Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-22
ALL SAFE AND SOUND.
Arrival of the KearSarge'S
officers and Crew.
WRECK CANNOT BE SAVED.
A Seaman's Story Of the Suffering En-
dured on Roncador Reef.


OF Para arrived at quarantine, having on
board the Officers and crew Of the United
States steamer Kearsarge. Admiral Stan.
ton did not care to make any statement
before making his official report.
Commander Heyerman said: I'VE
went ashore TO save our lives, az the
Kearsarge was beginning TO shipa great
deal OF water We made several efforts
before we were successful. As 10 the re-
sponsibility for the accident, | do not
care 70 say anything"
Lieutenant Brainard said: "The sea
broke over the poop after the Kearsarge
struck. There was nobody on the bridge
st the time, and there was no pilot. IL
was known that we were in the vicinity
Of the reef There is no chance OF saving
the ship. She struck 30 hard that she
glided over two OF these reefs like grey
hound before she slipped. She did not
begin 10 leak at once, but when we left
her the water was mp 20 her ceilings"
Pay Clerk Brooks states that he and
Paymaster Ring had been fortunate
enough 20 save the books and accounts Of
the Kearsarge, as well as all the cash.
An Interesting Yarn.
The crew were all in a healthy and
Jolly mood. Their story was best told by
T. l. Lightford. who said: I'VE were
running free with the wind all the sf-
ternoon, with a course about south by
west All sail was set, except the fore
course and staysail. We must have been
making at least 10 knots The starbosrd
watch bad just come on deck at four
bells. The men were told TO keep "A sharp
lookout for breakers ahead.
at was only an hour later when we
struck the rocks before any one knew they
they were threatening us The men did
all they could To save the vessel, but IL
was no use.
"We went ashore the next morning
with what clothes we had on. The last
10 leave the ship were Lieutenant Hood,
Captain Heyerman, Executive Officer
Force, Chief Boatswain Sanders and my
self. We went on the last trip OF the
catamaran. After we had landed we
found the island to be totally barren. 4
I tour Of the island could easily be made in
half an hour.
"Lieutenant Hood was the first volun-
teer TO go 20 the ship for provisions. We
were set digging wells. and soon struck
water. II was brackish and not fit TO
drink. Marines were stationed 20 guard
the water and provisions. We had food
enough 20 last about 20 days Our first
allowances were four hard tacks, or sea
biscuits one pint of water and half ra.
tion OF canned meat once day. Subse-
quently this amount was twicae reduced,
and when the City OF Para arrive we
were getting two biscuits day.
Suffering at Rancador.
~ E,J H.
cal sun and the heavy showers were the
boats and boards left on the island by
fishermen. Each man had one blanket.
During the day we were compelled to
seek such shelter from the terrible heat
OF the sun, keeping in our improvised
huts from IL o'clock i'm the morning until
bin the afternoon. When we ventured
out IL was only TO blister feet and hands
Before the rescuing party reached the ISL
and our suffering was most intense.
"Our lips were parched and sore, but
every man stood up bravely. No com
plants were heard. The privations were
shared equally from Admiral Stanton
down TO the stewards boy. The admiral
was always among the last TO step up TO
the paymaster and receive his ratons. No
finer or braver officers ever set foot on the
deck OF a ship.
"Lieutenants Brainard and Hood par
ticularly are 70 be commended, and do
not think there was q Union sailor who
left the craft who would not give up his
life for them II necessary.
Hot-Headed Marine Oficer.
"The only man who did anything to
incur our displeasure was First Lieu
tenant Of Marines Ingate. He walked
about with a r.voiver and dirk knife ex-
posed. All the other officials carried the
same weapons, but did not show them.
| Ingate. however, was continually threat
| ening the men, and on one occasion when
| Cox.wain Reilly WAS slowing some fish
| Inc tackle In his whaleboat the officer