1910 — Feb 6, US Naval Tug Nina sinks, gale, Norfolk to Boston, Fenwick Isl. Shoals, DE –31-33

–33 Naval Historical Center, Dept. of Navy. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm…”
–33 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”
–32 Boston Sunday Post. “Events That Have Made 1910 Illustrious in History.” 1-11-1911, p44.
–32 Boston Sunday Post, MA. “Fleet of Warships Searching for Nina.” 2-13-1910, p. 1.
–32 Lowell Sun, MA. “Hope Abandoned. Search for Tug Nina and Crew…” 2-17-1910, p. 2.
–32 Lowell Sun (MA). “Shipping Disasters: Summary of…Accidents…Last Year,” 3-21-1910.
–31 United States Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. Nina. 8-13-2015.
–31 Lettens, Jan. “USS Nina (+1919).” Wrecksite.eu.

Narrative Information

US Navy: “Nina, a 4th rate iron screw steamer, was laid down by Reaney, Son, and Archbold, Chester, Pa., in 1864; launched 27 May 1865; delivered at New York Navy Yard 26 September 1865; and placed in service as a yard tug at the Washington Navy Yard 6 January 1866, Ensign F. C. Hall commanding that ship and sister tugs Primrose and Rescue.

“Nina operated as a yard tug for the Washington Navy Yard and Naval Gun Factory through May 1869 and was then converted to a torpedo boat. She commissioned 31 March 1870, Lt. Godfrey Hunter in command, and then sailed for Newport R.I., arriving at the Naval Station 14 April. The ship served as a torpedo boat at Newport through 1883 refitting in May 1884 for special service, and next operated from August to October salvaging the wreck of sidewheel gunboat Tallapoosa sunk in Martha’s Vineyard Sound. From 1885 to 1889, Nina served in various capacities at New York Navy Yard, and then returned to Newport from 1890 to 1891.

“The converted tugboat returned to New York Navy Yard in 1892 to resume her original duties, continuing her yard work and towing services there for a decade. On 8 October 1902, she commissioned as tender and supply vessel to the Torpedo Boat Flotilla during winter maneuvers in the Caribbean. The ship returned to New York 15 March 1903 and decommissioned 6 days later, once again taking up her yard towing chores. Nina was next loaned to the Lighthouse Department to verify aids to navigation near Puerto Rican waters to protect the Fleet conducting Winter maneuvers from October 1903 to April 1904. She recommissioned 9 September 1905 for special service with the Board of Inspection and Survey, Rockland, Me.

“Nina was ordered converted into a submarine tender 28 December 1905. On 25 May 1906, she arrived at the Newport Naval Torpedo Station, and, following a year’s service, was assigned as tender for the 1st Torpedo Flotilla. For the next four years, she served with the Atlantic Fleet’s infant submarine force in its pioneer coastal operations from Newport to Annapolis and Norfolk. From 1 December 1908 to 22 February 1909, she participated in the great Review in Hampton Roads following the return of the Great White Fleet from its globe girdling cruise and joined submarines in exercises off the Virginia coast.

“At 0630, 6 February 1910, Nina departed Norfolk for Boston and was last sighted off the Capes of the Chesapeake in the midst of a gale. She was never heard from again. The warship was declared lost and struck from the Navy List 15 March 1910, the 30 crewmen and one officer on board being listed as having died on that day. Her loss is one of the continuing mysteries of the sea.” (United States Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. Nina. 8-13-2015.)

US Navy: “Iron screw steamer USS Nina, last sighted off the Capes of the Chesapeake in a gale. 33 drowned. 15 Mar. 1910.” (Navy, Naval Hist. Cent. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost…Selected Storm…”)

Wrecksite.eu /Lettens: “At 0630, 6 February 1910, USS Nina departed Norfolk for Boston…last sighted off the Capes of the Chesapeake in the midst of a gale. She was never heard from again…was declared lost and struck from the Navy List 15 March 1910, the 30 crewmen and one officer on board being listed as having died on that day. It was revealed in 1978 that the USS Nina had sunk near Fenwick Island Shoals, near the state of Delaware on the 6th.”

Newspapers

Feb 6: “Sailed…Nina from Norfolk for Boston…” (Portsmouth Daily Herald, NH. “Navy Orders.” 2-8-1910, p. 4.)

Feb 12: “Portsmouth, Va., Feb 12.–The battleship Louisiana and scout cruiser Salem were sent out today to search for the missing naval tug Nina.” (American Leased Wire. “Warships Searching fro Lost Naval Tug, Nina.” Centralia Evening Sentinel, IL, 2-12-1910, p. 4.

Feb 12: “Washington, Feb. 12.–There is grave apprehension at the navy department that the naval tug Nina has been lost at sea. This tug which is the tender to the third submarine division left the Norfolk navy yard at 6.30 o’clock last Saturday morning [Feb 5] for Boston and has not been heard from since leaving Chesapeake bay. Orders have been sent to the navy yards at Norfolk, Philadelphia, New York and Boston to immediately send vessels to search for her.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “The Navy Dept. Thinks Naval Tug Nina Has Been Lost.” 2-12-1901, p. 1.)

Feb 12: “Washington, Feb. 12…..the naval tug Nina…left Norfolk Sunday [Feb 6] for Boston and has not been heard from since. She carries a crew of 28 men and it is feared they may have been drowned in the storm which is sweeping the coast…” (San Antonio Light and Gazette, TX. “Fear Navy Tug Has Gone Down.” 2-12-1910, p. 1.)

Feb 13: “Government Orders Atlantic Coast Patrolled to Find Mysteriously Missing Tug — 32 Men on Board.

Officers and Crew of Missing Naval Tug Nina

Boatswain John S. Croghan, U.S.N., commanding, Washington, N.C.
John Williams Adams, machinist’s mate, first class, Louisville, Ky.
Sam Brown, ordinary seaman, Newport, Ky.
Frank Joseph Carringtonk, seaman, New Haven, Conn.
Louis Cline, seaman, Tottenville, L.I.
William Joseph Connolly, coal passer, New York city.
Frank Blain Crockett, fireman, first class, Hillsville, Va.
William John Darcey, seaman, Chicago.
Jacob Deadwyler, cabin cook, Philadelphia.
Ferdinand Drace, ordinary seaman, Philadelphia.
Jake Rathbone Eddlestone, ordinary seaman, New Orleans.
Cleveland Ervin, ordinary seaman, Crawford county, Mich.
Otto Albert Faessel, machinist’s mate, second class, Cleveland, O.
Emil Joseph Foster, fireman, second class, New York city.
Clarence Ellsworth Fowler, Chief boatswain’s mate, Washington, D.C.
Harry Edgar Gerhardt, seaman, Philadelphia.
Dudley Clement Hadley, seaman, White Plains, N.Y.
Emil Parkeman, coxswain, Bay City, Mich.
Percy Pitts, fireman, first class, Norfolk, Va.
Antonio Manghir, ship’s cook, first class, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Howard Ladd, fireman, second class, Chicago.
Charles Kathary, chief quartermaster, Hutchinson, Kan.
Charles A. Higginbotham, mess attendant, first class, Rome, Ga.
John O. Hanson, machinist’s mate first class, Greensboro, N.C.
John Schelis, boatswain’s mate, second class, Cincinnati.
George Snipe, ship’s cook, second class, Port Royal, S.C.
Abe Thaler, ordinary seaman, New York city.
Louis A. Troche, chief machinist’s mate, Akron, O.
Teschiyas Tsuchiya, ward room steward, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rolando Van Dunk, coal passer, Suffern, N.Y.
Roy K. Williams, yeoman, second class, Columbus, Miss.

“The entire nation awaits news of some sort concerning the safety of a navy tug that a week ago this morning left Hampton Roads with 32 men on board, bound for the Charlestown Navy Yard [MA]. The Nina, a schooner-rigged tug of iron construction, built at Chester, Penn., in 1865, is the craft that anxious watchers along the coast sought in vain to sight yesterday. Great war vessels of the national government, gigantic in size compared to the little vessel which they sought, put out to sea from various points yesterday under orders issued from the Navy Department at Washington. The entire coast line from Norfolk to Boston is being gone over in the hunt for the Nina. There are many who believe that she was overwhelmed in the great storm of yesterday morning, while others, including naval officials, hold the view that the craft suffered some accident to her machinery and at the present time is drifting helplessly about at the mercy of the big combers that always follow a great gale.

“From Norfolk the big battleship Louisiana and the fleet scout cruiser Salem were dispatched to patrol the cast as far as Cape May [NJ].

“So far as is yet known the last seen of the Nina was last Sunday morning [Feb 6], shortly after she had left Hampton Roads. She was sighted off Cape Henry by Captain Hand of the tug Savage, who reported the fact upon his arrival at Wood’s Hole yesterday. There was a blinding snowstorm at the time, and the Savage was forced to turn back with its tow of three barges, but the Nina kept on and was soon lost to view.

Searching Whole Coast

“The search from that point [Cape May?] to Nantucket is give over to the collier Culgoa and the tugs Apache and Pontiac, which left New York yesterday.

“Off the Delaware Capes the torpedo boat destroyer Lamson is keeping the vigil that may bring results.

“The collier Brutus and the revenue cutters Gresham and Acushnet are scouting the waters in the vicinity of Martha’s Vineyard for the little tug, and during the afternoon hours of yesterday the gunboat Castine and the collier Cesar left Boston to look about Massachusetts Bay for the missing vessel.

“No search of wider scope in recent years has even been conducted by the government or attracted greater attention. All of the big vessels participating in the search are equipped with wireless apparatus. It was agreed before the departure of this fleet that the shore stations should be kept informed of what transpired. The vessels’ commanders hoped as well t communicate with one another, giving their exact positions and what had been accomplished.” (Sunday Post, Boston, MA. “Fleet of Warships Searching for Nina.” 2-13-1910, p. 1.)

Feb 15: “Today the Navy Department ordered the fast scout cruiser Salem, which is searching the Virginia Capes, to proceed to Winter Quarter and Fenwick Island lightships, a little above Hog Island, off the Virginia shore, to explore the waters in that vicinity. This action was taken as a result of word from the recruiting office at Baltimore that the Merchants & Miners steamship Howard sighted the Nina at noon, Feb 6, nine miles southeast of Hog Island, which is just below the lightships toward which the Salem has been sent. At that time, only a few hours after she left Norfolk, she was heading north-east. A gale from the northwest, with increasing velocity, was tossing the tug about, and the sea and spray were washing over her pilothouse. The Howard passed within one-eighth of a mile of the craft and one man could be seen on the bridge. She was weathering the gale, however, and did not seem to need any assistance at that time.

“The Nina carried whaleboats, oars and other buoyant apparatus on her decks. Running head on in a heavy sea, as she was when last seen, it is considered likely that heavy seas may have penetrated her engine room, put the fires out and otherwise disabled her so that she would toss about as she drifted out to sea, in which case she could probably last until picked up.” (Boston Post, MA. “There Is Still Hope For Tug Nina.” 2-15-1910, p. 2.)

Feb 16: “Boston, Feb. 16 [Wednesday]. Although reported to have been spoken on Sunday off Montauk Point proceeding under sail for this port, the missing naval tug Nina had not put in an appearance here up to early this forenoon. Captain Cummins of the steamer Bayview which arrived at Newport News last night from Searsport, Me., said that he passed the Nina on Sunday [13th] off Montauk Point, L.I., and that the missing craft ought to reach Boston by today. Up to 8 o’clock, however, the Nina had not been sighted off the New England coast by the many lookouts in lighthouses or by passing vessels carrying wireless. Allowing plenty of time, the Nina was due here this morning if she was off Montauk Point Sunday afternoon as stated by the captain of the Bayview. Government boats, including the revenue cutter Gresham and the gunboat Castine, that had been recalled yesterday from the search, were sent out again today to patrol the coast….

“Washington, Feb. 16.–The tug reported to have been spoken off Montauk Point on Sunday by the steamer Bayview and which was thought to be the Nina was the naval tug Apache…” (Lowell Sun, MA. “Nina Not Sighted.” 2-16-1910, p. 4.)

Feb 17: “Washington, Feb. 17.–All hope that the missing naval tug Nina, which left Norfolk, Feb 6, bound for Boston with 21 souls aboard is still afloat, has been abandoned by the navy department and today the warships, which for five days have been searching for the Nina, were ordered to discontinue their hunt.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “Hope Abandoned. Search for Tug Nina and Crew of 32 Discontinued.” 2-17-1910, p. 2.)

Feb 26: “New York, February 26.–Annuities for the families of Uncle Sam’s sailors who have perished in the lost naval tug Nina have been voted by the Navy League of America. This action, taken at a special meeting held at the League headquarters in the Brooklyn navy yard, indicates that the last hopes of news from the missing boat have been abandoned by navy men.” (The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “Annuities for Families of Victims.” 2-27-1910, p. B-5.)

March 21: “Feb. 6 – United States naval tug Nina, Norfolk for Boston. Unreported. Had crew of 32.” (Lowell Sun (MA). “Shipping Disasters: Summary of…Accidents…Last Year,” 3-21-1910.)

Jan 11, 1911: “February 8 The United States naval tug Nina lost on the voyage from Hampton Roads to Boston with crew of 32 on board.” (Boston Sunday Post, MA. “Events That Have Made 1910 Illustrious in History.” 1-11-1911, p. 44.)

Sources

American Leased Wire. “Warships Searching fro Lost Naval Tug, Nina.” Centralia Evening Sentinel, IL, 2-12-1910, p. 4. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-evening-sentinel-feb-12-1910-p-4/

Boston Sunday Post, MA. “Events That Have Made 1910 Illustrious in History.” 1-11-1911, p. 44. Accessed 12-30-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-sunday-post-jan-01-1911-p-40/

Daily Press, Newport News, VA. “Naval Tug Nina Lost or Helpless at Sea.” 2-13-1910, p. 1. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newport-news-daily-press-feb-13-1910-p-1/

Lowell Sun, MA. “Hope Abandoned. Search for Tug Nina and Crew of 32 Discontinued.” 2-17-1910, p. 2. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-feb-17-1910-p-22/

Lowell Sun, MA. “Nina Not Sighted.” 2-16-1910, p. 4. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-feb-16-1910-p-24/

Lowell Sun, MA. “Shipping Disasters: Summary of the Accidents That Occurred Last Year,” March 21, 1910. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=61756453

Lowell Sun, MA. “The Navy Dept. Thinks Naval Tug Nina Has Been Lost.” 2-12-1901, p. 1. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-feb-12-1910-p-19/

Naval Historical Center. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather Related Incidents.” Washington, DC: Dept. of the Navy, June 3, 2005. At: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq102-2.htm

Portsmouth Daily Herald, NH. “Navy Orders.” 2-8-1910, p. 4. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-herald-feb-08-1910-p-4/

San Antonio Light and Gazette, TX. “Fear Navy Tug Has Gone Down.” 2-12-1910, p. 1. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-and-gazette-feb-12-1910-p-1/

Sunday Post, Boston, MA. “Fleet of Warships Searching for Nina.” 2-13-1910, p. 1. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-sunday-post-feb-13-1910-p-9/

The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “Annuities for Families of Victims.” 2-27-1910, p. B-5. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/atlanta-constitution-feb-27-1910-p-13/

United States Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. See “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard. Accessed at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/accidents.htm

United States Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. Nina. 8-13-2015. Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nina.html

Wreck Site. USS Nina (+1910). Accessed 1-1-2019 at: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?15902