Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-15
rnE WRECKED DESPATCH.
The Boat, Rapidly Going to Pieces--Hci
Crow Rescued by a Lilo Saving Crew.

THE Ell DE0fd1Chs
The Boat, Rapidly Going to Pieces--Hcr
Crew Rescued by Lifc Saving Crew.
WASHINGTON, ID. G. Oct. 10-The super
intendent Of the lifc-saving service has
received q despatch from the keeper Of the
life-saving station at Assateague, Md,
saying the United States steamship Des-
patch is ashore, opposite Assateague
Island. 1t is not known in how great
peril the vessel and crew are at present,
but the Yantic will be hurried to her
relief. The Despatch left New York
yesterday and was on her way to Wash
ington.
The loss of the United States steamer
Despatch by being shipwrecled in
later dispatch gives the following de-
tails of the affair. The shipwrcclked
crew of IA souls from the United States
steamer Despatch were landed at ASA
league life saving station, on the island
of that name. J. T. Tracy, keeper of the
life saving station, has notified the SER
vice in this city that he boarded the
steamer whose back is broken in two,
before G o'clock this morning. The work
Of disembarking the men began shortly
after o'clock. Ten trips between the
wreck and the island were necessary to
carry off the crew. This job lasted two
hours.
Mr.. Tracy says that the wreck is full
of water and Is fast breaking up.
She is expected to go to pieces at the
next high water tonight. Great seas
have broken over her all day, and the
morning sun will hardly see vestige
of Uncle Sans lost steamer.
The navy department issued orders
last night to the Atlanta, stationed at
Brooklyn, to hurry off to the rescue of
the Despatch. The Atlanta had been at
the navy yard only a week under orders
to repair, and consequently much of her
machinery had been taken out and was
in the machine shops. 1t being Satur-
day night, nearly all the machinists and
shopmen had gone to their homes for
Sunday.
Captain Philip got all his own engi-
neers together and pressed others into
service from the Boston, the Bennington
and the Philadelphia, and they worked
hard all night and all this morning put
ting the Atlanta's engines into working
order. This was accomplished shortly
after noon. In the meantime 400 tons
of coal had been taken on board and the
cruiser was ready for sea.
The general opinion of the Atlanta's
officers was that the Bennington should
have been sent on their errand. The
Bennington is in better condition, has
twin screws, which would be of great
service where rapid evolutions may be
necessary, and draws only IL feet. The
Atlanta draws 20. 1t is a problem with
her officers how she can approach the
Despatch, which is grounded in 10 feet
of water. AT o'clock the lines were
cast off. The crew expected to reach the
shoals at daybreak tomorrow morning
She will not be of much use. Tugs
North America and Atkins Hughes ar.
rived at Wilmington, DEL, to-day from
the scene of the wreck. The reason the
| lighthouse tender Zizania did not go K
the Despatch's relief, as ordered from
Washington, was because of broker
boiler.
WAsMINGToN, Oct. 12.-Lieutenan
Cowles, commanding the U. S. Des
patch, has telegraphed to the secretary
of the navy from 'Assateague Life Saw
ing Station that all of the officers ant
crew of the vessel are safe on shore ano
that they have saved all their clothing
and all the boats except one cutter
The Yantic has arrived at the scene o.
the wreck but has been unable, SO far
to render any assistance, and it is now
believed that the Despatch will be ;
total loss. No particulars of the acct
dent have been received at the depart
ment as yet. When Lieutenant Cowlel
makes his official report of the case thu
department will appoint court o
inquiry to determine the responsibility
for the accident.
Assateaguc Island, where the United
States steamer Despatch was wrecked
has at various times been an island ant
a peninsula. For 200 years there have
been periods when the sea broke through
the narrow sand beach of Assateagu,
and converted it into an island. Thei
the inlet would close up and there woul(
be a long, narrow peninsula, bringin!
the coast from point little below tn,
northern boundary of Accomack county
Va, to Fenwick's Island, at the south
eastern corner of Delaware. Fenwick'
Island, by the way, was once calleC
Cape Henlopen, though it is 80 or A
miles below the present cape of tina
name. Assateague extends down almos
to the southern extremity of Chinco
league and protects the last nance
island from the fury of the Atlantic
The waters all about arc shoal, and tn
largest vessels trading to Chincotoagu
are built with centroboards. Assatcagu
lighthouse is noble shaft of bricl
rising in rigid strength from
mass of pines and commanding wild
prospect of dark blue sea and man
pine-clad leagues of island and MAINLAND