here also
early today. The Cypress left
here last night to pick up the cap
tain of the Hector and fifteen men
left aboard, rough seas preventing
the tug from rescuing any more.
The Hector. commanded by Capt Jo-
seph Newell, had sailed from Port
Royal, S. c., naval training station, car
rying sixty marines to Santo Domingo,
when she was partially disabled by the
hurricane. She grounded while trying
to make Charleston harbor, conveyed
by the steamer Alamo High seas had
prevented the Alamo getting close
enough to rescue the men, who took to
their small boats.
The Hector, according to best infor-
in ho al
noon at about o'clock, when her wire
less became silent.
The destroyer Terry arrived this
morning, badly battered by rough
lief.
Rescue Reported to Department.
Rescue of the naval collier Hectors
crew and the marines aboard was re-
ported to the Navy Department early
today by the Charleston navy yard.
The dispatch said the collier was
abandoned shortly after midnight
seven miles northeast of Cape Romaine.
and thai, the vessel had broken in two.
officers and crew and marines taken OF
were said to be nearing Charleston on
the tender Cypress and the tug Will
mington.
There were IL officers and 70 men of
the crew, in addition to / officer and
Sc marine recruits from Norfolk and
Port Royal, S. c. -
Commandant Bryan's Message.
Commandant Bryan of the Charleston
yard sent the following message to the
Navy Department:
Hector ashore seven miles northeast
of the Romaine gas buoy. Abandoned
by crew at 12:45 am. Ship broken in
two and a total wreck All hands
seriously injured. Carpenter broken
leg. Officers and crew being taken to
Charleston"
The chief engineer is Edward A. Mer-
GER of Rockland, Mass.
The last previous word the depart
ment had from the collier came at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon and the
message said the vessel then was
aground and was lowering her small
boats.
The Hector was commanded by Capt
G. F. Newell. The collier was struck
by the hurricane of Thursday night
and attempted to make Charleston, but
was so badly damaged that she sank
near the Charleston lightship
Sends Out s. o. S. Call.
The first word came from the Hector
at 2:05 pm. yesterday. 1t gave her posi-
tion as fourteen miles south of Charles
ton, and said she had starboard list of
ten degrees. Twenty minutes later she
sent out an S. o. S. call, and added to
the distress cipher: Believe we are sink
ing"
At 2:25 pm. the S. o. S. call again
was picked up. and the Hector's mas
ter said his ship was in a sinking con-
dition. Crew to leave. Send help"
the message said. No further word
came until 3:55, when the following
was received: Hector aground ten
miles southeast Charleston light ship,
Breaking in two. Rush help"
The last message ten minutes later
said simply: Send help at once" It was
addressed to the steamer Alamo, which
was standing by.
As soon as the first call for help. re-
layed by the Charleston navy yard wire
less, reached the Navy Department the
big station at Arlington sent broadcast
an appeal asking any vessel in the yicin-
ity to go to the Hector's assistance Last
night after the last wireless message had.
been received, Secretary Daniels went to
the department and supplemented the ef-
forts of the radio officials by trying to
No sort of communication, however, was
established.
New Type Naval Fuel Ship.
The Hector was built at Sparrow
Point. Md, in 1908. and was one of the
first Of the new type of naval fuel ships
to be completed. She carried a crew of
seventy-three men.
The vessel was of IL, 200 tons displace
ment, 1853 feet long, SIS feet broad and
had draft of 24.5 feet. Her speed was
IL knots an hour and her carrying capac-
ity SIPS tons of coal
The Navy Department gave ont a
list of fifty-two marines aboard the
Hector. The detachment was COM
manded by First Lieut.. Robert e. Ad-
Allen and Corp. William F. Kennedy.
List of Marine Privates.
The privates were: Robert L. Acree.
Dewey w. Allen. Simon D. Barber.
Wallace Byrd. Thomas ]. Carlen, Jo-
seph w. Clingan, -Boydin w. Graft.
jeremiah ]. Danehy, Charles H. Deull.
Otto Gullion, Hubbard l. Harris, Will
liam D. Henderson. Paul E. Hoke. Ed
gar T. Hughes, Tuttle F. Jordan, Lloyd
D. Keels, Otto A. Lawrence, Charlie s.
Mcconnell, Robert E. Norman, Joseph
c. Ray. John w. Hickey, James q.
Smith, William G. Troxell, Thomas ].
Wallace, Oscar w. Zacharisen. Hugh E. |
Charles w. Byers Truman H. Camp
bell, Charlie Coffey, Tom Crews, Allen |
II. Epting. John j. Felmy. Charles w. |
Ferguson. Walter r. Fisher, Harvey J.
Frank B. Hayes, John r
Charles H. Jenkins. George