Vilas County News

U. S. COMMANDER GOES DOWN WITH HIS SHIP

Master of Destroyer Chauncey Remains on Bridge Following Collision-3 Officers and 18 Men Lost.

Washington, Nov. 22.-Three officers and 18 enlisted men lost their lives when the United States destroyer Chauncey was sunk in the dark by a collision early Monday in the war zone.

Vice Admiral Sims reported the accident. He said the Chauncey's commander, Lieutenant Commander Walter E. Reno, died at his post on the bridge.

The official announcement made by the navy department gives no details. It was learned unofficially, however, the Chauncey was rammed by a large merchantman dashing to port. Both ships had all lights out.

The dead:

Officers - Lieutenant Commander Walter E. Reno, U. S. N.; wife, Beatrice Reno, Philadelphia. Lieut. (junior grade) Charles F. Wedderburn, U. S. N.; mother, Gertrude F. Wedderburn, Chevy Chase, Md. Ensign Harry G. Skinner, Jr., U. S. Naval Reserve; mother, Mrs. Harry G. Skinner, Mount Washington, Md.

Enlisted Men—Charles Albert Goodrich, chief machinist's mate; brother, George J. Goodrich, R. F. D. No. 1, Oakwood, Ill. Stanley T. Anthony, electrician, first class; mother, Florence Johnson, Bedford, Mass. Honore Martin Claggett, Jr., electrician, first class; father, Honore M. Claggett, Laurel, Md. Daniel B. Crane, machinist's mate, second class; next of kin, Mary H. Crane, Los Angeles, Cal. Joseph Sharp Ewart, machinist's mate, first class; father, William Little Ewart, Newport. Algen Hysle Cuttridge, machinist's mate, second class; father, William H. Cuttridge, Cullison, Kan. Henry George Haman, seaman; father, Burt W. Haman, Buffalo, N. Y. Joseph Adolphe Heroux, fireman, third class; mother, Emma J. Bachelerie, Los Angeles, Cal. William Herman Hampel, oiler; father, Charles Hampel, Randville, Mich. Ura Francisco Kopp, gunner's mate, first class; father, Jesse F. Kopp, Davenport, Ia. Charles Albert O'Connor, chief yeoman; sister, Margaret Tessier, South Boston, Mass. Francisco Pagtakhan, mess attendant, third class; mother, Marta Dunicio, Olongapo, P. I. John Rhinehart, chief water tender; friend, Mary Sprague, Block Island, R. I. John A. Smith, gunner's mate, first class; father, William Smith, New York. John William Stribling, oiler; father, John Stribling, Waring, Tex. Oswald Jager Terkildsen, yeoman, second class; uncle, Conrad Terkildsen, Brooklyn, N. Y. Nicholas H. J. Wagner, ship fitter, first class; father, Jacob Wagner, Fullerton P. O., Md. George Wornell, boilermaker; friend, Harry C. Smith, San Francisco.

The Chauncey sank within a few minutes after being struck, it was believed in naval circles, because of the heavy casualty list. The vessel's normal complement was 91 men, indicating that at least seventy were saved.