New-York tribune., 1919-04-29
) Sailors Lost
As Boat Sinks
I'm North River
Disabled Naval Motor Craft.
Helpless in Strong Tide,
Crashes Against a Larger
Vessel and Goes Down

Five sailors lost their lives in the
Street carly yesterday morning. There
were from fourteen to fifteen sailors
in the boat. Two or the victims were
from the destroyer Bell and three from
the destroyer Harding, both stationed
off 149th Street. The dead are:
: GULEPA, Enrique, 81 years old, cab
in steward, of Candida, Province
of Pampanga, Philippine Islands.
/. 0C'ONNELL, Dennis j., 81 years DID,
seaman, second class, of Derby,
Conn.
OLIVER, William P, % years old,
fireman, of Lucine, Miss.
: BEDELL, Toney, 20 years old, fire
man, third class, of San Francisco
QUINN, John, 21 years old. seaman,
Of Parkland Place, st. Louis.
The first two were from the Bell
and the others from the Harding.
Will Hold Inquiry To-day
Commander Charles S. Keller, of the
Bell, said yesterday that complete
inquiry into the accident will be held
to-day on board the Bell under the di
secson Of Rear Admiral Robertson. A
preliminary inquiry was held yester
day and the number of victims was
established. 1t was feared at first that
survivors were taken to their respect
i've ships and are none the worse for
the mishap. They were mostly from
the destroyers Fairfax and Wilkes.
The following official statement was
issued yesterday by the local naval
authorities setting forth the cireum-
stances OF the accident:
"A motor sailer from the destroyer
Bell, returning from shore with party,
of fourteen men this morning at 2
o'clock, Broke down and was caught in
the strong ebb tide, which carried it
against the bow of the U. s. s. Henley.
The resulting collision stove in the
side OF the motor sailer and caused it
20 overturn and sink. The Henley
sounded the alarm and searchlights
from the U. S. s. Mississippi. nearby,
and the T.. s. S. Warren were thrown
on the spot. The crew OF the Henley
rescued ten men. These men we're
from various ships and were being
taken back from the dock by the Bells
motor sailer, in charge of Coxswain
Took. or the FIVE men lost two were
nom the Bell and three from the Hard
/ lag.
Rear Admiral Robertson has or
esred court Of inquiry to be aeld or
beard the U. S. S. Bell.
The carrying capacity OF the motor
sailsr was twenty-five men"
Helpless In Strong Tide
According 10 explanations made on
Me Bell, the motor dory was caught
With ia engine out of commission be-
s*esn the Mississippi and the Henley
sna upset in the trap. The very strong
sds made rescue work particularly diff
& asuis. The tide in the North River is
xaSwn for It's strength, and the feet
sss 'sst number OF men on previous
sessions when visiting New York, due
Nthis fact.
Tbs attention Of the crews on the
Henley and tho Mississippi was drawn
e fss accident by the cries Of the men
saaxziing in the icy water. and
k<fsy Of sailors plunged 70 the rescue
MNsfiately. Another rescue party
ssx<f toward the scene Of the acci-
55sEshs from the clubhouse of the Fulton
kssss ~ Club. This party Was in charge
=. G. Hubbard, 4 freight conductor
e me New York Centrni, who was on
MsFe ard heard the cries Of the men.
III people in the nei9hborhood Of
Tside Drive we're attracted 70 the
.oy the play of the powerful
4 Mssn'ignts On the Mississippi and the
ss'ssy Among those who witnessed
nH wife Of tbs proprietor of the
E ~'es Xasht Club. ghs was awakened