Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-01
THE LOST WAR SHIP.
THRILLING RECITAL OF THE
DOTEREL'S DOOM.
The Fragments OF the Wreck
Wrapped In a Pail of Smoke
Prompt Efforts at Rescue-Only
Eight OF the Crew Picked Up-The
Dead Blown 10 PIeces-The Cause
of the Dread Disaster Unreveafed.

PANAMA, June 21.-The Ratria, of valpa-
raiso, publishes letter from Punta Arenas
of the date of the 1st of May, giving the
following account OF the destruction of
Her Maiesty's ship Doterel at that place on
April 26th. The letter says: ''On Tuesday,
April 26th, at q. m, the English gunboat
Doterel, last from Montevideo, anchored In
the roadsted Of Punta Arenas de
Magallares. A few minutes after
wards the Captain Of the port and
the Health Officer made the usual visit to
the ship aud were received by Commander
Evans himself. At 10 o'clock the Captain
and the doctor returned on shore and
few minutes afterwards terrible explo-
sion shook all the houses in the place,
causing profound panic. The first mo-
ment of CONSERVATION passed, an immense
column of smoke was seen In the bay, which
remained immovable on account of the per-
feet calm which reigned at the moment.
In the air far above the cloud of smoke,
and In the dense smoke itself, could be seen
objects of different forms aud sizes, and an
infinite number of projectiles were thrown
in all directions In the bay.
Comprchending the terrible event, every.
body rushed to the beach, and in q moment
twelve boats. well manned, were bound for
the scene Of the disaster, as only willing
hands could drive them. Two boats put off
from the missionary schooner, which
was lying in port. The Gillian
schooner San Jose, which was on
the point of sailing to the relief of some
shipwrecked sailors In the straits, dispatched
four boats and a pontoon. The Kate Kellogg
sent another. These boats, being nearest the
ruined vessel, were the first to render as
sistsnce. All the boats were soon on the
scene of the disaster, and the clearing away
of the smoke enabled them. with the aid OF
fragments of wood, to seek those whom it
was possible to save. A boat of the San
Jose discovered two objects In the water,
one of them striking out with the despera-
tion of a person In the last extremities.
fastening to the spot, one of the sufferers
was saved from certain death. The
body was completely naked, and from four
or five wounds blood was flowing abundant
| ly. Wrapping the body in blanket, the
boat pulled for the shore at once, and the
wounded man was borne by five men to a
house near the wharf. An examination by
the doctor, who dressed his wounds, wrap
| ped him comfortably In blankets and put
MIN in bed, proved the sufferer to be Com
mander Evans.
The other boats arrived at about the same
| time with seven more individuals who be
| longed to the crew. All had received
wounds. One of them, the Quartermaster,
had terrible wound in the head and re-
| ceived several contusions. All were com
| pletely exhausted. They could not speak,
and appeared to be unable to realize
what was being done with them.
| In a couple of hours all of them
were able to walk about town except The
Captain and Quartermaster, whose wounds
| confined them to their beds. On board the
missionary schooner of the Bishop of the
MalviDa Islands four of the rescued sailors
were taken, who during the afternoon were
| able to land and join their comrades. The
boats remained all day cruising about
| in the neighborhood of the ex-
| plosion, but not finding anything
| living to save, occupied themselves
10 gathering together great number of
| fragments of human bodies which ere
| floating about. Only three bodies were
found entire and those were fearfully
| injured. The pieces were gathered together.
| put in boxes and buried as soon as they
| were brought on shore. The three bodies
were buried In the cemetery at five
| o'clock the same afternoon. They were
accompanied to their last resting place by
the naval and military authorities of the
| place and their forces, their surviving com
| panions and all the principal persons of the
town. The funeral services were conduct
| ed by the Curate of the Missions of Terra
Del Fuego. The Doterel blew up at 1915
a. m, disappearing almost instantly. The
cause of the terrible catastrophe it is not
| possible to determine.