Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-09
HUNTING FOR THE CREW
Steamer Will Start at Once tc
Find the Kearsarge's Men.
ADMIRAL STANTON NOT TO BLAME.
There Was a Sudden Cry of "Breakers
Aheadp and Then the Good Old Ship
Was on the Rocks-Fire Daring the
Wreck-Crew without Water.

Wreck-Crew without Water.
PANAMA, Feb 8. - The United States
warship kearsarge was wrecked last Thurs.
day on Roncador reef, 800 miles north Of
Colon. Lieutenano Frederick r.. Brainard
arrived at Colon with the news of the
wreck.
Lieutenant Branard says that at g.,
o'clock on the evening of Thursday, Feb. ?
while the kearsarge was on her way from
Port au Prince to Bluefelds, Nicaragua
the lookout raised the cry of "Breakers
ahead!' and within a few minutes the yes
sci went on tie reefs with great force
She was proceeding under sail at the
time and had, comparatively speaking, nc
steam up. There was terrific sea on, and
the ship heeled to such an alarming extent
that it was feared she would capsize.
In order to ease her and to help her back
on an even keel the great gun of Alabama
fame was jettiSoned. This had no effect il
the direction of causing the ship to stand
up. The next move to save the vessel from
going clear over on her beam ends was tC
cut away the mastS, it being evident that
it would be impossible to furl the sails in
season to relieve the enormous pressure OF
the wind that was bearing down on the
canvas with such weight that it was
question of only few minutes before the
ship would capsize.
Afire the Reef.
When the kearsarge went over after
striking the reef, she went so far that The
banked fires in the furnaces We're thrown
out and scattering in all directions they
set fire to the ship, SO that in addition to
being exposed to the savage waves, the
merclless reef and the ripping wind, the
vessel was in danger of being burned and
blown up.
Urged by the desperation of the situa-
ton, everybody on board that could be
spared from on deck maufully attacked
the flames, and after short, sharp fight
they succeeded in eXtinguishing the blaze
before it reached the magazine
After the fire was eXtinguished and the
masts cut away there was nothing to do
but to await an opportunity to get ashore.
At daylight the boats were lowered, and
the short but dangerous trip over the reefs
and through treacherOus surf was at
tempted. 1t was accomplished with the
greatest imaginable difficulty, and after
many narrow escapes all hands eventu-
ally succeeding in reaching the shore in
safety.
The Crew All Safe.
Provisions We're thrown overheard before
abandoning the ship in the hope that they
would wash ashore to be plucked from the
surf, pTONltleu any DOtlS SOG ashore Awe
AS soon as the officers and crew were
landed camp was established on the islet
of Roucador, and enough food to last
month was picked up, but no fresh water
was procurable.
Lieutenant Brainard volunteered to Sc
lect crew and start for the island of Old
Providence, 90 miles southwest of the scene
of the wreck.
He left on the morning of the 4th inst.
and reached Old Providence on the morn
ing of the 9Th. lie Immediately sailed
from Old Providence on a schooner for
Colon, 23O miles south. He arrived at
Colon Wednesday night.
Lieutenant Brainard reported that at
the time he left Roncador the kearsarge
was fast going to pieces. He reported that
the kearsarge's company could not reach
Old Providence and that they We're in need
Of immediate assistance