The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-06-21
Hope of Rescue
Abandoned
For Men
Diving Bell on
Hand, Ready
For Use

- IOflsuloutn' ~ H. june AA-Ar
Navy divers stood by today TO
make a perilous descent to the
sunken submarine 90. believed To-
Gated in 440 feet OF water, ~ miles
offshore, although hope virtually
was abandoned for the SO men
aboard the 20 year old vessel.
The rescue ship Falcon radioed
that her grapnels had found an OBJ
ject. apparently the O-9. which
sank yesterday during test dive.
but that continued efforts to COM
municate with her gave mo indica'
ton OF life in the submarine.
Favored by calm seas and light
airs. Rear Admiral Richard Ed
wards, aboard the Falcon, said an
attempt would be made to send
a diver down with the arrival of
the Chewink. a submarine tender,
from New London, Conn.
Edwards reported that the Fall
con had sighted large quantities
OF cork, oil, air and decking. in
dicating the submarine had been
crushed by pressure Of the ocean
water.
His radio message from the res
cue ship to the Portsmouth Navy
yard said:
Believe sub definitely located
IN 440 feet OF water. Large guam
ties OF cork, OIL air and deckinf
sighted Two grapnels attached
Will attempt send diver down wher
Chewink arrives with equipment
about 1880 "a. M. Have made
continuous efforts to communicate
but have received no indication Of
life in submarine"
-Four divers were aboard the Fal.
con. whose position was about Is
miles off this old New England
port--not far from where the sub.
marine Squalls sank in $40 feet Of
water May IS. 1883. with a loss
Of % OF her crew OF SO men. }
Twenty one other divers, flown
here from Washington. were on
shore, awaiting a call II needed.
Commenting on the Falcons find
Lieutenant Commander Edmund
/ dehOIts bdAu luNIb was ~
good chance that It's the subma-
rine"
@ The contact was made a little
| outside-about two tenths OF a
mils-the swept" area, which Is
! cleared for submarine dives, but
he explained that this region prob.
ably would be swept too" adding:
]
lawn; you oYersweep somewhat"
Jewell asserted that IL divers
went down and landed on the
wrong part OF the submarine,
they might not be able TO deter
mine whether anyone still was
alive Signals, however. probably
would he sufficient from most sec.
tions OF the craft.
Sufficient Helium to supply div
ers for two days operations was
on hand. and more was on the way.
As the search swung into its
second day, the Navy made clear
that II was simply on hope" that
It based its official view that some
might be alive"
President Roosevelt. who kept
/ in personal touch with the Navy
Department IN Washington during
the night. was told that the Navy
was not optimistic about tho
situation.
The III foot O-9-yictim in New
EngIand's fourth submarine disas.
ter-went into Its III fated deep
trial dive at 1858 O'Clock est
yesterday morning-snd the search
got underway two hours later when
smoke bomb distress signal came
TO the surface.
Ready 10 use II need be. was the
famous diving bell. which car.
ried 10 safety 80 OF the 80 men In
the Squalls. when that submer-
sible sank In $40 feet OF water in
1939-just a few miles from where
| the 90 disappeared.
Officials explained, however.
that the bell or the "momsen
lungs" which the crews OF under.
SEQ craft carry, could he used only
n line we're attached TO the
wrecked ship.