The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-16
THE ATLANTA IN PERIL.
HER UNFORTUNATE ExPERLENCE IN
SEARCH OF TIE DEsPA TCH


SEARCH OF TIE DESPATCH
Not In Condition when She Started Out as
wrecker. Her Ens,ne. Gave Out. and
an Explosion In Her Collision Conpnrt-
nent Inlured Six Men Seriously and
Jeoparaea the SAFETY OF the Ship.
The white cruiser Atlanta returned last
night from her trip down the coast to the res
cue OF the wrecked Despatch. She started out
on Sunday in poorly equipped condition and
in the face OF storm which developed at once
into wild northeastcrly gale. She was
bound for Assateague. just north Of
Chesapeake Bay. where the Despatch was
wreck. but she got no further than
Delaware Breakwater She occupied nearly
all her time in efforts to escape becoming
wreck herself upon the Jersey coast, and had
to contend not only with such storm as she
never met before. but with leakage and
unique explosion aboard ship which laid up
six Of her crow She hos returned badly in
need OF repairs. Two OF her injured crew are
in q critical condition. and the other four
seriously hurt
When orders were received from Washing
ton at IL o'clock on Saturday night directing
the Atlanta to 60 at once to the rescue OF the
tions Of her machinery were In tho shops. and
It was only by calling upon the engineers
OF other ships then in the yard that she
was made ready to start by 3 o'clock tho fol-
lowing afternoon. Before she left Capt. Philip
said that he would not BIO surprised II the
steam joints blew out before they got far.
I'VE may ad another wreck to the list in
stead OF saving one." said he.
The Sunday papers predicted a big storm.
and at o'clock at night, before the Atlanta
had got much below Sandy Hook. she struck 1t.
The wind blew strong northeast gale. and
the rain fell In torrents. The ship stood on her
course until o'clock in the morning. Then
her navigator registered the wind as force
III" that is. within one point In II Of hurri-
cane. It was pushing the ship upon the
Jersey shore Capt Philip finally gave orders to
put about and face the gale. It was about 10
o'clock and the ship was of Barnegat She
was put about and urged at full steam In d.
rection east-northeast. heading q couple Of
points to stnrboard OF the wind. In this way she
succeeded in holding her position about
twenty miles east OF the shore. while the wind
drove her southwark This course was held
until IL o'clock on Tuesday night, when the
wind died down. The Atlanta was then some
thirty miles east OF Absecom Light and In the
midst off dense fog.
Meantime those aboard had undergone the
most trying experiences. From 10 o'clock on
Sunday night until IL o'clock on Tuesday
night enormous waves had been beating upon
her. steaming ahead in an attempt to keep
even with the indriving force Of the wind and
waves. she had been continually rising upon
the crests Of tremendous waves. advance
GUS hoiiows: Frea%sntly She ran nose
her. so he
WITH salt. These smoke stacks are Atty feet
her decks with force. They twisted and bentthe
iron work upon her superstructure. but car
IsG Wick scfs ap Sps s
tie S wa q the ~
sid ssy s se ID tm He ad nS
sleep OF DAT . meal for sixty consecutive hoHrs.-
won sDe 81 OfSs that
f9s fs
# e a compartment. which should be water
% !ne IS about IL feet long and 3eet
high used Is for Paint .h.
bSlkhead from this collision Compartment.
desS two rooms tSe orward 'ns Of
Which u Was is sn sG That ons tSe s s an
water which dashed over tho ship Continually
trickled down into this paint, room and from
he Collision Seow
this hatch was imperfectly closed was due to
sea sGkness 81 sa s9 msn under
of James Monahan. the blacksmith. to pump
ont az the water in the collision compartment
eo as least 0 forty tons 81 Wster Which
SpeRed hatch 9 sy; h, and rs, set f
out out two.thiTds 81 The Water. They knew that
Mas Under e tie watsr and Ionahas
determined to 60 down at this point and in
Monahan lighted q lantern and let 4, down
gone down three feet before, there was an OK:
WSite flame burst wi With great force up through
the hatch. All OF the six men ut work at the
s9f the as
alarm was sounded. and sailors ran down and
pulled out the men. some OF whom were un-
81 them They
and arms. Ills condition last night regarded a:
yss burned
HISRr HiiJA, seaman. burned and wounded on the
ALoe EexAe, iapdsmsn ahas is. newly enlis.edh
JouS EDwARp III. private marine. burned on head
and hands Serious.
JosErH MrRRIAx. seaman. burned on head and hands
The explosion made great sensation. The
water was pumped out, and nm investigation
nude. Among the kegs and cans of paint in
the compartment was found nm empty can
which had contained five gallons OF Japan
dryer. the basis Of which is be1Iine. when the
ship started. 1t appeared evident that this
was the cause q the explosion. as all the other
The force Of the explosion bent out the bulk
head which separated the COMPARTMENT from
ward force through. the hatch into, the room
spd, wooden spar de9ki; H. 4 few wine inches
explosion spent ITSELF was o hatchway lead
Ing to the upper deck. II this had been blown
out, the waves. which continually beat over
the deck, would have filled the ship The ofii-
:, When the wind died down near Midnight on
rest. The Atlanta lay to Til nearly morning
and then made direct for shore through a
HbsscoR tishtsoSse was made out about
The sAR MsS th q the . snans hsssea
necessary TO nut In at Delaware Breakwater