Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-05
Over 600 Stand with Bowed
Heads at Memorial Services
at New London Base as Roll
Call of 80 Dead Is Read
Workers at Scene of Disas-
ter Still Seek Recovery %
Missing Victims

U. S. Submarine Base, New Lon
don, Conn, Oct. 4-(AP)-The solemn
notes of taps" today rang through
the submarine base as a farewell by
the navy to its comrade dead of the
Ssh.
AS the bugle call died away more
than 500 officers and enlisted men
stood in the Base Theatre with bowed
heads. With them were friends of
the 80 dead men of the $751;. officials
OF New London and civilians who had
Joined in the memorial services this
morning. Every man attached to the
base, not detained by official duties,
was present.
During the services other navy men
We're tolling at the scene of the sink
ing of the submarine. Sept. %, by the
City of Rome, to recover the bodies
of their comrades, Rear Admiral H.
w. Christy. in charge of operations,
sent a message from the Camden to
be read at the memorial exercises. 1t
said:
Rear Admiral Christy and staff,
y,
s. Camden, deeply regret that on ac-
count of the duty in which the flag
ship Is engaged, they are denied the
privilege of attending the memorial
services at the submarine base this
morning and there paying their hon.
age to the memory of the gallant Of
ficers and men of the u. S. Ssh who
lost their lives in the service of their
country"
The services opened with a reading
OF the order issued by Captain Ernest
]. King, commanding officer of the
base, under which they were held. In
this order Captain King reiterated his
belief that the Ssh was sunk without
any blame whatever attaching to her
offfficers.
Then came the roll call read by
Lieutenant Commander w. d. Sny-
der, commanding the S-49, a sister
ship OF the. Ssh. As the 3S names Of
the stricken crew were read for the
last time there complete quiet and a
moment later the strains ofF"Lead,
Kindly Light" broke the silence.
The services. arranged by the Epis-
copalian chaplain of the base. the
Rev. A. r. Parker, were simple but
impressive. After reading the lesson
from st. John IA, Chaplain Parker
delivered a brief address of comfort
to the relatives and friends of the
deadmen. His address was followed
by the hymn. abide With Me-" and
the singing OF Gounods ave Maria"
by soloist.
Expressing inability to convey ade-
quately his sympathy for the be-
reaved families of the dead, Chaplain
Parker read the letter of Abraham
Lincoln to Mrs. BiXbee of Boston, ex-
pressing his consolation on the loss OF
her sons during the civil war.
A special hymn for the safety OF
those who follow the sea was sung
and the services wire concluded with
a benediction, saying.
unto Gods gracious mercy and
protection, we commit our shipmates,
loved and lost. The Lord bless them
and keep them; the Lord make His
| face to shine upon them AMI be graz
cious unto them: the Lord lift up His
| countenance upon them and give
them peace, both now and evermore.
This afternoon services were held
| in Groton, for WALTZ B. Lawton, one
of the five men whose bodies have
been recovered. Full military honors
were accorded him and officers of the
base, including Capt. King, were
present. Lawton enlisted from Som
erville, Mass, but lived in Groton
with his ninteen year old bride.
The Camden, the mine sweeper
! Falcon and the diving vessel Chitten-
den, returned to the Ssh early today
to resume operations to recover the
| 2S bodies still unaccounted for.