1942 — Dec 2, Navy boat capsizes (shore-leave sailors); Narragansett Bay ~Jamestown, RI–15
–15 AP. “Cocoanut Grove Holocaust Tops 1942 News.” Portsmouth Herald, NH. 12-301942, 5.
–15 Newport Mercury & Weekly News, RI. “Search Continues for Missing Sailors.” 12-4-1942.
–15 Newport Mercury & Weekly News, RI. “Body of Another Missing Sailor Found.” 12-11-1942, p. 3.[1]
Narrative Information
Dec 3: “Newport, R.I., Dec 3 (AP)–Five sailors were known dead, from nine to 16 others were missing and two were safe today after their 28-foot Liberty boat capsized in rough water in Narragansett bay early yesterday while returning the men from shore leave. Firemen found five victims strewn along the shore of Conanicut island[2] near rocks where the Liberty craft, of whaleboat design, was discovered with both ends stove in….
“Naval officers said they believed 16 men were aboard the small craft, but one of the survivors was quoted as saying he thought there were 23 aboard. The navy public relations office said a roster would be checked in an effort to establish the number by a process of elimination.” (AP. “Five Known Dead, 16 Others Missing Off Newport.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-3-1942, p. 17.)
Dec 4: “Search was being continued Thursday along the Jamestown shore for bodies of 10 additional sailors believed drowned Wednesday night when the motor whaleboat, on which they were returning from liberty, capsized in the harbor. The bodies of five others were recovered Wednesday after the disaster, believed to be the worst of its kind here. Two men were saved.
“The liberty boat was one of two that left the Government Landing to return to the ship off the Jamestown shore. One left at midnight, and the other five minutes later, it was announced by navy officials. One arrived safely.
“Details concerning the tragedy became known during the morning and early afternoon, but official naval circles requested no announcement be made until families of those known to have perished were notified. The Daily News complied with the request. It was not until 4:30 Wednesday afternoon that authorization was given to publish the story.
“Rough water, with the possibility that it hit an obstruction, caused the 28-foot boat to capsize. It eventually drifted up on the Jamestown shore at Carr’s lane. J. B. Kelly and L. J. Hinsen, both seamen, second class, were the ones saved. They owed their rescue to their ability to cling on to the overturned boat until it reached shore.
“Kelly and Hinsen were brought to the Naval Hospital for treatment after a night spent on the island. Their condition was regarded as serious but not critical at that time. Naval officials questioned them as to details.
“Early reports said there were as many as 23 on the overturned craft, but a close check of the roster showed the actual number to be 17. Pending notification of next of kin, names of victims were withheld Wednesday ant today.
“First intimation of the tragedy came when Manuel L. Machado, a Jamestown farmer, who was awakened before dawn by the shouts of a survivor, who proved to be Hinsen. He told the farmer that the accident happened off Rose Island,[3] and that it seemed that the liberty boat had struck something, possibly a buoy. The sailor said the motor stopped, water came into the craft, and it capsized.
“Hinsen said he managed to cling to the overturned boat, and hung on for what seemed to him a long time before the boat went crashing into the shore with such force that two holes were stove into the craft. The boat’s gasoline tank was thrown clear, and debris of the craft was along the shore, with the rudder missing.
“Kelly, the other survivor, made his way to a haystack, where he passed the night. He returned to duty Wednesday after examination at the Naval Hospital revealed him fit. Hinsen continued under treatment today.
“Kelly was seen walking along the East Shore road, Jamestown, his clothing covered with hay. Norman Caswell, passing in an automobile, took him to a restaurant, and later Lieutenant Commander Constantine Clay brought him to the Naval Hospital. Kelly appeared dazed, it was said….” (Newport Mercury and Weekly News, RI. “Search Continues for Missing Sailors.” 12-4-1942.)
Dec 11: “The sixth body of the 15 enlisted men believed lost in the harbor, when a navy liberty boat capsized Wednesday night, has been found, the navy announced Monday. It is that of Wilber Edgar Martin, fireman, first class, whose address in…Cody, Wyo….A fish dragger located the body at the southeasterly end of Gould Island, the navy said….
“The seventh body from the harbor tragedy of last Wednesday evening…has been recovered, it was announced today by official navy circles. It was that of Emory Calhoun Carter, Jr., 27, machinist mate, first class…Hollywood, Cal. The body, it was said, was found by fishermen southeast of Gould Island, where the body of Wilber Edgar Martin…was found….” (Newport Mercury and Weekly News, RI. “Body of Another Missing Sailor Found.” 12-11-1942, p. 3.)
Dec 30: “Fifteen sailors drowned when their open ‘Liberty boat’ capsized in Narragansett bay while they were returning from leave.” (Associated Press. “Cocoanut Grove Holocaust Tops 1942 News.” Portsmouth Herald, NH. 12-301942, p. 5.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Cocoanut Grove Holocaust Tops 1942 News.” Portsmouth Herald, NH. 12-301942, p. 5. Accessed 10-1-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-herald-dec-30-1942-p-5/?tag
Associated Press. “Five Known Dead, 16 Others Missing Off Newport.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-3-1942, p. 17. Accessed 10-1-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-dec-03-1942-p-83/?tag
Newport Mercury and Weekly News, RI. “Body of Another Missing Sailor Found.” 12-11-1942, p. 3. Accessed 10-1-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newport-mercury-and-weekly-news-dec-11-1942-p-3/?tag
Newport Mercury and Weekly News, RI. “Search Continues for Missing Sailors.” 12-4-1942, p. 1. Accessed 10-1-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newport-mercury-and-weekly-news-dec-04-1942-p-2/?tag
[1] Notes seven bodies recovered and eight missing nine days after capsizing, citing navy sources. Names of recovered dead and missing sailors noted on same page in article “Names of Sailors Lost Here Announced.”
[2] Jamestown is on south end of Conanicut Island, RI. Newport, RI is a few miles across the Bay to the east. Narragansett, RI is a few miles southwest of Conanicut Island.
[3] Rose Island is just off Jamestown, Conanicut Island, to the East.