Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-21
SEVEN V|RG|N|ANS
LOST IN SEA WRECK
Enemy Submarine Sinks Amer
lean Steamer Carrying Two
From Richmond.
FLORENCE H. IS BLOWN UP
South Richmond Man Burned in
Serious Explosion in French
Harbor.

WASHINGTON, April 20.-Sevcn vir-
Sinia men are reported among the
missing following the sinking Of the
American steamer Lake Moor BY an
enemy submarine while in European
waters about midnight April H.
Al the same time the naval author
tiles here announced that an internal
explosion had wrecked the American
steamship Florence II. in a French port
on the night OF April II. /; is also
probable that forty-one members OF the
crew perished, since no word has been
received OF their rescue.
The report OF the wrecking OF the
Lake Moor was made to the Navy De-
partment late tonight. The ship was
on her maiden voyage. Five officers
and crew Of thirty-nine men are miss
ing. Five officers, including Lieuten-
ant-Commander kinchen ]. Powers.
L. s. y. II. F.. and twelve Of the en-
listed men. have been landed at a
British port.
The list OF missing as announced by
the department includes:
Oficers-Lieutenant Lewis w Onutt
L. S. ~ r. T., San Francisco, Cal
Lieutenant Thomas Kirk. L. s. y. r. F.,
Brooklyn. y. y; Ensign Sotiers Liz
/ =. :
Greece; Assistant Paymaster Claude B.
k-iebei. L. s. y. Il. T.. Lansdale. Pa. !.
Machinist James A. McGourty, L. s. "
r. T., Worchester. Mass.
Enlisted mcn-Joseph Battle Rocky
Mount, y. Y; William F. Bush. Dan
VILE, Tenn: Jacob Edcl Cohen, Rich
mond. Va; William Lee Darncli, Berk-
ley. Va, William Berth Ferguson, Roa-
noke. Va. John Benjamin Howerton,
Petersburg, Va; Woodfred Wallace
Ice, Meyers, s. c.; Eugene Allen John
ston, Portsmouth, Va; James Edward
fitzpatrick. Greenvillc. s. c.; Cleland
kinlock Ratcliffc, Richmond. Va:
Thomas Wilson. Portsmouth, Va.
The officers and men rescued were:
OGicers-Lieutcnant-C Comma ndcr Kin
chen ]. Powers, L. s. n. r. F., viii
mington. y. c.: Lieutenant William D.
Goodman. L. S. y. r. r. BROOKLYN,
" Y; Lieutenant Frank Pulaski. L. s.
~ r. f., Chicago. Ill; Ensign George
Bennett. L. 5. y. r. F.. Bushnell, ILL.,;
Ensign Allan Brown. =. s. y. r. F..
Montciair. y. J.
Enlistea mcn--Prince A. Johnson,
Franklin. Va.
The Lake Moor was a cargo car
r!er OF $500 tons, commandcercd by
the Shipping Board while being built
in the United States for a foreign COM
pany. She was assigned to the account
OF the navy last January, and sailed
from an Atlantic port the latter part
OF March on her first voyage across the
Atlantic.
STEAMER FLORENCE II. BLOWN
Up IN FRENCH PORT
Vice Admiral Sims reported the
blowing UP OF the Florence H., but
gave few details. Further information
is awaited by the naval officials. who
manifest Keen interest in learning
whether the cause of the explosion has
been determined and whether any dam.
age had been done to the port or to
other shipping in the harbor.
Besides the civilian crew on the
Florence II, there were twcnty-three
men in the naval armed guard aboard
the vessel. The names OF six sur
vivors OF tho guard had been received
by the department tonight, includ-
ing Leonidas Lafayette Livesay. South
Richmond.
L!vesay was slightly burned in the
explosion, but his injuries are not Sc
r!ous
The Florence II. was built on the
GEcat Lakes TOT loFclSn concern,
and was christcncd the Soui Ahras.
She WAS commandccred by the Ship
ping Board before being completed,
was cut in two and brought through
the Wclland Canal. and put together
again. She was rcchristcned the Flor
cncc H., in honor OF Mrs. Hurley. wife
OF the chairman of tho Shipping Board,
ann was operated by tho Luck cnbach
StcaDship Company for the Shipping
Board. The vessel carried 4 civilian
crew OF about ff;y-two men. and last
sailed from Philadelphia March so,
with cargo of about 5000 tons OF
powder ana steel.