Smyrna times., 1924-10-29
ENSIGN DREXLER, DELAWARE
BOY LOSES LIFE ON CRUISER
DISPLAYED HEROISM ON CRUIS-
Err TRYING TO SAVE SHIPMATES
Deceased Was a Son of Senator Louis
Drexler of Bethany Beach, and His
Death is DeplOred by all Many

Deceased Was a Son of Senator Louis |
Drexler of Bethany Beach, and His
Death as DeplOred by all Many
The many friends in Dover and vi
cinity were shocked to learn of the
tragic death of Ensign Henry C.Drex-
Ter, son of former State Senator
Louis A. Drexler, of Bethany Beach,
who was killed in an explosion on the
scout cruiser Trenton on Monday af-
ternoon, October 20, while the cruiser
was at target practice on the South
ern drill grounds off Cape Henry.
Ensign Drexler's is the outstanding
name in the stories of heroism told
by some of the men who were on the
Trenton and who witnessed the acci-
dent, after they had been removed to
the Portsmouth Hospital. He was
near the turrent when the explosion
rocked the ship throwing men to the
deck fore and aft. The interior of
the turrent was a seething furnace
with men lying about in the flames,
some of them still alive and strug-
Cling feebly to get out.
Without thought for his own per-
sonal safety Ensign Drexler rushed
into the blaze three different times,
each time emerging with one Of the
sailors in his arms. He placed them
on the deck in a safe place and re
turned again to pick up another man.
| His. face was a mass of burns and
his clothing was in flames and drop
ping from his body but he seemed to
be unaware of his own injuries in his
efforts to rescue the sailors who had
been caught in the blast. He was
turning back into the fiery turrent
when he dropped dead from the burns
he had sustained in his rescue work.
Ensign DreXler was % years old
on August Z. He graduated from
the Naval Academy at Annapolis in
the class of last June, ranking high
among the honor men. He was an
expert in seamanship and because of
his excellent record in this aprticu-
lar course of study while at the
Academy he had won at graduation a
magnificent silver cup which is offer
ed every year as a prize by the
Daughters Of the American Revolu-
ton for the cadet making the best
record in seamanship.
He was born in Bradock, Pa, and
before entering the Naval Academy
he had attended Culver Military
Academy at Culver, Indiana. Be
cause of his excellent record in sea-
manship at the Academy he was Civ
en- his choice of ships when he grad
uated and he elected to join the staff
on board the cruiser Trenton, one OF
the newest ships of the navy. FOL
lowing the commencement at Annap-
oils in June Ensign DreXler return
ed to his home in Bethany Beach
where he remained for sometime, lat
er being detailed to the Navy Iar'
at New York. There he remained
until about two weeks ago when h'
ioined the staff of officers on TIT
Trenton. He was the junior office
and had command of the FORWARD
twin turrent, in which were MOUNTED
two six-inch guns. He was the onl,
officer killed in the explosion Monday
The fatal blast occurred about 40
o'clock and the causes have not a
vet been determined.
Ensign Drexler entered the NaVa
Academy in June 1919, by appoint
ment of former United tSates Sena
tor Josiah o. WolcOtt.
Ensign DreXler was known to
wide circle of friends in this State
especially in Sussex county. II
made his home at Bethany Beac
where he was a frequent visitor whe
he could get away from the Nav'
Academy. His father is one of tn
hest known men in that section
Delaware. being a former member G
the State Senate and this year IS
candidate for election to the House
Representatives
Ensign Drexler has a brothe
Louis A. Drexler, Jr., who Is an o o
ficer in the United States Navy. h
graduated in the class Of 1923. 7
present he is attached to the stall
Admiral Williams and is stationed
board the cruiser Concord. He is
graduate of the torpedo trainln
school at Newport, Rhode lSlah