Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-27
THE DEATH RAFT MYSTERY.
Name of the Lost Steamer stm Unknown
A Dynamite Rumor Recalled

A Dynamite Rumor Re called.
NEW YORK, March 26.-Mystery still
envelOps the history of the raft which vas
sighted by the Colorado on Saturday last,
and from which the two dead men were
taken who were aftrwaTds buried at sea.
All day yesterday veseels returning from
the South reported heavy storms. The
theory which was at first advanced, that
the raft had floated from the steamer Con-
serva, was pretty generally scented later
on. The telegram received from Boston
stated that the steamer Gate City, from
Savannah, March 90, 11:3O a. M, had
sighted a metallic lifebost and lspstreak
boat, the latter painted white On the
former some letters we're discernable which
looked like Con The C0nserva carried
no metallic lifeboat, and go far ss known
her name was painted on none Of her life
boats
Signs of a wreck have been reported by
the VsscO Da Cana, from Port GaellieO,
Captain Antonio Goethe. Captain Goethe
says that March "a, at 8 n M, latitude
30 9 north, longitude "a 90 west, he sight
ei q steam launch about twenty-five feet
long painted white, partly submerged. An
hOnr later he passed body, face down
ward to which life preserver was at
tached. Few vessels except men-of-war,
and possibly big steamers, carry steam
launches, and it is alleged that the Con-
ssrvs was fitted out as a man-of-war for the
use OF General HiFpolyte, the Heytien in
surgent. At any rate, Tire COnserva carried
zach a launch aud WAS painted white. Be
fore ths COnserva lett port there was a
rnmOy that she was to be destroyed by
dynamite bomb with clock work attach
ment to he amuqgled aboard by some en-
emy of General Hippolyte. This gave rise
to many lurid rumors yesterday and in the
eyes OF many General ContreTss, who is now
in New York, appeared as apatriOt. They
thought ne had caused the Conserva to be
blown up.
Everything that can at this moment be
said about the lost steamer must he specu.
laiive II Rue.ses count for anything
very coed one must he that the wrecked
steamer was the British Yedmandale, of
about 3, 90 ions burden, that was sighted
in distress twenty-four hours before the
cOrpses were picked up, about 133 miles
away. The fttings ssen ahOat are such
as might belong to the Ytdmandsle. The
latter was built 3. South Shields, England,
in 1884.
Some doubt is expressed IS to the safety
of the wooden propeller NantiCoke, go
tons which left Baltimore last Friday for
RuatRn, Gnatsmsls she had sofas and
joinery work such as was seen adrift, and
1t is believed she carried a steam lsu0ch.
She had recently been sold to a syndicate,
which pnt 4CO tons of coal aboard her
more than was thought safe. Some folks
thought she was not seswOrthy.
TIE City OF Alexandria, from Havana,
sighted on Friday afternoon the plop deck
OF vessel Just awash, water combing Of
sky light, painted white, comp Ini0n ways
and hatch. These were of CGarl ston and
probably belonged to some sailing ship
They seemed to be too far south 20 be part
of the wreck to which the desd sailors be-
longed. On Sunday, between Savannah
and Cape Charles, the same steamer saw
what locked like an abandoned life-bost.
Tire British steamer HondO, fcOm Gray
town. on Thursday passed a quantity of
wrecksge, such as hatch combings and
deck iimher7, off Cary's Foot Reef. They
we're in a position dangerous to navigation.
They were too far south apparently to have
sDy connection with the men on the death
raft