The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-05


coaling up, the ship was ordered among the
Rahama Islands to intercept English blockade
| runners.
This was a very pleasant cruise; tho weather
was delightful; our duties were light, as we
were full-handed; shoals of hying-fsh were
seen and dolphins and other large fish were
| sporting around tho ship all day long. Tho
| water was so clear that the bottom could be
easily seen in some places The coral reefs and
| low islands of the West Indies are tho work of
an insect or animal; they can only work under
water and when they have built to the surface
| OF the water their lab0rs must cease; tho wind
| and waves complete the rest by washing the
broken coral up into u ridge; then tho sea-
| weed and drift-wood will lodge on them, q
chance cocoanut will come floating along and
| take root, birds will deposit seeds, and in very
| short time an island will he formed.
Tho navigation among these islands is very
| dangerous, owing to the numerous hidden reefs
! and the strong currents setting in from the
! Atlantic Ocean. Columbus lost one of his
vessels here by trusting tho wheel TO boy
while all hands turned in to sleep; they awoke
to find that they had imperceptibly drifted on
| the rocks. Unless tho officers and men are
very vigilant ship can very easily be wrecked
here, even in calm weather.
sHGPwRECKED ON CORAL REEFS.
Our voyage was brought to a disastrous close
Mt two bells Il o'clock Jan. l. 1865, by the San
Jacinto striking on reef. Tho starboard
| watch was on duty and the port watch had
| turned in Mt eight bells aud were sound asleep.
| The sudden shock and the stoppage of the
engines caused the greatest CONSERVATION. The
watch below rushed on deck tho well was
| sounded and the ship was found TO be leaking
| badly The pumps were then manned, kedgo
anchors were got out and dropped astern, and
every effort made To pull the vessel of. assisted
by reversing tho engines but ii was useless the
San Jacinto had reached her last anchorage.
The swell of the sea would inccssantly lift
the ship up bodily and pound hor down OF the
sharp coral rocks. Minute-guns were fired TO
| notify the wreckers on shore of our distress;
solid shot were thrown overheard TO tighten the
vessel; the men worked faithfully Mt the pumps,
but 1t was all in vain. The leak gained fear
fully, the ship seemed to be sinking and despair
sat on every cOuntenanCe. The water was
already in the engine room, and the fires were
out, while great pieces of the false keel came
Heating to the surface. The dawn of day re-
vealed so fearful state of affairs that il was
deemed advisable 10 send as many of the crew
TO the shore possible. Wrcckcrs were now
coming off to us from the islands.
The sea had Gained down somewhat but
the heavy surf was seen breaking on the reefs.
The boats were brought under the bows, and
those who were to go first dropped into them.
Some of the men became excited. and threw off
most of their clothing; others would put on
all they could. One marine wore his double
breasted uniform coat, with his overcoat and
cape on top of it. Private Smith, of the guard,
threw away his blouse, with 81 in one OF the
pockets. But there was no scramblinR for
places, as good discipline prevailed. When
their loads were landed the boats were brought
back by the stoutcst scamen for another load.
Several trips wero made in this way, and about
one'halt OF the crew were placed on terra
hrma. 10 was an interesting sight TO see the
boats steering straight for the breakers. They
would mount on the crest of n large roller and
then disappear for moment TO emerge in
safety on tho other side in still water.
Night coming on and tho sea having gone
down, Capt. Meade, with the remainder Of the
sailors and marines concluded to remain on
| board, and the ship settled down on the coral
reef. with her gun and berth-deck still above
water. She was in no immediate danger Of
sinking unless storm should set in. The
chief wrccker Informed MS that the nearest
island was uninhabitcd. and was called No
Name Key" one Of the Bahama group. That
on which the wreckcrslivcd was Green Turtle
Key" aud WAS three miles of. The next day
the rest OF the crew was landed without the
loss of single life. Capt Meade was the
LAST MAN TO LEAVE THE SHIP.
Lieut.. Quackenbush was on shore in charge
OF the men already there. Lieut. smalIey
commanded the marine guard Ortiorly. Serg't
Blake landed in the last boat with Capt. Meade,
few marines and the boats crew
We found the island 10 be fat and sandy
and about one mile long and half a mile wide
There was fine beach, protected from the fu n
force OF the sea by the outer wall Of reefs ;
one end was a salt marsh, but where we made
our camp was several feet above tho level of tho
sea. The outer face of the island next to the
Atlantic was solid coral rock. descending
sheer down into deep water and believe there
WAS no iaud from this island clear across the
Atlantic 10 the Canary Islands and the COST of
! Africa. No Name Key was covered with man.
| grove bushes small palms and other tropical
! vegetation. No springs were TO be found, but
| by digging few feet we reached braelsish
water, that would do 10 mako coffee with
! Drinking water had To DO brought from the
| island where the wreckerg lived There liz
| very little of this article on any of these
| islands. The inhabitants have 10 depend en-
| tirey on rain water caught in cistcFns during
tho rainy season; sometimes there is great
| scarcity Of 10.
| The Bahama group comprises about $50 islets
and islands, OF which only II are of consider
| able size. Nassau, on New Providence Island
| Is the capital, and was headquarters for block
ade-TunDing during the war Oar provisions
! on the ship being all lost. we purchased small
! quantities Of pork, bareback and coffee from
the natives and this, with the addition of she'll
was about AL that We had to eat during the time
/ that we remained Oh the island
BAHAMA ISLAND waEcKERs.
The wrcckers Immediately swarned around
| the San JaciBto aud commenced 10 strip her of
everything that could be got loose. IL was in.
| tcresting 10 SEQ them at work. They had large
screwdriycrs wrenches crowbars, and pin
! GERS. They attacked the old vessel like a flock
OF hungry sea birds picking the bones of a
stranded whale. They gathered up every
! thing, even 10 copper nail. If 10 could be
| pulled out. Some of them were expert div
ers. They would come alongside in their
| cockle-shcll boats, with only Il breechclOut on.
They had small square boxes, open at one end
and pane OF glass in the other This they
would put into the water, look through IL for
an instant, then drop IL into the boat, dive
overheard, and soon reappear with piece of
copper sheathing that had been stripped off
the hull of tho vessel by tho jagged coral rocks.
orr small spars and sails were taken on shore
and erected into cosy tents for our shelter, The
chief Of the wreckers WAS n very giant in size
aud strength. The masts rigging, sails and
everything portable that conld be secured were
striped off the ship, aud in a short time tho
noble old San Jacinto, which had been the home
Of most Of us for three years. was loft Il bare
hulk.
The wrcckors on these islands receive sal
coasts. They whites, negroes and mixed
races The chief was a negro, aud think the
Mayor Of tho town was also
The Navy Department hearing of our dig
trcss, sent two gunboats 10 our rescue In the
| nan uttt THg VIA tna iuf, 1uaf I1.f: