New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-08
HOW A STEAMSHIP VAS LOST.

THE WRECK OF THE CITY OF GUATEMALA fNVESTI-
GATED BY THE STEAMBOAT INSPECTORS-STATE-
MENT OF THE CAPTAIN AND HIS OFFICERS.
The investigation by the Local Inspectors of
Steamers into the causes OF the wreck OF the Pacific
Mail steamer City OF Guatemala, on Watling's Island.
last July took place yesterday The first witness exam
ined was the master OF the lost steamer. Capt j. b.
Hdretb, who read statement recitiDg the fol-
lowing facts The City OF Guatemala left NewYork for
Aspnwal July H. 1874, and was wrecked on Wat
lings Island on July 16 Before she had been three
days of New York her last voyage Capt Hdreth
found that vessel to the west Of her The
night before the accident he observed that the deviation
of the compass had changed from that OF
the previous voyage from One-fourth OF q point
east to threefourhs of point west on the
south southeast course, fve-eghths Of point
north the south-by-east course aud onehalf
point west on the sOutherly course. Due allowances
made for these differences, but the vessel rolled
badly correct the deviation. At noon on July 16
the chief engineer reported that for the previous "a
hours with sails most Of the time, fair wind. and
a westerly current the wheels had made $3.50 rev0u-
tons, and the distance traversed by the engine was
274I miles and 20 miles by observation. During the FOL
lowing "a hours with head wind and sails set, and
with lO4 revolutions and 20 miles less distance by
the engine the vessel gained nine miles. showing cur
rent toward the southeast OF about quarters Of
knot per hour. At noon July 1G Watling's Island
distant by observation lO4 miles The change
in the set OF the current from westerly to south
eastery was entirely unexpected. About 10 O'Clock
p. m on July 49, Capt. Hdreth lay down without I'M
dIessing eavug orders with the third officer in charge
of the deck TO look out for land at II o'clock aud
to call him at ll:l5, and before II signs Of land ap-
peared. At midnight Capt. Hildreth expected to be
from miles north west OF the reef at the north
end OF Watngs Island Seven or eight minutes before
midnight the third officer called him. and half min
ute afterward reported land the port bow. Capt.
dprk ed
and called a nght-gass Before he could get it the
ship struck He then rang the bell to stop and back the
engine The ship struck heavily for some time. and
hard bump buged up the floor OF the fire-room. She
began Leak and the elbow Of the steamppe that ran
all her steam pumps was broken. 1t required three
fourths of an hour TO repair this for use. by this
time the wafer had risen in the hold and
put out the fires under the main boilers,
while the circulating pump was submerged.
Soon after the ship struck. were sent below to
throw cargo overheard and to clear the coal ports in
order to tighten her This did good, and it was
stopped. At daylight on July II the main island was
found to be from u to miles distant in sOutherly d
recton. The tide had fallen about three feet The
more powders projectinghrough her bottom About 60
feet Of her bows aud 80 feet of her stern were aoa
while about G0 feet OF her amdships was lying on an
irregular bottom At the distance OF about 100 fathoms
astern there was no bottom The ship Jay on the outer
edge of the reef exposed TO the tidal wave of the
ocean. As as possible boat was sent TO Nassau,
distant 100 miles with letters to the United States Con-
sui urging the underwrters agent at that place TO send
out steam pumps at once. Another boat was sent TO
Crooked and Castle Island to intercept passing steam
ers. This boat driven from her course and re-
turned. Small boats came off from Watlings Island
containing about 200 negroes and two white men, the
magistrate and Custom officer. They had no boats
large enough TO save the cargo and tighten the ship On
Sunday July 10, the schooner Z. Northup OF Newly
within three miles OF the wreck and then turned
away. although flags OF distress were hyng on the
Guatemala On July % the steamer Colon arrived and
took off the Aspinwa mails and part OF the crew who
were not needed Soon afterward hoats arrived from
Long Island and to Ssssa w1 n9 SsSs
stolen The process Of unloading went on during
i 20 lnG a. ee ali divers we're sent
under the bottom and attempts were made to float the
Of Oil beef and tallow out OF the fore and holds
On July 20, there appearing no hope Of saving the
vessel she was stripped OF her running rgsng iurni
July &c. the steamer Panama arrived with steam pumps
twisted the vessel that IL was decided TO give up trying
to get her Off Divers were. however, sent down TO plug
thew succeeded They had to give it up two large
powders having pierced the ships bottom Putting the
chief s vTeeE np II e LEFT % the
crew IA days after she first struck the reef Excepting
do So Capt Hildreth said the officers and all be-
haved we'll He attributed the disaster to the sudden
change OF current the deviation or the c0mpasses the
difficulty of seeing land in the tropics from the deck OF
high vessel and the negligence OF the third mate in dis
fhe third officer, Benjamin Mas6eld. coud not be
found in this city, but his sworn statement before the
ors II corrObOrated the captain statement, aud adj
that the latter was NOT called for several minutes
that the third officer bad been anxously watching
for land through the haze that he allowed the time to
Slip by Capt Hldreth stated that II he had manned
on deck all night the accident would not
II he had called five minutes sooner he thou he
might have saved his ship He retired when he did be-
cause he expected TO be up the rest OF the night.
ID Lynch, first officer Of the Guatemala. sworn.
and he also corroborated the captains statement He
attributed the loss OF the ship TO the variation Of the
compass and to the unexpected southeast current The
currents subject TO sudden changes among the West
India Islands. The weather was thick and hazy
Watings Island but clear over the ship at the time OF
the accident Quartermaster Robert MeColloch and
James Cavanagh sworn and stated that they had
observed unusual suggshness In the compasses of the
Guatemala on her last voyage AT the time she went
ashore the weather thick and haZy the horizon.
The third officer did not tell them TO look for land
but merely keep good lookout. These the last
witnesses examined. The testimony will be first TO
Supervising Inspector Lowe. and afterward 10 the
authorities at Washington before the decision
nOunced.