The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-10
SEA POUNDS At
WRECKED SHIPS
Continued From Page u

tC0DCmued from rage IL
to San Diego. Half dead from ex-
haustion, exposure and lack Of sleep,
they lay sprawled on the floor or on
the seats Of the thirteen train coaches
and told their story Of their night of
terror and Of the toll taken Of their
comrades.
The men believe there are twenty
dead on the destroyer Young alone.
They think their comrades were
trapped like rats in the hold Of the
ship when she went down beneath
the surface after the crash.
Three Go Overheard
On the destroyer Delphi,-leader Of
the pack-three men went overheard,
according to other members Of the
crew. One was knocked insensible
and carried away on monster
comber which raked the vessel fore
and aft.
Another. Fireman Pearson, blinded
by oil. went insane. Screaming and
fighting, he tore himself away from
his mates who attempted to hold him
down and leaped TO his death in the
surf
A third member OF the crew lost
his grip on the life line and was
washed overheard
After the Delphi struck the rock
it was not more than an instant until
the Young rammed up behind her and
swung over against her side. The
Delphi's propeller. still racing. caught
the Young In the bow and aided by a
big swell, kicked her over. Then the
Chauncey piled up.
The commander of the Chauncey
had just a flash Of warning, He
ordered full speed estern when he was
coming down few feet from the
others. but 1t was too late. The
Chauncey swung up against the
Young and the Youngs propeller in
turn. ripped open her side and lifted
her high up on the rocks.
Spice Fights Water
The Nicholas, Woodbury. and Fuller
rushed up behind within a few sec
onds The Spice fought against the
running waves but her warning also
Gene too late and she too piled up.
The rapid disappearance of lights
warned eleven other destroyers of
the squadron who were following close
behind. They escaped. Because of
the poximtty of the shore, however
they were unable to do much to help
the others.
The Young was the death trap of
the flock. With her side and bottom
ripped open, she keeled over on her
side in a minute and thirty seconds.
She lay bottom up and It is believed
twenty or more men were caugwht
helpless in a compartment on the
lower side. under the water. This
was reported by a member Of her crew
who escaped.
Gobs and officers on the Chauncey,
only ten feet away, threw life lines
over TO the Young and saved many
members of her crew who otherwise
were sure to have drowned or been
smashed to death against the rocks.
The bow of the Delphi was piled
high in the crash. Her stern was
washed around parallel to a huge rock
against which she hammered method
icaIly from minute to minute as each
wave crashed.
Leap TO Slippery Rocks
Watching their chance, each time
the swell came in. gobs lined the rail
and jumped barefooted to the slip
perry rocks Many lost their hold. but
were caught by those who had made
the leap in safety. Conroy was lost
when he attempted to make the leap.
The Delphi broke in two shortly
afterward.
The Nicholas was on a reef further
out and throughout the night the
crew and officers were forced to re
main aboard. On account of the dark
ness and the rocks, neither the life
boats nor RATS could be launched
with safety.
Seaman Carter was one of the nu-
merous heroes OF the disaster. He
succeeded in lowering a raft and pi-
loting 1t through the treacherous surf
eighteen times. every time bringing
a group of his shipmates ashore.
Commander Edward Watson of the
squadron stuck to his command
throughout and directed the rescue
work. He finally returned with the
last survivors aboard the special train.
Hospital officers reported he was near
Il state of collapse and refused to let
any one to see him or the captains of
any other of the ships.
Carries Life Line.
Boatswain Mate Peterson of the
Young was one of the outstanding
figures in the tragedy. At the risk
of his life he leaped in the tumbling
sea and swan forty yards through the
rocks to the Chaunoey and carried
life line.
Over this line seventy OF the crew
OF the Young crawled, hand-over-
hand, from the upturned side of the
vessel to safety.
Before Peterson's heroic act, the
men clinging to the overturned de-
stroyer cheered each other in the face
of death, for they all expected to so
down any minute.
MI. Z.