Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1907 — SEA ENGULFED THEM [ARTICLE]

SEA ENGULFED THEM

Eleven of tha Minnesota's Crew Start Aboard and Are No More Seen. THEY AND THEIR LAUNCH LOST Six Midshipmen Just Entering on Their Career Included. These, with Five Jackies, Make Up the Dreadful Toll Exacted by Old Ocean—Ron Down by a Steamer. 1

Norfolk, Va. t June 12. —1 tls stated authoritatively here that the naval officials have absolute knowledge of tse identity of a steamer which ran the launch of the battleship Minnesota. Washington, June 12. —The loss at one time of six bright young midshipmen fresh from the academy at Annapolis, and a boatswain ana soar enlisted men attached to the big battleship Minnesota—eleven men all together—as reported briefly to the navy dejmrtment was one of the most sovere jjiows that has fallen upon the personnel of the navy since the Spanish war, In the estimation of the officials. Because of their youth and very recent entry Into the naval service the young officers who were lost were not widely known outside of the naval academy. Names of the Midshipmen Lost.

Midshipman Henry C. Murfln, Jr., was a native of Ohio and a member of the second class at the naval academy. Like the others he had been sent aboard the battleship Minnesota for a summer course of instruction, to afford the practical education necessary to supplement the theoretical work at the naval academy. Fhilip H. Field was a midshipman from Colorado who belonged to the first class of the academy. Midshipman Walter C. Ulrich, of the second class, was from Wisconsin. W. H. Stevenson, of North Carolina, was a member of thesecond class, and Henry L. Holden, of Wisconsin, was a member of the same class; F. P, Holcomb, of Delaware, member of the second class. Seamen Who Were Lost. The names of five missing seamen are: R'. H. Dodson, seaman; fit L. Vandorn and F. Ito Plumber, ordinary seamen; G. W.ssestphal, fireman, * first class; Jesse Cohn, coal passer. 'Accounting for tbe Disaster. These eleven men had been ashoru to the exposition Monday night, tbe middies attending a ball. They started in a steam launch for their ship about midnight. Every one conversant with the steam launches used in the navy say they are seaworthy little craft. The conclusion is reached at the navy department that either on account of the lateness of the honr the launch in her haste had been driven hard into the heavy sea that prevailed, in Hampton roads, or that the little boat had been run down by some of the giant tramp steamers that make use of the roads as a refuge in time of storm. At any rate the boat and all on board are missing and the only thing known to be on board the launch that has been recovered is a “ditty** box beionging to the fireman on the launch, which was picked up* afloat.