The sun., 1918-07-21
40 MEN MISSING
FROM WRECKED
SAN DIEGOCREW
Mines Near Scene of Disas-
ter Discredit Theory u
1T Sank Cruiser.
1.2s N SHIPS COMPANY
Tat Sang "Star Spangled
Banner" as They Took to
Water After Explosion.

Not more than forty sailors lost their
Ives when the United States cruiser
San Diego was sunk OF Fire Island on
Friday.
Forty is a maximum number. 1t Is
not expected that that number will be
shown TO have perished when the ships
lists are fully checked up, but because
all the records on board went down with
her full count cannot be made until
other lists. kept in files ashore. have
been compared and corrected. When
fully manned for war the San Diego
carried no more than 1850 all told.
A careful checking up Of survivors
yesterday showed that 1910 men es-
capped This number includes all the
officers. And not only did the great
proportion Of those on board come away
in safety but the majority came away
without even minor injuries.
So far 1t Is certain three men were
killed by the explosion which destroyed
the vessel. They are:
Thomas f. Davis, engine man. Canton.
Ohio.
Frazier o. Thomas, machinist's mate.
Charleston, W. Va.
James F. Rochet, engine man, Blue
Lake, Cal.
1910 Accounted For.
Survivors to the number OF l.210 were
accounted for yesterday In a eount-asade
on the United States transport piers In
Hoboken, where most OF the men were
landed by three steamships which had
picked them up a short time after their
vessel was destroyed. They were
healthy, happy lot. With them stood
the officers and men who were landed
at Point O. Woods on Friday after
noon they having preceded their ship
mates by land. Some of the men were
in odds and ends OF clothing lent them
by their rescuers. for they had undressed
themselves in the water after they
dlved from their ship in anticipation OF
a long swim.
The men were kept on the piers for
more than three hours until every name
had been counted and the roll called
three or four ways. Then. arrayed In
immaculate duck, they were given shore
leave to inspect the great city and
started upon their evening ramble as
though they had never known disaster
at sea.
Crew Praised for Bravery.
A report of the vessels sinking made
public last night by Rear Admiral
Palmer gives vivid picture OF the
splendid discipline prevailing on board
from the moment the ship was hit until
the order was given to abandon her.
1t is couched in official language, anc
is intended only for navy archives
- drnp
ping from deck to deck to the very vital'
ot ehe vessel so that he might see fol-
himself what injury she had taken ant
possibly ascertain its cause. 1t show'
other officers in the flooded engine room
their faces calm. their men standing al
calmly about them at their last duties
while water poured in through the holt
in the ships side.
1t tells OF the gun crews up to theil
hips in water and standing doggedly by
the guns in the hope that there might
be parting chance to get the sub
marine supposed to have attacked them
And it shows all hands masters of them
selves and climbing the vessels bilg'
as she slowly rolled over, ready to gS
down with her If that should be re
quired in the days work. And 1t doe
not mention any undue alacrity wheI
the men, receiving the order to abandon
ship let themselves slip into the water
Capt Chrsty gave the order in plent!
Of time for them to swim clear, but onl!
when he was certain that there was NJ
earthly chance of saving her.
Mines Near Scene of Disaster.