The Portland daily press., 1894-03-29

Martial.
Brooklyn, N. Y, March 2s.-The court
martial of Commander Heyerman, who
was in command of the Kearsarge when
she was lost on Roncador reef, was fin
ished today. The case has been on trial
several days, the testimony following
pretty closely the story told by the wit
nesses before the court of enquiry Tues
day.
Lieutenant Commander Mark summed
up for the defense. He read to the court
a statement written by Commander
Heyerman, in which the latter says:
"There has been no atom of testimony
given during this trial to show l was
guilty of neglect in any way whatever. !
was on deck all day February 2, and did
all that the commander Of vessel could
or should do. If my conduct can be
called neglectful, then all men are guilty
of neglect whose best efforts i'll life are
not followed by favorable results. de-
sire to throw no blame upon any
one else whomsoever I was in
command of the vessel and no one
else. and | alone am responsible for the
course steered. hold the navigator in
no way responsible for any suggestions
he made me, nor for the course steered.
I hold him responsible if he furnished
me with false positions. Should the
court find the wreck due to the false po-
sitions furnished, should expect acqult-
tai on that point alone. That did not
steer course that took me clear OF Ron
cador reef is undoubtedly true, and
equally acknowledge that there was
plenty of sea room to the northward for
me to do so had my Judgment dictated
that such would be the proper method
of navigating under the circumstances.
Although originally intending to go well
clear of the reef, decided, after receiv-
ing the O. clock position from the navi-
gator on the morning of February 2 to
sight this danger, being according to the
position given me by him, within easy
reaching distance before dark. The
course was, therefore, changed. At
noon, the position given by the navigator
showed so much northerly current that
I decided to go to the northwafd OF the
reef My decision in this case was based
upon several reasons, the first being that
# is always safer to go on the lee side of
a shoal SO far as currents are concerned,
than on the weather side. Another rea-
son was that as the distance at noon,
given me by the navigator, was almost
identically the same as the distance at
1912 a. M, could naturally not expect
to sight the reef as early in the afternoon
as expected to do when the course was
first shaped. According to this calcula-
ton, the reef should have been within
six miles OF being sighted at p. m. l
felt confident that if did not sight it
before dark this would be on account of
the current having swept the ship out
side the range of visibility. The trade
winds usually slack up in the forenoon
and freshen again in the early sfternoon.
On the day in question, they
did not freshen as early as past exper l.
ences taught me they would. In order
to be sure, | ordered steam got up in
two boilers before the afternoon observa
tion was.taken."
Judge Advocate Kelley addressed the
court on behalf of the prosecution. Mr..
Kelley said he did not consider that the
accused had shown neglect in any of the
important duties of a commander. lie
was always on deck and always alert.
The testimony shows he carefully con-
sidered the waters he had to traverse.
But how and why ship OF war could be
allowed to be in the vicinity of a
dangerous reef with darkness near had
not been shown. Mr.. Kelley carefully
reviewed the whole testimony.
After Mr.. Kelley finished, the case was
declared closed and the court cleared to
allow the memb bers to deliberate and find
the verdict, which will be forwarded to
Washington for revision.