The New York herald., 1922-01-15

was lowered from the Yamacraw without
difficulty or accident and safely made the
passage to the Louisiana. The command
ing officer OF the Yamacraw had requested
by signal that the Louisiana use oil freely
10 form a slick for the surfboat, and this
signal was acknowledged. A Franklin
lifebuoy, with a running line attached, had
been placed on the port quarter of the
Yamacraw to be streamed in case the surf
boat should have difficulty in reaching the
vessel upon her return from the Louisiana.
Gunner Harris made his boat fast with
the painter under the port bow of the
Louisiana. and had taken off one of that
vessels crew when an unusually heavy
sea whose approach could not be seen in
the darkness struck the starboard quar-
ter of the vessel swept over her decks and
engulfed the Yamacraw's boat. which was
caught in the backlash and hurled against
the Louisianas bow, throwing all the men
into the water
Lighted lifebuoys were Immediately
dropped from the louisiana and the Yam
acraw was promptly notified of the acci-
dent by occulting light signals. On ac-
count of the lack of trained oarsmen (the
Yamacraw, it should be said had put to
sea without waiting for the return of a
large part of her crew, so urgent were the
distress calls) remaining on board the
Yamacraw It was not deemed safe at that
time to lower another boat for the purpose
Of rescuing the men in the water
The vessel, however. was gotten under
way with the least practicable delay and
navigated In toward the men, She was
stopped near lighted buoy to which Mas
ter at Arms Grady could be seen clinging.
Grady left the buoy and attempted to
swim to the Yamacraw. When It was evil
dent that the attempt was beyond his
strength Steerage Cook J. J. Kennedy
went overheard In a powlne swan to
Grady and with much difficulty brought
him alongside the vessel. Kennedy was
obliged 10 loose his hold on Grady. who
was then carried under the cutter as she
rolled to starboard. When the ship rolled
back to port he foated out alongside just
forward of a gangway. Second Lieut. w.
J. Keester. who had gone down on the sea
steps. in the blight of a rope. grabbed
Grady under the arms and raised MIN
high enough to pass his hand TO some one
up the gangway. He then slipped his
hand down Grady's side and seized him
about the waist. when a sudden lurch OF
the vessel wrenched Grady from his grasp,
and the latter fell back into the water.
The dinghy with Boys First Class Will
lam r. Hogarth and j. A. Dugger was
lowered to the water and hanging in the
falls. The boys attempted to save Grady
as he was torn from the grasp Of Lieut.
Keester. but were unsuccessful. Hogarth
and Dugger then unlocked the dinghy and
let it ride to the painter. The painter
parted and they took TO the oars and
pulled TO a lighted buoy to which Ordinary
Seaman II. j.. Simmons was clinging. Be-
ing unable to get Simmons into the dinghy.
they dashed him alongside and endeavored
10 row back TO the Yamacraw, but the
strong current which was now running
carried the dinghy against the stakes of
Ash pound, capsizlng IL and throwing the
occupants into the water.
In the meantime Boatswaiu Hermann
Fielder. Electrician Third Class Bolton
Miller, Boy First Glass George l.. Wynn
and Boy Second Class Jay Mcwilliams
had jumped into the whaleboat which was
lowered. and started in search of the men
in the water. They found no one. Their
boat was upset but all safely reached land.
II was not possible on account OF the high
and dangerous surf to launch boat to go
to the assistance OF the men who were in
the water (Not possible for the Coast
Guard crews ashore).
After remaining I'm the vicinity of the
breakers until hope had been abandoned
the Yamacraw moved offshore and an
chored until daylight. 40 further attempt
was made 20 render assistance TO the
Louisiana, as there remained on board the
Yamacraw too few men to be able to ac-
complsh anything In that direction Dur
ing the night the weather Unexpectedly
improved and the Yamacraw proceeded 10
the southwark I'm search Of boats and
bodies. None was found and the vessel
returned 90 her headquarters al Norfolk