FLEET RUSHES TO AID IMPERILED DESTROYER

WIRELESS MESSAGES REPORT WAR VESSEL IN DANGEROUS CONDITION OFF CAPE HATTERAS.

New York, Jan. 7 -- Wireless messages received here tonight reported the United States torpedo boat destroyer Terry in trouble at a point northeast of Cape Hatteras. The vessel was in communication with the steamer Tagus and the battle ship South Carolina.
It was stated that the destroyer's turbine engines and pumps were out of commission, that all its stores were ruined and its wireless apparatus not working.
The battle ship Carolina's message reports the Terry's position as latitude 38.21 north and longitude 67 west.
The Tagus left Hamilton, Bermuda at 11 a. m., Saturday and is due at New York at 2 p. m. tomorrow. At noon today on its regular schedule it would have been 360 miles from this port, to the southeast.
The revenue cutter Onondaga was reported by the South Carolina to be in the immediate vicinity of the Terry.
All Vessels To Aid.
When the Navy Department at Washington learned that the destroyer was in distress the powerful wireless station there flashed out orders for all United States war vessels to steam at once to the little craft's assistance. Special instructions were given to the commander of the transport Prairie, at Norfolk, Va., to said at once in the search, and a wireless message was sent, intercepting the crippled scout cruiser Salem, which was turned back in the quest.
The Terry carries a crew of three officers and eighty-three men. Lieut. JOHN C. FREEMONT is in command.
Several vessels of the Atlantic fleet, en route from Norfolk to Guantanamo, suffered severely in the northwest gale which raged off the middle Atlantic coast yesterday. The Salem was badly damaged and was returning, under convoy, to the Norfolk Navy Yard for repairs. It lost all boats, except the gig, the port rail and part of the starboard rail were carried away, and the hatches were seriously damaged.
TAYLOR BAGWELL, ordinary seaman, and HERMAN GOLDSTEIN, seaman, were swept overboard and drowned.
The Dixie also suffered some damage in the gale. The Delaware lost two lifeboats and a steam launch, the boats being either carried away or smashed by the heavy seas.

The Indianapolis Star Indiana 1912-01-08

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!