Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-11
q DEAD IN WRECK
OF j. S. DESTROYER
.FLOT|LLA IN PACIFIC
Seven Warships viii Be To-
tai Loss Sea Disturbance
Held to Be aftermath of.
Japanese Earthquake

w ASf1lNCIION, sept lV'-A hiS
theory was expressed today by high
, naval officials that tidal wave or
other seismic disturbance, reacting
from the Japanese earthquake,
caused the disaster to destroyer di-
vision eleven off the California coast
!, yesterday.
Reports from naval officers on the
scene have not yet given complete
information of the condition under
whiGh seven destroyers were thrown
on the rocky coast, but from other
data officials said it was evident that
"a very unusual sea, disturbance"
took place Saturday and Sunday.
Until the department has COM
plete information" said Secretary
Denly, I'VE must withhold any
formal judgment. We can only ex-
press regret for the accident and
deep gratitude that the loss of life
was so comparatively slight"
An invests cation already is under
way under naval regulations.
The loss in materiel in the wreck
was confined to a class Of ships IN
which the United States is over
whelmingly superior. Nearly 200 de-
stroyers have been placed out OF
commission and are tied up in vari-
bus navy yards.
INJURED IN HOSPITAL
AT SANTA BARBARA
SANTA BARBARA, Cal, Sept. 10.
lhree sailors dead and fifteen injur-
sd; seven destroyers of the Pacific
squadron of the battle fleet held fast
between rocks off Point Arguello
Light, in the Pacific ocean between
San Francisco and Los Angeles.
! These are the outstanding conse-
juences of the navy's major marine
disaster in Pacific waters. The in
ured are being nursed at hospitals
lere: a trainload of survivors is
beaded for San Diego, the naval
Ease, while the seven ships are fast
approaching total wrecks by the in
essant pounding of the surf.
The warships went ashore while
ruising from San Francisco to San
Diego Saturday night shortly after 8
o'clock in a dense fog. Mistaken
position in rel~tion to the coast line
believed to have caused the crash.
rhe destroyers were speeding
through the fog hugging the shore
n single file formation when they
piled up on the rocks from 200 to
800 yards apart about 500 yards off
lhore.
Fatalities Divided
The fatalities were divided between
he destroyers. Seven were from the
Delphy, and the others died on the
. destroyer Young. which turned over
Ind sank in one minute and 81 sec
pnds after she struck.
The other destroyers, the S. P.
Lee, Nicholas, Fuller. Chauncey and
Woodbury., went aground in posi-
ions which gave their officers and
.rews a better chance for their lives
han was afforded the crews on the
lther craft.
The naval wrecks came while the
destroyer Reno, a member of the
squadron, had left the cruising line
attracted by open boat loads of sur
Fivors from the wrecked steamship
Cuba, a passenger vessel.
{ The Cuba went ashore off San
Miguel Island II hours before, and
It's survivors were picked up by the
Reno, with the exception of one boat
Dad, which was picked up by the
Standard oil tanker w. H. Miller in
, The Santa Barbara channel, while its
occupants were rowing out to sea in
/ dense fog, under the impression
they were headed for shore.
Survivors Landed
The Miller will reach San Fran
risco today. The Reno landed its
survivors at San PEDRO last night.
Reports indicated that all on board
the Cuba were saved with the ex-
ception of Captain c. J. Holland, the
purser, and eight members of the
crew who were reported to have re-
NAMED on board to guard a ship
ment of bullion.
Last night it was reported the
Cuba parted and sank.
Whether the captain and his as
sociates foresaw the end of their
craft and padded to San Miguel
island in an open boat, or whether
they were caught unawares and
swallowed up with their sinking ship
was a OF astion unanswered early
today
Tne Cuoa was ';ound from South
American ports to San Francisco.
Her wireless was crippled and had
calling radius OF only. mile.
= With a heavy sea running the
tugs Partridge and Sonoma are
standing by the smashed and twisted
wreckage of the seven L. S. naval
destroyers.
Two destroyers Of the flotilIa,
were net wrecked, have left for
San Diego with part of the crews OF
the stranded craft, while others
have been sent away by train.
A guard of ten picked men has
been ieft ct the scene of wrecks,
and two more tugs are expected to
arrive at the scene today.
West Virginian Leaps
of D..I- T.o4l