The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1945-04-05
Monaghan Sinking
Is Described


A description of the capsizing and
sinking of the Uss Monaghan on De-
cember 18th, 1914, is contained in a
letter to Mr.. and Mrs. l.. E. john
son of Lexington, route 5, parents OF
S &c Billy Johnson, a member Of
the crew lost at sea. Mrs. o. E. Ellis,
of Durant, is Billy's sister.
The letter, mritten by the senior
survivor Of the ship, Joseph c. Nc
Crane, follows:
My Dear Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson, d
As the senior survivor Of the u.
S S. MONAGHAN, it is with deep
regret and sorrow that / write you
concerning the loss of your son, Will
ham Lester Johnson, who following
the capsizing and sinking of that ves-
sci on 10 December 1914, was listed
as missing at sea. It is my painful
duty to inform you that after a care
full review of all circumstances there
can be no hope that he survived the
disaster.
On the 18th Of December the
MONAGHAN was steaming at sea in
a forward Pacific area in company
with a large number Of navel vessels,
which included the unfortunate
SPENCE and HULL. With little
warning q vicious typhoon struck the
group Of vessels with terrific vio-
lence. Our Commanding Officer. 1t.
Comdr. F. B. Garrett, Jr., USN, did
everything he could to improve the
vessels situation but It was Of no use;
the storm was too much for our ship.
- Il was for the two other Destroy
ers lost. Mountainous seal pounded
the vessel az the wind rose to an
smazing velocity Of well over one
hundred knots, as we later found out.
Many ships, larger and sturdier than
our vessel, were in serious trouble,
too. The ship rolled violently under
the punishment Of the typhoon wind
to angles Of list over fifty degrees.
II was all any Of US could do to
hang on to the ships structure and
pray for deliverance from the fury
Of the storm. Finally the ship was
struck by winds near the core Of the
typhoon and we rolled over on our
side. A few Of us, who happened to
be in the after part Of the ship, felt
1t going over and ran out Of our
shelter only to be carried overheard
by the heavy sea. Somehow we came
across a life-raft torn loose by the
raging sea and chung to II until we
were picked up three days later. II
was a horrible experience. and a mir
acle that any Of US survived at all.
Very careful and extensive searches
Of all possible areas in which surviv-
crs might have been carried were
made by surface vessels and aircraft
in the days following the passing Of
the storm. There was no land Of any
description within several hundred
miles, so it is quite impossible that
anv of the men, other than the six
who were picked up, could have sur
vived.
Bill had been aboard our ship only
a few short months before the occur
renee of the disaster. During that
time he gained the confidence and
respect of his officers and fellow crew
members. I became quite well ac-
quainted with him, and I think his
most impressive characteristics were
his never-ending cheerfulness and
sense of good humor. Nothing seemed
to bother him and his morale was
constantly at its peak. Bill did his
work well and could be counted upon
in any emergency. We who survived
considered him as one of our finest
ship-mates and deeply grieve his pass
ing.
1t should be of some consolation for
you to realize that your son lost his
life while actively engaged in the
service of his country, fighting a war
against a vicious enemy of our ma
ton. Those of us who were fortunate
enough to come through the disaster,
will go back again to serve our
try to the best of our ability. Please
accept my sincerest sympathy in
your great sorrow and feel free to
contact me if there is anything fur
tier / can do to help. Further inquir-
les will be received if addressed to
me in care of Room 1926, Bureau of
National Personnel, Navy Depart
ment, Washington (25), d. C.
Very sincerely.