The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-15
Sixty q. S. Marines and Crew of
Sixty-TwO on Board.
Vessel Broken in Two by Storm
Is Abandoned.
TWO COAST CRAFT TO RESCUE
Reach DereIict and Rescue Men
at Daybreak Today.
Wireless S. o. S. and "We're
Sinking" Brought Response.

Charleston, July 15.-One hundred
and two marines and sailors from the
Hector were landed here this morning
by the tender Cypress Captain New
ell and sixteen men remain aboard the
Hector which is lying aground OH
Charleston lightship, broken in two.
Four injured marines were sent to a
local hospital.
Charleston, S. c.. July 15.-With the
naval collier Hector broken in two by
Yesterdays storm and abandoned late
last night, a radio message today
brought brought word to the navy
ward that all on board had been saved.
The crew and the company of ma
rines. carried by the Hector, were
taken aboard the tug Wilmington and
the lighthouse tender Cypress shortly
before daylight.
The Hector was abandoned at 12:45
a. m, seven miles northwest OF cape
Romaine. When last seen she was a
total wreck. All who were aboard, IN
Guiding c.. T. Newell. her master, are
proceeding to Charleston aboard the
rescue vessels.
Flashed First S. o. S. Friday.
At 2:O5 Yesterday afternoon the
Hector first flashed her distress calI
saying she was fourteen miles south OF
n,
starboard Twenty minutes later she
sent another S. o. S. with the cry BE-
lieve we are sinking.
The steamer Alamo Immediately
sped to her assistance and was follow
ed quickly by the tug Vigilant. Cap
tain Hunt. of the latter vessel, re-
ported, however that he was unable to
get within three miles of the Hector
and that static conditions prevented
her from communicating with the
Alamo by wireless.
just after the wireless telling that
the Hector was sinking the collier
flashe 20 the navy yard Grew to
leave send help" and nothing fur
ther was heard until 5:55 when New
ell Nirelessed Hector aground ten
miles southeast Charleston Lightship
Breaking in two. Rush help"
Ten minutes later the last message,
Send help at once" was sent the
AIamo. which was standing by. Then
the wireless failed
On Way to Santo Domingo.
Immediately after the Hector's first
distress call at Charleston, calls from
the Arlington. Va, radio station were
heard asking any vessel to go to the
Hector's assistance
The Hector had left Port Royal for
Santo Domingo, carrying marine re-
cruits for the latter place and Cuba.
She attempted to put into port here
when the storm disabled her, but ac-
cording to Captain Hunt, was unable
to get further than within nine and
a half miles of the Charleston Light
ship before sinking.
The Hector carried a crew of twelve
officers and fifty men and sixty ma
rines.
Destroyer Terry Also in Grief.
The Hector was built in 1908, one
of the first of the new type of naval
golfers. She was 3S3.9 feet long, 52.5
feet broad and had a draft of 24.5 feet
The destroyer Terry, which was re-
ported in distress off here last night,
is waiting outside of the harbor in
tow of the wrecking tug Relief for a
pilot. She will dock this morning.
The Terry was being towed from
Santo Domingo, where she ran
aground several weeks ago.
Four of Crew Injured.
Charleston, S. c., July 15.-Four
men injured among the 1872 men of the
Hector crew brought here are En-
gineer E. A. Mercer, skull fractured: :
T. Christ, carpenter, broken leg and
knee cap; Fireman McDermid, skull
fractured and body burned; OiIer
Singleton, leg broken.