Evening star., 1925-11-17
ERRAND Of MERCY
IS FATAL TO EIGHT
Coast Guard Cutters Boat
Taking Sick Man From Hos
pital Capsizes in Storm.

by the Associated Press.
SHELBCRNE,, Nova Scotia, No
vember I7.-Eight men-possibly nine
of the crew of the United States
Coast Guard cutter Morrill, were
drowned in the harbor here early last
night when a sailboat in which they
wore returning TO the cutter after
leave on shore capSiZed during Il
heavy blow and in turbulent water.
Only one man in the boat was
saved He is c. Taylor, engineer. sec
und class, who swan ashore through
the icy waters after the boat had
drifted close into the rocks.
Those known to have perished are:
Warrant Paymaster kingsbury, War
rant BoatsWain Lungen, CoXswain ].
J. Brackett. Chief Yeoman IL. Nc.
Murdo. chief Boatswains Mate J. l..
Shea, Cabin Steward II. *. Wilson and
Seamen Sauisak and Diver.
Survivor. Nearly Crazed.
Taylor was exhausted and nearly
craZed by his experience and the loss
OF his Shipmates. He gave the names
OF the men who, one by one, he had
seen lose their hold on the upturned
craft and drop TO their deaths into the
cold water amid the darkness of night
Ihe last man to take his death plunge
slipped off the 2G-foot craft Just as
Taylor started his swim from the hulk
10 the shore
The Morrill,. which is bound from
Detroit for Boston, where she is to
take up a post III the prohibition en-
iofcelnent fleet, was at anchor off
SANDY Point, five miles distant from
Shelburne. After Il day ashore the
sailors went aboard the saiIboat. 1t
was $50 O'Clock pm. when the craft
pointed for the Morrill,.
All went Well until about two and
one-half miles had been covered. Then
squall sent the boat on her beams
end. Later she toppled over side
wise The seamen worked strenu-
ously 10 cut away the rigging and
right the boat. but the craft capsized.
Washed OF, One by One.
1t was $50 when the accident oc-
CURED, and il was . O'clock when the
drifting craft had reached d point 80
yards offshore, from which Taylor
made his swim to safety. After at
tracing aid and receiving medical at
tention. he revealed the disaster.
When the men had been thrown
into the water five reached the slip
perry keel of the uptuIned craft and
clunG to it. Others held on To the
edges OF the boat. Waves constantly
swept the boat. One by one Taylor's
mates lost their holds and disappeared
In the darkness.
Immediately the news of the acci-
dent became known efforts We're made
to signal the Morrill, to inform Comdr
Williams. They were futile. however
and it was not until several hours
afterWard that a wireless message tele-
phoned To Halifax was relayed 10 the
Morrill, by way of Camperdown and
Cape Sable.
Crowds gathered along the water
front in the hope that some of the
sailors would he able to reach the
shore, but 10 bodies had been found
early today.
Shea Unequal to Swim.
TaylorS last companion on the
wreck was Shea, 23-year-old youth,
whose home is in Providence. X. |.
They plunged into the water together
in last desperate effort 10 reach
shore Shea gave out after q few
strokes and endeaVored to grasp Tay-
lor, whose own strength was rapidly
waning. Fighting his way ahead
through the icy sea. Taylor managed
to keep his head above water while
the dying man collapsed and disap-
peared.
The visit of the men to shore was
to carry a sick man TO a hospital, and
the man, found by shore physicians
not TO be in need of hospital care.
was being returned to the Morrill,
only to go to his death by drowning.
The shore trip had been made by
crew of picked men in the face Of a
gale that had blown hard throughout
The day, accompanied by rain. The
men did not attempt the return trip
until they thought the gale had
nhated