Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-22
ADMIRAL AbANDONS
HOPE OF RESCU|NG
So VICTIMS ALIVE
Brumby Awaits Word From
Washington on Conduct
of Rescue Work.
TRAPPED MEMS SIGNALS
TO FALCON ARE STOPPED
Divers Descend to Wreck Again
as Air Is Pumped
Into Hold.
By the Associated Press.

PROvINCETOwN, Mass, Decem.
Der 22.-Rear Admiral Frank H.
Brumby, in charge Of salvage opera
tons at the sunken submarine S-4,
admitted at IL o'clock today that
there was no longer hope that lie
existed on board the submarine.
"I have not the slightest doubt that
there is no life on the S-4," Admiral
Brumby said today.
Others Support Admiral.
The admiral said he was unable to
announce when rescue operations
would be suspended.
THAT is up to the Navy Depart
ment in Washington" he said. we
have been keeping Washington in
formed and action on suspension OF
operations must come from there.
All the officers directing salvage
work here agreed with the admiral
that there was no longer room for
hope of the six men imprisoned In
the torpedo room of the submarine.
Admiral Brumby's statement was
= fnade lis hours after the S-4 was sent
TO the bottom in collision with the
Coast Guard destroyer Paulding last
Saturday. Thirteen hours had passed
since air lines We're attached to the
listening tube OF the Sd ana air
forced into the torpedo room.
Since rescue operations were re-
sumed yesterday after being held up
for two days by gales, the oscillator
of the mine sweeper Falcon, flagship
of the salvage fleet, has sent signals
at I5-minute intervals to the S-4
There has been no sound from the
sunken ship.
Sounds From 81 Cease.
While refusing to speak officially.
several officers OF the salvage fleet
said that when it was finally deter
mined that no life existed on the Sd,
salvage work would be abandoned for
the time.
The wind veered to the northwest
today, threatening heavy weather, and
1t was believed conditions would De
unsuitable for salvage work for some
time.
When work was resumed today
after a five-hour suspension the air
compressor of the Falcon had been
forcing air into the torpedo room or
the ga for more than 10 hours.
Men May Be Alive.
simon Lake, an expert in submarine
construction. sentga radio message 10
the Falcon from his home at Bridge
port. Conn, during the night, stating
that there should have been enough
air in the torpedo room of the Sd to
last one man 700 hours. He COM
puted that there should have been sur.
ficient air to keep six men alive ITO 2-5
hours. The men might be unconscious
for many hours before they died, the
afn1n0tr this morn.
ing they had been approximately lis
hours in their steel prison.
The first diver to descend this morn
ing was William Wickwire, who was
also the first to be lowered yester
dav He was instructed by Comdr.
Edward Ellsberg, in charge OF diving
onerafions. to land on the bow OF
the 81 and disentangle an air line
and a descending line which had be.
come fouled. He was then to drop
over the starboard side OF the YES
sci to the bottom.
Warned Against Rudders.
The diver was to make his way
10 the stern of the S-4 to estimate
how deeply she was imbedded in the
mud He was then to go forward
on the starboard side to inspect the
damage there and to see how the
keel was resting.
Wickwire was warned to avoid the
diving rudders of the submarine,
which are opened because she was
Submerged when struck by the Coast
Guard destroyer Paulding on Satur-
day. He also was told to give the
hole in her hull on the starboard side
forward Of the coming tower wide
berth.
second diver was to go down
when Wickwire had carried out his
assignment He was to carry out the
same orders on the port side Of the
vessel. Comdr. Ellsberg, who made
several trips down to the submarine
S.5I when he had charge Of salvaging
that vessel off Block Island two years
ago. planned to put on a divers suit
later in the day and make personal
INSPECTION of the So.
Cnmdr. Eilsberg said this morning
fhat divers had reached much wreck
hee from the Paulding on the forward
deck of the submarine. This included
several frames, two ribs, plating and
mart of the keel. The bottom of the
PauIding's hull cut & hole in the deck
of the submarine from a point just
aft Of the forward gun to a point back
bf the coming tower.
Discounts Mud Handicap.
The commander said that the mud
nvbere the S-4 lies was no more serious
handicap than he had encountered In
many other salvaging operations with
which he has been connected:
The Falcon is keeping about II
hounds of pressure through the al
Ene leading to the torpedo room or ths
ga The plan is to blow air down u
,fhe submarine for half an hour an(
then allow it to vent for half an hour
The air lines are attached to the
&c tube, or listening device, whicf
serves the purpose of ears for an un
dersea. boat. She tube is T-shapeo
eontrivance of brass projecting from
the deck, and made of pipe with
tuhher fixtures at either side OF the L
eyhich performs the service OF soun'
tnagnifiers. These rubber pieces wer'
removed by the divers and the air line
were attached to the brass tube.
Rescuers Work Desperately.
Success or failure Of the last oes
perate plan to restore to conscious
ness the six entombed men in tn
tosnedo room of the sunken Sd wa
in allowance early today as the rescue
fleet awaited with anxious ears AM
hearts for a sign that the fresh al
line which divers succeeded In con
Meeting had not been too late.
Hours after Navy experts had be
lieved the men could survive. divers
10 pm. last night made fast nos
% the listening. tube of the torped.
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