Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27
Survivors Hold Little Hope
for Crew Trapped in Un-
dersea Boat, as Chlorine
Gas Had Been Released.
MAN DOWN AT WRECK
HEARS NO SIGN OF LIFE
Captain of Steamer States He
Circled Sunken Vessel for Two
Hours in Reply to Wilbur Belief
He Should Have Stayed Until
Navy Came to the Scene.

BY the Associated Press.
BOSTON, September 26.-The sub
marine S-5l, struck and sunk by the
steamer City of Rome, IA miles east
of Block Island last night, rested IN
t25 feet of water late tonight. with
a failure so far the outcome Of all
attempts to rescue the "a men believed
TO be entrapped within her hull. The
highest hope of Navy officials at the
scene was that the men might live for
s2 hours provided there was no leak
age of water into the submarine.
Others said that at least two days
would be needed to raise the sub
marine to the surface.
Divers favored by moonlight night
and a calm sea, failed in their at
tempt to force compressed air into
the S-51 and turned their efforts to
passing a sling under the stern. Above
them f1oated la2!e group of salvage
vessels. mine swsepers and Wrecklns
craft, accompanied by four subma-
rinS;. The divers failed in all efforts
to communicate with those believed
imprisoned in the wreck.
Little Hope for Shipmates.
The divers said the S-51 was rest
ing on her keel with slight list to
port. with large hole in her port
side abaft the coming tower.
The City of Rome arrived here this
afternoon with three survivors on
board. Alfred Geier of New Bedford ::
Michael s Lira of st. Louis and
Dewey Kile of Peoria, Miss. They
were taken to the Chelsea Hospital
with minor injuries. They told OF
declared they had little hope that
their comrades still aboard the Sol
would be found alive.
The diving operations We're con-
Quoted from an outfit sent out from
Newport, where there is a deep sea
diving school in connection with the
naval station. The vessels were the
tug Triton, the diving boat Crilley
and two range boats. Work was car
ried on under the glare of search
lights from fleet of naval and Coast
Guard craft assembled about the
scene of the collision.
An underwriters survey held to-
night on the City of Rome disclosed
no apparent damage from the col
lision. \ temporary certificate was
issued and the vessel will be allowed
To make her return sailing to Sa-
vannah tomorrow. More than 100
passengers are booked for the trip.
Called to Inquiry.
Capt Diehl. those of his officers who
were on duty at the time of the col
lision and members of the crew have
been ordered to report tomorrow
morning at the office of the United
testimony regarding the accident
Counsel for the ocean Steamship
Line, owner of the City of Rome, to-
night made public statement by
Capt. Diehl, in which the captain de-
clared that everything possible was
done to rescue. survivors of the S-5l
crew. The statement follows:
THE log of the City of Rome shows
that the collision occurred at 1924.
BY 1882 lifeboat No. I, in charge of
the first officer, had been launched
and was searching for survivors.
Lighted ring buoys had been thrown
overheard. a ladder had been low
cred to the waters edge and seamen
with ropes were standing ready. All
the other lifeboats We're ready for
launching. The lifeboat which had
been launched found three men and
they were brought in.
NO other survivors were found or
seen. Oil was seen on the surface
marking the spot where the subma-
rine sank.
plotted and sent to the Navy Depart
ment. After standing by and seeing
no signs of life the ship proceeded
Captains Message.
'rThe S-51 came from, tho Cea enid
the graphic radio report sent by Capt
John II. Diehl of the City of Rome.
with no side lights showing. Was
nearly into ship when side lights were
switched on. Backed full speed. but
sub did not change. Struck forward
coming tower. Sub sank at once.
Only three men saved. Being taken
care Of. All passengers and crew of
Rome o. X. Ship little dented''
In an earlier message Capt. 'Diehl
had said that the submarine went
down at 1924 last night II miles from
Block Island
That was all that was known of the
circumstances of the collision before
the city of Rome was warped into her
berth in the Charlestown district late
this afternoon. The S-51 left the sub.
marine base at New London, Conn.
on September 20. on practice cruise
in command of Lieut.. Rodney H. Dob
son. The City of Rome, scheduled to
leave Savannah for Boston on Mon
day. was delayed for "a hours and
sailed on Tuesday. On board were 20
passengers.
AS soon as word of the collision was
flashed on the air in the early hours
of this morning naval vessels were
hurried to the scene from every port
within reach. Aircraft also rushed to
the rescue and it was a naval sea
plane, piloted by Lieut.. C. S. Haw-
kins, which located the submarine
early this afternoon through air bub.
bles coming to the surface. The sub
marine 81 quickly marked the posi-
ton and as soon as possible divers
were sent down.
The destroyer Putnam went out
from Newport and was one of the
first vessels to reach the place where
the S-51 had gone down.
The Camden, flight ship of the At.
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