The Evening critic., 1884-08-23
THE TALE OF THE TALLAPooSA
VIII Only he Ended When the
wrockerE Finish Their Work.

WrocherE Finish Their Work.
The tale of tho Tallapoosa was soon aud
easily told. A great big schooner knocked
u great big hole in her and she sank. One
mast went by the board. All that can be
seen other is the smokostack and the mast,
which stood. Four persons are missing,
two of whom arc known to have been
drowned. The fate of the other two is un-
certain. The survivors in telling their
story give the general impression that tho
Tallapoosa was to blaine. Lieutenant N.
II. Everett was her executive officer. lie
was not on deck at the time, but believes
that tho Talapoosa was in tho right.
sailor. who was in the pilot-houso when the
two vessels struck, says:
1.-THE captain, navigator and mate saw
the lights of the schooner but disputed
whether IL was the green or led light, and
finally the captain exclaimed, We'll, do
something turn her one way or the other
and then we struck
One of tho men at the wheel declares,
"Thcy gave tho order hard a-starboard'
when IL ought to have been a-port.' Whor-
ever the fault rested, certain it is the
schooner plunged full head into the Talla-
poosa on the starboard bow, and cut clean
through the timbers of the vessel, opening
an immense hole for the water to pour in.
About sixteen men were on the deck of tho
Government boat--the watch on deok-but,
according to the statement of several of the
watch, they and most of their comrades
were asleep forward. Captain Merry was
the last man to leave the vessel, and Lieu
tenant Everett left only just before him.
No attempt was made to save personal ef-
fects.
Ensign Whittlescy says: There was no
confusion. Mr.. Gallagher and myself
stayed on the steamer until she went under,
swimming then clear OF the eddies aud
afterward we swan back. and Clung to the
ridge rope, running from the awning to the
mainmast, until tho boats took us on
board"
Master Mechanic Stever was in charge of
the engine at tho time of the disaster. He
says: I'VE were going nine to ten knots an
hour, our regular ratio being thirteen to
fourteen. Only one boiler was in opera
tion. We kept on mt this rate until two
minutes after the collision. Tho two bells
rang and I Stacked speed. Immediately the
water began to pour into the room and
was obliged to rush out. 1t was exactly
11:10 o'clock p. m. when we were struck.
went TO the rigging with the captain and
others. The boats made of for the schooner.
Captain Merry hailed them, and finally tho
whale boat returned for us, and aiterward
the barge for the captain and lieutenant. l
find that the general opinion is that the
Tallapoosa attempted to cross the schooner s
bows and got run down. The Tallapoosa
was splendid boat"
O0iciaI Information About the
Wreck.
Commander Frank Wildes, of tho Yantic,
telegraphed to the Acting Secretary of the
Navy to-day, reporting the arrival of that
vessel at Vineyard Haven last night aud at
Woods Uoll to-day. The dispatch says
81 have ordered the tug Triana TO the
wreck. viii take Merry on board aud send
the remaining men to the Wabash and the
officers home. viii then proceed to the
wreck and order tho Triana to Newport
with public property saved"
Commander Merry telegraphed as fol-
lows: 81 have sent 102 men in charge of
their officers to the Boston Navy-Yard, as
the most convenient place, retaining twelve
men. Wm. o. Donnellsen and Wm. +.
Jones, landsmen, are missing. They were
seen by men on board the Gate City, and
are supposed TO have remained on board
asleep"