Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-29

possibly seep through to the man in
sufficient quantities to help them
breathe, if any of them had been for
tunate enough to lock themselves in a
watertight compartment when the
SOL went down. They admittsd,
however, that if the air could seep
through. the water might also. But
it was hope.
Relatives Eager for News
Lieutenant Commander Flanagan
was beseiged today with phone calls
and callers, mostly relatives Of the
missing men who wanted word of the
disaster. .r.
There's hope" he told them all.
"A young man called tonight. His
brother, J. j. Sheehan, motor ma
chinists mate, first class, was one OF
those reported to have been on duty
in the engine room when the crash
came and one of those most likely to
have a chance for life. His father.
nearing so years old, was in seri-
Gus condition. His brothers bride
of a few months was PROSTATE With
grief.
Don't buoy up their hopes too
much" said the executive ofncer,
because If the worst happens, 1t
will only go harder with them. But
tell them there's hope"
Asks for Husbands Body
Call after call was made at the
station. kilograms came from rel
atives at a distance, begging for
some word of hope. something def
mite. One sailors wife, whose name
was not made public, sent telegram
asking that her husbands body be
sent home.
Lieutenant Commander Flanagan
said hardly less frequent than the
calls from relatives were those from
persons who wanted to offer help to
the station in their work of rescue.
New London townspeople came to
their aid in every conceivable man
ner, he said, offering supplies of all
to lift the craft. One man brought
an invention he had worked out to
lift submarines.
The station eagerly awaited word
tonight from divers who were sent
down to investigate the submarine
when it was found that lifting op-
erations could not continue. These
men were expected to determine
what compartment doors were open
and 1t marked the first time that
any of them had ventured into the
submarine itself. Whether or not
they could hear sounds made by the
men inside, If any of them are alive,
was a matter of conjecture, but off,
GERS said it would be possible:
Instruct Divers
These divers were ordered into
the battery room of the vessel, said
wireless message from Rear Ad-
miral Christy, and from there they
were instructed to work as far for
ward and aft as possible preliminary
to further lifting operations.
How long it might be before they
could be heard from was problemat-
ical. 1t was said they might have
some trouble in getting through the
hole in the vessels side and that
they might find other obstacles to
prevent a quick survey of the inside
may prove extremely hazardous,
since they will be forced to crawl
about the ship dragging their air
hose after them and making sure
, that their source of supply is not cut
off.
Officers returning from the scene
tonight said that the sea was mod
Grating and that the great derrick
boat Monarch had been recalled from
the lee of Block Island where she
had taken shelter from the heavy
seas. Whether the combined strength
of her huge cranes and those on the
Century, another wrecker, could be
put in motion before daybreak, was
problematical. But both boats
! stood by and ready.
Unless the divers hear sounds
from within any compartments TO
which the doors are closed, they can
not be positive that the men are
! alive, for they will make no attempt
to open these doors. To do so would
be fatal. for the water Immediately
| would rush into the compartment.
The divers have carefully re-
hearsed their movements. They were
| on BOARD the 80, sister ship, to-
day, and studied carefully the posi.