Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-30
Wrecking Lighters
Monarch and Century
Due to Attempt Rails
ing Craft Early
This Morning
Weather More Favorable for
New Eff0rt-Cables Already
About Stern of Sub-Opinion
Grows Hole in Hull May
Have to Be Patched Before
Can Be Raised-Divers Tell
Story of Finding Two Bodies

Newport, r. I. Sept. o9.-(By The
Associated Press. 1.-The wrecking
lighters, Monarch and Century,
which were forced to abandon their
attempt to raise the sunken sub
marine. Sol yesterday because of
rough weather, seeking shelter here,
will rejoin the rescue fleet 10 miles
off shore at daylight tomorrow. The
weather had moderated sufficiently
tonight to make 1t safe, in the opin-
ion of naval officers, for the big
cranes to be once more lowed out
into the open sea and orders were
issued for the four tugs which
brought them to be ready to start at
midnight.
Cables already have been placed
about the stern of the Sol and need
only to be attached to the cranes on
the two lighters, hosting operations
could begin in a short time IL Of
ficers decided that this method
would give quicker access to the in
terror Of the submarine than con-
tinuance of deep sea diving.
The bodies of two men recovered
by divers today were in the morgue
at the naval hospital tonight and or
ders have been issued to bring here
any others that might be found.
The bodies will be kept here until
they have been officially identified
hxr 1f
navigation expected here tomorrow.
The opinion is growing in naval
circles here that before the sunken
Sol is raised it will be necessary
for divers to patch the hole in her
hull, made by the City of Rome and
pump her out before she can be
lifted from the bottom.
Early this morning one Of the
civilian divers of the salvage wreck
ers was sent down with Chief Tor
pedoman T. ]. Towne, a naval diver.
They gained entrance to the sub
marine through what is known as
the German hatch, the only hatch
that can be opened from the outside.
1t is located near the coming tower
and leads down into the forward
battery compartment, the living
quarters for most of the crew and
the compartment that the City of
Rome pierced.
The room was filled with wreck
age and the wrecking diver CROP
ing his way about found the door
leading into the coming tower en-
but it was too narrow for him to
get through. He carried with him
lamp but it did not give enough
light for him to see very far. He
found the hunks and located the
first body, that of Gibson. He
dragged it out and passed it along
to Towne, who attached the line and
signalled for tie body to be hauled
to the surface.
The second body was found by
Towne. 1t was that of Tesche-
macher. 1t was found in a lower on
the other side of the compartment
toward the bow.
Towne was unable to get to the
forward door of the battery room
that leads to the torpedo compart-
ment. 1t is not known whether this
door is open or closed.
The position of Gibson's body at
the time was found made 1t appear
as if he had made a struggle to get
out of his bunk but was unable be-
fore the thrush of water covered
him. Teschemacher had not ap
parently moved from the moment of
the crash. He being in a lower bunk
was enveloped with water almost
Immediately.