The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-12

Washington special says: The find
sngs az the naval court appointed to i'm
onire into the loss OF the United States
steamer Ashuelot have reached the Navy
Denartment. According TO the facts as
deyelopcd bv the investigation OF the court,
tho Ashuelot was gotten under way in the
harbor OF Annoy. China. at about . =. NJ.
on the 18th Of February, 1883, bound TO
swallow. Having cleared the harbor, when
about four miles Off Chapel Island target
practice was had, after which, at about
II. NJ, the navigator, Lieutenant Wyckofi,
took the departure OF Chapel Island on
the starboard beam and about two miles
distant.
The course was set at southwest south,
which was held until about fifteen minutes
past 8 +. NJ, when Commander Mullan
came on deck, and at the request OF Lieu
tenant Wyckotf allowed the vessel TO be
slowed to one bell, and hauled of TO SOUTH
west one half south TO give the Brothers
Rock greater clearance. The Com
mander and the navigator then went into
the chart-room together. and there the lat
Ter plotted oil the chart the course and dis
lance run and those to be run during the
night. Lieutenant Wyckon then indi-
Gated the position that the ship would be
in at 4 4. NJ. il allowed To run ut uni
form speed of five knots per hour until
that hour. thus allowing danger distance
OF twenty knots from the Lam0ck Rocks.
MULLAN's DEFECTIVE ORDERS.
The commander failed to give in his night
orders issued for the guidance OF the Off.
GERS OF the deck any definite instructions
as TO the speed TO be maintained, saying
only that the ship would be under one bell,
and in conference with the chief engineer,
Mr. Entwisle, agreed that ten revolutions
would be fair one-bell speed. This number
OF turns would. Mr.. EntwiSle says, give
the ship o speed of from six and hall
to seven knots per hour. AT about
1 A. VI. the course was changed, in accord
ance with the night orders, to west south
west one quarter west, thus heading the
ship almost direct for the LamOck Rocks.
This, in connection with the fact that she
was allowed to Overrun the speed agreed
upon. caused the loss Of the vessel. Naval
Cadet l.. III. Wright was in charge OF the
deck from II until A. NJ, under super
vision Of the executive officer from II TO =,
and OF the commander from to 4. 1t
having been directed by the Depart
ment that the cadets should be given
an opportunity TO learn their pro-
feSsion under the supervision OF the
older officers, Lieutenant Hotchkiss took
charge of the deck at 4 A NJ, almost imme-
diately after which she struck. The night
was dark and foggy, and it had been agreed
upon between the commander and naviga-
tor that at 4 \. NJ. il it still continued thick
the ship should he run of to the westward
but il it had cleared up they would run
her in between the LamOck and Tim;
Rocks and hence to Swallow.
THE SHIP ON THE ROCKS.
At4 A. NJ. the navigator came on deck
having left orders to be called at that time
and, meeting the commander in the chart
room, said:
"Good morning, sir; it is still foggy
sir, and we must put her off,"
The commander returned the greeting
and said:
''What are YOU doing up here! / die
not intend to call you until O'Clock"
just then land was reported on the star.
board and the helm was put hard a-star'
board, and the ship stopped, too late, how
over, as she struck Il rock under the star
board bilge. abreast the fore-rigging, after:
wards ascel tanned to be one OF the Sun
rocks. All hands were called to save ship,
and efforts were made TO that end, but
were soon found to be Intellectual and were
given up at about hali-past 4, when all
hands were called to abandon ship. The
boats were lowered and efforts were made
to save all of tie crew, but the steam
launch, one OF the largest boats, was un'
comfortable. not being ready for steaming
as is customary at sea, and being rugged
with four oars only. Lieutenant Iyerson
the executive officer, who seems to have
been the man OF the occasion. took the gie
and endeavored TO tow the steam launch
Il I,,t mt ~ fbf
strong current and had to cut her adrift
He then pulled back in the gig under the
stern end was Just in time to save Com
mander Mullan, Cadet Webster, and some
of the men, who were still on board.
At this time the sailing-launch and the
cutters had their full quota of men anC
officers and were lying off, awaiting III
structions. When the commander left the
ship there were still about fourteen persons
on board, and at a muster held subse
ouently it was found that eleven enlisted
men were missing. Naval Cadet Webster
was the last officer TO leave the ship, fol
lowing the commander into the gig, and tC
him and Assistant Engineer Pickrell, who
Jumped from the gangway but moment
before, as well as the men OF the engineers
force who were on the watch below, great
credit is due for the way in which they
stuck to their stations until they received
permission 10 come up from below wher
the vessel was on the point OF going down
DRUNKEN COMMANDER.
Commander Mullan WAS tried upon three
harges-drunkenneSs on duty, improperly
hazarding the vessel under his command
in consequence Of which she was run upoI
rock and lost, and neglect OF duty. I'm
der the first charge there were two speciti
cations, the first covering the time from II
A. Nj. to =. NJ. on the 18th OF February
anu the second from 2 =. NJ. OF the 18th u
4 a. NJ. on the 18th. Both OF these wer
fully substantiated, as, although not abso
lutely under the influence OF liquor whel
the ship struck, 1t was clearly shown tha
he was still suffering from the effect OF IL
The specification Of the second charg
dealt with the matter OF allowing the shil
to run on an unsafe course; and this, too
was proven. Under the third charge Their
were three specifcations-the first treat
ing OF the failure to limit the speed q
agreed upon, the second with the neglec
10 take soundings, as required by paragraph
Jas, section 4, chapter 5, OF the United
States NAVY regulations, or TO endeayor Il
ascertain the currents, and the third Will
the failure TO see the order to abandon tn
ship properly carried out, and leaving TIN
ship himself without first ascertainins
whether all OF the crew had gotten of
whereby eleven OF the men were lost
The essential part Of these three specifca
tons was found proven, except as to tina
portion Of the third which alleges that tn,
loss OF life was due to the commander
neglect and leaving the ship, the Cour
apparently being Of the opinion tina
while his leaving, as he did, IL
violation Of paragraph 1873. section 4
,-I-- IL. Ir..iAod Cfotor Nnuu rom