The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-26
TANTIC YANKED ABOUT.
EHE U. s. CORVETTE HAS A TOUGH
TIME AT SEA.
She Is Tossed Like an Empty Egg
Shell, and Comes Into Port Look
ing Like She Had Been in Naval
Action.

VA New York, May 25.-The dispatch re-
viewed from Boston saying that the United
4 Bates man-of-war Yantic had been sighted
In dsmantled condition in latitude SO
& horth, longitude 20 west, was quickly con-
1rmed last night by the arrival OF the man
+. "a war herself of quarantine about s
/. 'clock. She had encountered a terrific
Hurricane on May 81 and lost foremost,
main and mizzen topmasts and several
boats.
The Yantic left New York two weeks
ngo with orders to cruise in the track OF
beveral dangerous derelicts and endeavor to
find and destroy them. Everything went
well, said Commander J. G. Rockwell
ast night, until we reached latitude 80
north, longitude 90 west, last Tuesday.
That afternoon, about $3.50 o'clock, we
were struck by hurricane from the south,
which lasted until $50 o'clock at night
Everything had been made as snug rs
possible, but the force OF the wind was ter
rifle, and at the hight OF the storm we were
Thrown on our beam ends. The sea, which
was very high, climbed directly into the
hteam launch, which was ON the lee side,
md filed it with water. Orders were at
once given TO cut away the launch, but
- the loss OF its weight still failed TO right
the ship. 1t was then found necessary
: ITO cut away the foremost, and that went by
40 board, carrying with II the main top
d mast and later the mizzen topmast. The
ship then righted, and though strained and
leaking slightly, she was finally got before
the wind. For two days VIC had been run
ming away from the cyclone from the
Naa pFnr m hnas lie
for over an hour"
The scene on the deck OF the Yantc was
ono OF picturesque last night. Though
everything had been made MS trim as pos
sible, the havoc that the seas had made was
tremendous. Three Of the smaller boats
had been swept away, beside the launch,
and the heavy seas which had swept tho
decks OF the vessel while she was at tho
mercy OF the storm had thrown many OF
the crew about violently. Some OF them
were severely bruised, but il was said last
night that none had been fatally injured.
4 The brunt OF the storm seemed to have
struck the little vessel forward of the
Dnainmast the bowsprit itself having been
Torn away where the loremast was chopped
bh TO free the ship.
After having successfully ridden out the
violent gale OF Tuesday. the Yantic shaped
her course for New York, but MANNED as
fhe was, her troubles were not yet over.
On Thursday heavy gale came in from
he northeast, accompanied by high aud
dangerous sea. by careful seamanship,
however, port was reached last night IN
safety. Lieutenant Ashmore said last
might that twelve men are on the list oil
. <injprcd, but none Of them are seriously
|.[l't William llerzleldt, captain OF the
D ter guard, was bruised about the head
and George, cabin cook was cut on the
foot. Others suffered bruises about the
head and body. Lieutenant AshmorC
Bald all would be ready for duty in few
days. The Iantic. he said, left New York
a on May 10 and on May p was engaged Ia
blowing up the wreck OF the Alice Bor
deman In tho Gulf stream. She had tc
W leave this on account Of the storm, though
- there were five other wrecks further
south to attend to. At O'Clock
OF that day the barometer had gon,
.----ssSn 10 1892 inches, and in twenty min.
uies the mercury sank five eighths OF an
inch. At 800 O'Clock 1t registered -. 10
The Iantic WAS running under close
reeicd topsails, with banked fires. By :
4 O'Clock the wind was blowing hurrican,
Il and the men could not keep their feet on
deck. At o'clock the first cutter on the
starboard side was lifted from its cradle
and thrown over against the smoke stack
The next sea filed the steam launch OF
the port side, just opposite the cutter, ant
the ship was thrown ON her beam ends
while seas rolled over her fore and aft
The pantry bulkhead had been stove in
and the wardrobe and cabins wcru flooded
The officers clothes are ruined by sal
water. The steam launch was cut awal
60 right the ship, but she still lay helpless
while The sea made clean sweeps over her
It 5l0 o'clock sailors with axes Gu
away the foremost and Il fell with a crasl
TO port. with NIL its rigging at
tached. The decks were flooded wais
deep, and the wpckage loa,in
about struck n number Of sailors ThI
ship was now with her head 10 tho sea
but the water had reached tho engine
room and put out the fires. She rightc'
after the foremost had been cut, bn; sh
had hardly done 30 when the main anS
mizzcn topmasts came down. The donke
engine was sent 10 work on the bilg
pump A bucket line was formed aud thl
men worked hard TO clear away the wafer
The second whaleboat, the second cutie
and the dingy went overheard at o O'Clock
This left only the frst whaleboat and Oh,
gig. The first cutter had been smashed 4
ilindcrA
Lieut.. Ashmore said he never cxperi
nccd such a gale. II was II o'clock bc
fore tho fires were started, and the lantiC
with her deck looking as though she la
been In action, started for New York
Water, during tho storm, was waist dee
IN the cabin, and OF deck was almost u
10 the top Of the bulwarks. The Yanii
was fully 300 miles east OF Delaware break
water when the storm struck her. Til
Yantic's hull is all right except that te
feet OF her port bulwarks are smashe
where the niasis fell. The donkey engine
were going last night. Ne the vessel WI
still leaking slightly where tic iorcmas
In falling, wrcnchcd the planking OF th
bottom apart The Yantic will proceed
the navy yard today and Lieut. Ashmof
SAYS she will be ready for another cruis
as soon as the rigging aud spais can DO n
placed.
The dcrclicis on which the Yantic va
operating are wrecked vessels, noaiin
half submerged IN the water, and oncrin
10 navigation all the danger Of n rec
Water logged as they are. In most case
they present n great resistance, and ~
ono OF the greatest sources OF dang
which masters engaged In the coaslin
trade have 10 contend with. IL has bee
the policy OF the Navy Department 4
some inns TO afford all the assistance 20
siblc 10 navigation by ordering ccriai
war vessels TO cruise at times In search
threo drrclicia and destroy them whcl