WRECK OF THE HECTOR
By Sergeant John Allen
(The Marines Magazine,
Vol. 1, September 1916, pgs 49 & 50)
At about 11:30 a.m., July 10, 1st Lieut. Robert E. Adams, Corp. William F. Kennedy,
and myself, arrived aboard the Hector
at Newport News, Va., for transportation to Santo Domingo. We arrived off the Charleston Lightship at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, where we picked up fifty recruits from Port Royalfor transfer to Santo Domingo. From then on we were kept on the go. We were assigned quarters in the forward part of the ship, but just as soon as we had our equipment placed, they had to be moved because the spray commenced to come over the sides and wet them. We had to move them three times before supper at 5:30 p.m., and finally had to stow our knapsacks down in the forward hold and kept out only our toilet articles,
blankets and haversacks with us. After supper Lieutenant Adams move us aft on the poop deck as the seas had commenced to come over. About 8:00 p.m. we had to move everybody below as the seas commenced to come over on all sides, and from then on our troubles commenced. Early Thursday morning, July 13, the hurricane struck us and, believe me, it was some blow. Lieutenant Adams estimated the wind at about 110 miles an hour. At 7 a.m. the awning stanchions broke loose and were knocking holes in the deck over the steam stearing gear. The ship's carpenter, Christine, and Singleton, an oiler, and one other, cut away the poop awning, thus saving the poop deck from being stove in. As it was, two holes were stove in over the steam steering gear. Shortly after the
awning was cut loose the carpenter, while securing some barrels of oil, was knocked down and had his leg broken by one of them.
It wasn't very long before the chief engineer came to me and asked me to send some Marines down to the fireroom, as nearly all of the firemen and coal passers were down and out. From that time on, the Marines worked in 20-minute shifts in the fireroom.When they started to fire there was only 35 pounds of steam in the boilers, and in less than an hour and a half the steam had gone up to 80 pounds in all four boilers and none of our men had ever seen a fireroom before they went in.
Early Thursday morning one of the boilers was put out of commission, the fusible plug blowing out. At one time the water was knee deep in the firerooms. The bilges were stopped up and the bilge pumps were out of commission. The chief engineer and a water tender succeeded in clearing them and repairing the pumps; otherwise the fires would have been put out. About 5 p.m., Thursday, while helping to fire, the chief and a coal passer had their skulls fractured by a piece of iron which fell from the topside.I rendered first aid and detailed men to look out and care for them. On the 8 to 12
watch Thursday night another boiler was put out of commission; the same cause as the others. By that time I thought it was "good night" for yours truly. Every one of my men worked in the fire room except six who were so sick that they could not go down the ladder. Instead of firing they had to bail water. The poor fellows were so sick theycould hardly stand, but they kept bailing water just the same.
About 6 a.m., Friday, the wind having died down considerably and as our wireless had been carried away the day before, volunteers were called for to go up the masts to repair it if possible. As usual two Marines (Privates McCarthy and Giesregen) went up and in a few minutes had it in working order. Then is when we sent out "S.O.S." calls and continued to do so until she struck at 2:05 p.m.
Friday morning the cooks succeeded in making some coffee which tasted fine. Outside of that and a little fruit we didn't have anything to east from Wednesday night until we arrived here at 11 a.m. Saturday. Just before I left the Hector I found two raw eggs which I ate and am glad I did so, because I think they helpedme to digest some of the salt water I swallowed while I was in the water.
After the ship struck, "abandon ship" was sounded and all of us went up on the top side looking for life preservers. I didn't see any except those that were in the three boats. Quite a few men went forward to the bridge (they took their lives in their hands when they did so) after some, and only a few succeeded in coming back to where we were. I didn't get one until after the motor-sailor had returned from the second trip to the Wellington.
It was just by chance the tug Wellington, of Philadelphia, picked us up. Before the storm she had to barges of coal in tow, bound for some port in Florida. During the storm they broke loose and she was out
looking for them when she sighted us. The captain of the tug displayed fine Seamanship in effecting our rescue. Several times he ventured dangerously close to the wreck, but each time he accomplished his purpose and it is to his remarkable bravery and skill in the handling of his tug that we owe our lives.
After placing the injured men in the motor-sailing boat we launched her under great difficulties (it took about an hour to do it) and she made the trip to the tug under her own power. After discharging her load it was found that her engine had broken down. For the three remaining trips that she made, the tug towed her close to the wreck, where they caught a line thrown by us and made fast to the stern on about a fifty-foot line, then one by one we went over the side and after swimming a short distance got pulled into the boat. I left the ship in the third boat and everything went well until they tried to lift me into the boat. On account of my weight the two men who tried couldn't lift me. I told a Greek to catch my left leg and turn me over into the boat. He, instead, caught hold of my toes and got me in all right, but in doing so slightly twisted my left instep. I didn't discover that i was hurt until after I was aboard the tug. After the next boatload had landed aboard the tug and they were preparing to get the men off who were on the forecastle, a hole was stove in the bow of the life-boat, which made further attempts useless, as we had no boats left. After notifying those on board the wreck, out tug was headed for Charleston, intending to return just as soon as they had landed us. Aboard the tug were 97 men from aft and 14 from the forward part of the ship.
Shortly after we struck, a whale boat was launched from the bridge with the paymaster, papers, money, etc. Shortly after she made a landing at the tug, she turned turtle and that was the last of her. Another whale boat was launched from the bridge and once in the water it was impossible to come alongside to get anyone else aboard. Our skipper ordered her to the tug and in making the trip she turned turtle before she reached there. Lieutenant Adams had to swim for it, and had a narrow escape from drowning. Another one of our men was caught under the boat and barely saved his life.
I have been in a number of storms, but this is the first time I have ever been ship-wrecked, and, believe me, I hope it is the last. I had no sleep from Wednesday morning until Saturday noon. Our quarters during the storm were not large enough for all of us to lie down even if we had wanted to. I did not have a chance, however, as I had to send reliefs to the fire rooms and to bail water every 20 minutes for 40 hours; so you see, I was kept pretty busy. I have never seen a better bunch of workers than those with me. I had no trouble,whatever, just had to say what was wanted and they were on the job. They certainly held up the motto of our Corps, Semper Fidelis.
We were a sight when we arrived here. My uniform consisted of a torn undershirt and a pair of khakis trousers cut off well above the knees. Skin and clothing covered with coal dust and oil. We lost everything, including money, in some instances. My discharges, warrants and private papers all were lost. To tell the truth, I do not believe the recruits realized the danger they were in, and I was glad of it.
Return to Articles