Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-12
Divers Searching
Eagle Boat Wreck

Eagle Boat Wreck
CONTINUED from Page One
official list cannot be prepared with
finality. The ships own records are
In her hull. and new ones must be
copied at Washington.
Boat Still Is Afloat
The Eagle boat is still ahoat. with
its keel turned toward the sky, but
the sailors say any high wind is ha6le
to cause it to sink. II righting the
boat is found impracticable. 1t will be
towed to the navy yard for repairs.
The capsizing was a tense dramatic
incident witnessed by hundreds of per-
sons, including several hundred physi-
clans from this city making an excur-
sion trip on the steamer Thomas Clyde.
1t occurred at 800 o'clock. A
darkening of the skies was followed by
thunder and lightning and then a hurri
can swept over the river.
Those on board the Thomas Clyde
saw the boat, which is submarine
mother ship. careen. try to come about
to face the wind and than. after hesi-
tating a minute at the height of its roll,
capsize.
Roy Mitchell. Phladelphian, was
at the wheel. He tried to save the yes
sci, but was unable to bring it into the
wind in time to prevent the accident.
Sailors Proved Their Bravery
The water was filled with struggling
seamen. The conduct of the men and
officers constitutes an epic of the sea.
Man after man riskcd his life to aid
some struggling comrade reach the
overturned hull and safety.
Commander Pierce himself rescued
several men. He is said to have pulled
Hancock out of the water. but the sea e
man is reported drowned. The conduct
of others was just as heroic.
Commander Pierce. Lieutenant Kelly
and Gunner Harrington refused to leave
the hull on small boats that had been
launched into the raging river from the
+ Thomas Clyde and the Independence
Hall, a Hog Island ship.
The small boats gathered up the men
swimming and those on board the hull
with the assistance of small boats from
the lighthouse.
The three on board the hull stayed
TO investigate rappings on the plate
coming from the inside. It was Brandt
signaling in telPgraphiC code that he
was imprisoned.
Men from the Independence Hall cut
through the steel bottom with chiselS
and hammers. and one was lowered
into the boat and got Brandt. who vas
still alive. DR.. +. .. Ballinger at
tended Brandt on the Independence
Hall. but Brandt died after being trans .
ferred to. the hospital at Hog Island.
Brandt. according 70 members Of the
family of Mr.. and Mrs. Henry F.. Cor
nog. OF 1926 North Twenty third street
who brought him up. was oighteer
years old, and had been in the navy
seven months His father George
Brandt. who bad married twice, al
lowed the COrnogS to bring up the boy
The Brandt lived Al Lansdalc, Pa.
Physicians Aid Sailors
Reilly met his death in the water
He was drowned despite a desperate ef
fort to save MIN made by Commando
Pierce.
The Thomas CLYDE was converted int
a hospital ship, and boatload after boat
load Of exhausted sailors loaded aboard
The 300 physicians on board, member
of the Philadelphia Clinical Association
the Physicians Motor Club and th
Aesculapians, busted themselves aidin
the sailors.
The Thomas Clyde unloaded the sail
ors at League Island, tug taking theT
from the boat to the shore Some {
! The more exhausted sailors are still i
the hospital.
The government tug, Modoc, an
Submarine Chaser No. II, with Captai
Sterling in command, were sent out
the scene of the disaster and have re
mained there since.
Mitchell. the helmsman sat the tin
Of the wreck, was taken to the nav
yard. He has but thirty three mo-
DAYS to serve before his enlistment rur
out. i,
"When the squall came | gave Il
wheel a hard turn to the left" he sal
''The fellows on deck laughed becau
the ship gave such a sudden list to por
was aiming to pass between Bulkhea
Light and DANISH freighter. But q
rudder didn't respond in the squall. ~
captain ordered the engines stopped, d.
''Copmander Pierce ordered us
A