The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-15

treacherous. the mystery still remains NJ
! to why. with all the sea room che needed.
| the KearsarRe, driving at night under both
sail and steam. went close enough TO the
reef 10 become the prey Of these currents.
! A second suggestion ls that 1.-THE ships
navigating Instruments may not have been
properly adjusted" In that case, the Sec
retary's inquiry will no doubt be directed
TO ascertalning the cause Of the improper
adjustment. whether IL was svoidable. and
where the final blame rests.
When the Kearsarge was lost she was on
her way from Hayti to the Nicaraguan coast.
whittier che had been despatched at the APP
peal Of consular representative there.
This officer had become alarmed. apparent
ly. at raid upon the northeastern corner
OF Nicaragua. a very long distance from
Greytown. by force from Honduras: and
although a Nicaraguan army was at that
time bcsieging the capital 81 Honduras. he
appealed to MIR. GRESHAM for war vessel
to visit the coast and look out for any
American interests that might DO threat
ened there. Dir. GRESHAM in turn appealed
to Secretary HERBERT. and the most avail
able. IL not the only available. vessel for the
purpose was the ever active and useful old
Kearsarge. then at Port-au-Prince. Since
that urgent appeal we have heard nothing
more about danger TO American interests in
Nicaragua, nor even Of the alleged raid
across its northern boundary; but as an evil
dence Of good faith in answering the call.
the Kearsarge is going to pieces on the reef.
The suggestion has offered itself that
risks may have been taken with the cor
vette on account OF a certain unexpected de-
lay. When she was directed by telegram
from the Navy Department TO go to Blue
fields. the cipher code was used. ThcNollow-
ing day came a return despatch from Ad
miral STANTON that he couldn't make
out a word OF that one which had
been sent him. although the news that
he had been ordered to Bluefelds was
then all over the United States In de-
spatches without cipher This reply came
on Sunday. and only after Office hours
began on Monday was It translated. Ac-
cordingly, before the vessel could be started.
about two days we're lost; and it is suggested
that. in view OF the consular and the State
Department anxiety already spoken OF. the
Kcarsarge may have been hurried But we
should not be justified in inferrinR that any
want OF caution resulted. even IL the errand
was really Of Importance.
Our country might better have lost bet
ter ship. And 1t would take fine craft Of
her age and rating to be better. When
she was locked. not long since. her stout
old timbers were found. it Is said, as sound
as when. thirty years ago. she sent tho
arrogant Alabama to the bottom In one OF
the great sea duels Of American history.
1t Is safe TO say that many O man would
rather have one OF our modern steel
gunboats. with all her new appointments,
but without O record. pounding to pieces on
Roncador Cay. than this wooden craft with
in which iron hearts once brought so much
glory to her flag. All the ships now in COM
mission have not added SO much fame to
the Union through the record OF battle as
this one relic Of early days had. Extraor-
dinarily useful as the Kearsarge had
been even in her old age. 1t Is not
the loss OF her prospective services
that touches the American people, but the
perishing. In peace and not even through
the uncomfortable stress OF storm. Of q
vessel that 80 well deserved the utmost
care for her preservation. 1t had been
hoped that, long after her cruising days
were over. she would remain a source OF
pride and inspiration. as the British still
keep NELSON'S flagship Victory: and indeed
the preliminary steps for that purpose had
already been taken by Congress In specially
exempting both her and the Hartford from
the limit Of cost fixed for repairing wooden
ships rather than giving them up.
What now remains Is the hope that In
vestigation will show that the wreck OF the
Kearsarge was not due to the fault OF any
OF her officers or men. or to any lack Of
proper precautions. II the inquiry can es-
tablish this point, as We sincerely hope it
may. the loss Of the ship will not be aggra-
waited by the bitter reflection that 1t might,
and should have been avoided. We can
then be content that even II robbed OF her
hoped-for final career as relic OF famous
days. the gallant old craft has gone down
In useful service.
Onlces To BE Given Out.