The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-28
TWO STEAMERS BENEATH THE WAVES.
BELIEF That the Conserva Had a COM
panIon In Misfortune.
Pieces OF Wreckage Which Tell of a
Disastrous Collision.
An Ocean Mystery Attracting Atten-
tlon In New York.

NEW YORK. March 27.-No doubts now
exist as to the loss of the steamer Conserva
but shipping circles in this city are speculat-
ing as to whether the unfortunate vessel fur
nished all the wreckage which is floating
about on the Atlantic swell. The reports of
other vessels arriving yesterday show that
the wreckage covered an area Of about fifty
square miles. Not only did this suggest
that more than one vessel was wrecked, but
there is other evidence to prove that the
Conserva was wrecked by collision. The
first report of wreckage of some vessel or
vessels was brought here on Sunday by the
pilot boat Lille, which reported it to be
80 miles southeast of Absecom. Then on
Sunday the steamer Colorado brought news
Of passing the life raft with two men upon
it.
Several vessels which arrived yesterday
report that the wreckage Indicated that some
OF 1t belonged to one steamship at least, and
that apparently there had been a collision,
as the small boats were more or less broken,
and one Of them split in two; and one of the
cylinders OF the life-raft passed by the Colo
RADIO was broken. Captain Perry, of the
schooner Edith b. Coombs, which arrived
yesterday from Hayti, reported that about 25
miles off the coast and north of Cape Hat
teras, his vessel passed through large num-
Der OF railroad ties and wreckage. This
feature, together with The inscription, Gap
tam Jonathan Cone, builder Wilmington,
Del" on the steel plate of the life-raft passed
BY the Colorado, suggested to Capt. Perry
that the Conserva might have been in collis-
ion with one of the vessels engaged in carry
ing railroad ties to Samana from Wilmington
The Conserva, after having afew iron deck
beams put in, an iron armor belt put around
her waist, and port holes cut in her sides for
guns, was cleared by Dominican Consul Julia
for Samana with cargo of only 400 tons of
coal. Prior to that time Haytian Minister
Preston had his detectives obtain evidence
which he thought proved that the vessel was
intended for Hyppolite; but before he could
sue out libel the vessel sailed. Two days
later she returned to this port leaking, and 1t
was said she was in a sinking condition. An
investigation proved that the leaks were due
to inefficient riyeting of the plates, and as
soon as tne vessel began to pitch and roll the
water worked in through the seams.
Upon the return of the Conserva the Hav-
tian minister libelled her, and after several
hearings, United States Judge Benedict of
Brooklyn, released her. From this decision
United States Attorney Wilbur appealed,
but he withdrew the appeal on March 49,
In less than two hours the vessel
was. steaming down towards Sandy
Hook with all of her officers and
crew, and G. z. Kunhardt, as passenger, on
board. She passed outside of Sandy Hook
az ll.to CLOCK on TUESDAY might, the 18th,
since which time no vessel of any kind has
reported sighting her. Captain John II.
Ankers, formerly mate of an English brig,
commanded her, and the other officers were
Joseph Sherwood, first mate Mccarthy, sec
ond mate; Charles Tinkham, chief engineer;
Charles Sinclair and John Mccarthy, assist
ant engineers. The crew consisted of two
oilers, a colored cook, waiter, and fourteen
Malays sailors and firemen. The Conserva
was an iron steamer of S61 tons displacement.
196 feet long, q feet beam and q 2-3 feet
depth of hold. She was built at D1fnbarton,
Scotland, in 1857, and was originally the
Nuevo Montezuma. Her name was changed
to the Madrid in 1887, when she was pur-
chased by j. N. III. Sinner of Philadelphia.
The screw steamer Nanticoke which was
on her way to Central America is believed
by many to be the other victim of the collis-
ion. A despatch from Wilmington SAYS:
"William M. Drein of the firm OF Thomas
Drein & Son, who are the sole builders Of the
Jonathan Cone life RATS says that his firm
furnished the life RATS for the Nanticoke,
but he cannot recall the year. The firm also
furnished the life-boats for that steamer
They were branded with the firms name un-
der the seats. This firm supplies life-boats
to all the steamers running from Baltimore"