The Washington herald., 1918-06-02
TWO CAPITAL
BOYS IN CREW
OF LOST SHIP
Claude Hazener and Samuel
Hart May Have Gone
Down.
AWAIT NEWS OF SHIP
Navy Department to Hold
Inquiry Court to Learn
Facts.

Two Washington boys are known to
have been members Of the crew of the
torpedoed American transport Presi-
dent Lincoln, although no official an
nouncement has yet been made by the
Navy Department regarding the men
who were on her at the time of her
sinking
The two Washington sailors were
Claude Hazener. 10 years old. son of
Mr. and Mrs. West HaZener, who re-
side on the Conduit road. near Little
Falls station; and Samuel W. Hart.
II years old. son of Mrs. Lucille Hart.
1277 New Hampshire avenue northwest.
No word has yet been received re-
garding the possible rescue of either
Of the two young men.
Their Fate Unknown.
Although it is known by the fam
flies of the two young men that
they were attached to the Presi-
dent Lincoln. just prior to her sail
ing. II Is not definitely known
whether they were assigned to other
duty. or whether they were on the
transport at the time she was sunk.
They cannot be certain OF this until
an official announcement has been
made by the Navy Department of
the list of survivors and the men
lost.
Hazener enlisted in the navy at
the outbreak of the war, return
ing to his home here from Akron,
Ohio. where he held a position in an
automobile factory, for the purpose
of enlisting here. Previous to his
\
the Washington public. schools. He
was in Washington less than -wo
weeks ago on furlough, visiting his
parents. at that time was attached
to the Lincoln, and was expePtin !
to leave American waters on the
transport in a few days.
Crossed Five Times.
Samuel ". Hart, who enlisted In
the navy in April, 1911. has crossed
the Atlantic on the Lincoln five
times. In letters to his mother he
stated that all of the five voya ges
had been uneventfdl. He trained at
Newport. and later was attached TO
the U. S. s. Maine. Illness prevent
ing him from sailing with the ves-
sci, he was transferred to the Pres
ident Lincoln. and sailed in her from
an Atlantic port last September
Previous to enlisting. Hart attend
ed the Force School. in this city.
He had not 'isied his home here
since enlisting, but had planned to
do so a few days before the. for
him, unexpected sailing of the trans
port. His last word to his mother
was a brief note from an Atlantic
port on May 4. Apparently sent i'm
mediateIy before sailing. II read:
Dear Mother: Will not be able
to come home. az the ship is in a
hurry to leave. Write me a long
letter. How is grandpa? I hope
he il better. Much love. BUD"
A Patriotic Family,
Hazener is a member Of a particular
ly patriotic family. He has two broth
ers in the army and an adopted sister
who Is a Red Cross nurse on duty in
the Virgin Islapds. His father and
oldest brother are employed IN the
Navy Yard and his sister is employed
in the Post Office Department The
mother of this family has contributed
q great deal of her time to Red Cross
work His two brothers in the army
enlisted One of them, John, after try
ing for several times to enlist in all
branches of the service, and being re-
jected for physical disquaIifications.
went to his brother at Akron, Ohio. at
which city he succeeded in obtaining
admission to the army as a cook, al
though he had never done work of that
kind before. The other brother. Wal
ter. is in an aviation camp IN Texas.
Until port Is reached by the rescue
vessels, 1t is explained, 1t is doubtful
-kAf h. in
further news Of what happened. Ihe
bare announcement. given out -riday
afternoon, contained everything that
Vice Admiral Sims has reported thu.
far.
Hope Casualties Few.
The hope still obtains that there
were few II any casualties, though il
is conceded in War Department cir
cles that the vessel may have been
carrying Eomeward a few soldiers
convalescent from wounds and dis.
ease.
A court Of inquiry to determine the
full particulars of the sinking viii be
appointed by Vice Admiral Sims az
soon as the reports of those IN COM
mand are received; that is, IL at the
time she was sunk the President Lin
coin was under American convn,-. as
is probable. II British or French de-
stroyers were acting as conveys sini-
lar inquiry will be held under British
or French auspices
II Is explained, however, that thi,
procedure would follow as a mat.
ter Of naval regulation, and for that
reason the Institution of an officia,
inquiry would not necessarily imply
belief that negligence on the part
Of the conveys was responsible.
May Have Left Convoy.
On the other hand 1t is pointed
out that II the President Lincoln was
A lar ~