The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-03-02
THE KEARsAGE CREW.
Sorry of the Wreck OF the Famous Old
War Ship.

Sorry of the Wreck OF the Famous Old
War Ship.
A representative OF the Associated
Press, who boarded the City of Para at
Quarantine, talked with some Of the Of
ficers of the Kearssrge, who related the
story of the wreck of the famous old
msn-of-wsr on Roncador reef. Acting
Rear Admiral Oscar F. Stanton, who
was first seen, gave the following &C.
count of the wreck:
s%tsnton's Account.
1.-THE accident occurred about Q
o'clock on the afternoon of Feb. g."
said Admiral Stanton. "a fresh north
west trade wind was blowing, and there
was considerable surf. The K~earsarge
struck rather light at first, and then
there was a considerable jar and crash
when the ship went high and dry upon
the reef.
1--WE remained on board the Kear-
sarge that night and were taken on
shore the next day. The City of Para
did not come till Saturday, Feb. 10,
about a week from the time we went
ashore on Roncador island. All hands
were taken off the Kearsarge on the
catamaran boat, after working all night
in order to get things ready for our de-
parture from our ship. We sent the
catamaran boat ashore about daybreak.
"After we reached the shore we gath
cred together some of the old sails, avn.
ings and duck, with which we rugged
up a tent to shelter us. The weather
was quite warm enough to make such a
tent sufficiently comfortable. To in
crease the small supply of water we
were enabled to carry with us from the
we dug a well. We also had
what provisions we could save from the
ship.
Lieutenant Brainard went to Colon
as soon as possible, in the steam launch
of the Kearsarge, in order to communi-
cate with the navy department at Wash
and charter a steamer to come
to our aid.
Everyone who was aboard the Kear-
both officers and men are with
me, with the exception of DR.. Barnum,
who was detached to the coast survey
steamer Ranger, at Acajutla. There
are 81 officers and 1S1 men, making us
902 in all, and we are all we'll. The
carried eight boats; three of
on the port side, were stove in,
and one of them was washed away.
Anderson Robbins, one of the men,
was drowned shortly after the wreck.
The ship was rapidly filling with water,
Robbins was swimming for the reef
out he could not make it and drowned.
This occurred the day we landed.
Nothing to Say as to the Cause.
In answer to the question put to him
by the Associated Press representative,
IS to the cause of the accident, whether
lue, as has been rumored, to defective
or otherwise, Admiral
said:
Il cannot say anything in regard to
he matter of responsibility for the
of the Kearsarge, and therefore
,annot express any opinion as to wheth-
II the wreck of the ship was due to
'arelessness or defective instruments, or
o any one on board the Kearsarge. II
'resume there will be a court of inquiry
o investigate into all this, when these
acts will be fully developed. The
Whole thing will come out in due course
time, but what the nature of the
of inquiry will be when convened,
cannot say"
Anyhow" continued Admiral Stan.
on, Il feel inclined to say as little as
about this matter because of
he peculiar misfortune which has
eemed to follow me of late. l had
%notoriety already, this being
he second time | have arrived in New
'ork harbor under almost sensational
circumstances within "A short time. |
IN feeling very happy, and my physical
ondition, and l might say mental con-
ition, is just IA trife better than it was
n the occasion of my last trip up New
,ork bay"
No Chance Of Saving the Ship.
In answer to a question as to the DOS
Utility of raising and saving the Hears
rye. Admiral Stanton said:
There is nc possible chance of saving
er. She was all stove in when she
truck the reef, and when we left her
ne was almost full of water. Even if
his were not the case, the weather is
down there that it is very difficult
D work on account of the intense heat
nd blistering sun"
STEMS Courtroom Wrecked.