The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-09-10
20 Dead or
in
a S ter
Seven Ships Being Pounded
to Pieces in Rocky Grave
Yard of Pacific
Coast.
Fog Is Blamed for Wreck
By Universal Service.

Poiat Honda, Cal. Sept. s.-What
naval officers term az one OF the
worst disasters In recent years has
been revealed as the gray fog has
lifted from this rocky graveyard OF
seven United States destroyers.
Tossing restlessly on the sharp
crags, the ships are being pounded
to pieces, while small boats and RATS
drift over the swirling waters seek.
ing for 20 men Officially" missing.
undoubtedly being tossed against the
cliffs.
The body OF one man. r. A. Con-
roy, is lying on the sand here by the
little railroad station. He ie from
the destroyer Delphy. Mates Of
sailor Pierson, also from the Delphy.
say they saw him go down and never
come up.
The Delphy, leading a squadron OF
10 destroyers from San Francisco
TO San Diego, was caught in driy-
ing fog and unruly currents as II
neared this wild spot last night.
Crash First Warning.
1t was churning along AT about Il
knots an hour. The other destroyers
were following calmly in It's wake.
There was a crash With no warning.
The Delphy splintered on the rocks
Of Point Honda.
The destroyers Chauncey, Wood
bury, S. P. Lee. Nicholas, Fuller and
Young followed It blindly to ruin. -
The trim prides OF the battle fleet
piled upon each other with terrific
| crashes Ike giant cordwood being
tossed into a heap. The destroyers
| following the seven that went upon
the rocks were warned in time TO
turn away.
Hundreds OF men went into the
cold dark sea and were buffeted Ike
wooden chips against the sharp rocks
/ and steel sides OF the other ships.
4 The Deiphy was cut in two. The
Young was capsized: the Nicholas. S.
P. Lee and Chauneey have al COM
| partments below the upper decks
flooded. The Fuller and Woodbury.
are wedged between high rocks and
only their rocky saddles prevent the
ships from turning over. Nineteen
OF the missing men are from the
Young II is said they diregarded
orders and jumped when the ship
capsized. Those who clung 10 the
steep decks Of the Young were taken
off. The other missing man was
| from the Delphy.
Is in Hospital.
Fifteen men seriously injured were
| taken to San Luis Obispo and Santa
1 - a
special train.
The less seriously injured treated
their wounds here and went back
into the water TO aid of their strick-
en- mates.
Capt. Edward Watson. commander
Of destroyer squadron No. Il. Is on
the verge Of collapse: all night and
day. he and his officers have been
struggling in the rescue work.
Hundreds OF sensational rescues
took place. Chief Boatswain Mate
Peterson OF the Young dived into the
dark water and swan some distance
to the Chauncey with line. Over
this line the men ef the oung were
sent to safety. Peterson is a hero.
Another man on one Of the wrecked
ships dived into the water many
times to bring back his comrades
who had jumped into certain death
in an effort to save themselves.
Many Of the men swan 10 shore
with their comrades and then went
back for more.
when Do We Est:"
Each OF the wrecked destroyers
carried six officers and about los
men. The survivors OF the crash
were In a piiiful state OF collapse
and fatigue today. when they swan
to the rocks or were pulled ashore.
They arrived with very little cloth
ing. Wet and cold. and chilled by a
bitter wind.
In spite OF their terrifying eNreri-
ences and agony. they met the situa-
ton with s smile. Hungry. eeld and
wet. they congratulated each other
on being alive and cried. When do
we eat
\ relief train from san Francisco
arrived today and took the edge oft
their sufferings. Blankets were
given to many chilled men and food
enough TO partially satisfy them VAS
served
Plans are being made 10 take The
men 70 san Francisco and Les An
gcles.
This rocky fastness has no con-
nection with the outside world ex.
ccpt one railroad telegraph wire.
/