Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-14
DISCIPLINE ON THE kEARSARCE.
How the Ship Was Iightened and How
Lines Were Run Ashore to Save the Crew.
New York Ueraldl

How the Ship Was Iightened and How
Lines Were Run Ashore to Save the Crew.
(New York Herald)
COLON. COLOMBIA. VIA CALVES
| TON, TEN, February 9.-Further par
ticulars concerning the wreck OF the Kear-
sarge show that magnificent discipline
was maintained on board during the terri
bic scene that followed her striking on
the reef.
1t was about o'clock In the evening
of February I'd that the cathead lookout
reported breakers ahead and on the port
bow.
The ship was then steaming at half
power and was under t0psails. foresail,
lib and spanker. going with nearly beam
wind on the starboard tack, making about
ten-knot speed.
On hearing the hail, Breakers ahead
and on the port bowl" the officer of the
deck ordered the helm aport. but II was
too late to escape the reef. and In an
instant the ship struck with force that
Jared her from stem 70 stern. anf
drought every soul on deck except those
k4yhose proper stations were below.
q The engines were at once backed. and
the sails were clewed up
and the men sent aloft to furl them.
Then the topgaIlant yards were sent
down. followed Immediately by the top
gallant masts.
TIGHTENING THE SHIP.
While these duties were being rapidly
yet thoroughly done the ship was pound
ing terribly on the reef, the seas being
heavy enough to lift her AMI let her down
with tremendous force. II was useless
to think OF saving her. and all efforts
were devoted to saving the ships COM
pany. The further In shore she drove
the less she would feel the waves. The
main pendant tackles were hooked into
sIings under the historic li-inch quarter
deck gun. which had been pivoted to port
and It was hoIsted overheard to tighten
the ship aft Lieutenant Walliug had this
duty TO perform. with Cadet Stitt as as
sistant.
To tighten her forward the Captain or
dered Lieutenant Hood to cut away the
foremast. The lanyaris OF the weather
shrouds were cut and befoee the mast
was wholly cut through above the deck
It crashed over the side. carrying with IT,.
as was expected, the maintopmast and
the maintopsail-yard.
By this time the sea had forced the
vessel further upon the reef. and she
lay on her port bnge the waves running
very high. and breaking over the poop
deck and her nearly-submerged port rail
Attempts were made to lessen the break
ing OF the heavy sea by the use of oil
over the stern. the effect being percepti-
BILE by the time the waves had run as
far forward as the mainmast.
FIRE QUICKLY PUT OUT.
>~b&lng to the sharp careen to port fire
broke out in the b0iler-room. some d the
burning coal haviI z been thrown out Of
the furnaces First-Lieutenant Ingate, or
the Marine corps. led a party OF yoiun-l
teers below. an: In spite OF the smoke and
terrible lurchihg and striking CT the yeS
sci. succeeded In putting out the lanes. -
As IL was impossible 10 tell how long
the ship would hold together. LIEUTENANT,
Hood got party of petty officers and
seamen at work making RATS out OF
small spars. ladders. and gratings, and,
provisions were brought upon the fore7
castle from the hold.
All night long the grinding and crash
ing of the hull on the reef went on. The
great beams and Iive-oak frames could
he heard swapping into kindling-wood as
the ship pounded and plunged IL was n
terrible night. AS the hull yielded TO the,
blows and the waves swept higher and
higher II became necessary to abandon thef
after part OF the vessel altogether. but>
forward the men crowded beneath the
forecastle. wet. weary. and bruised and
waited for morning.
- A LINE RUN ASHORE.
AT daybreak fire was started In the
galley, and all hands had hard biscuit and
coffee. Then they went TO work 20 get
ashore. The gig was lowered. and "a volun-
teer crew, under Coxswain p. Deerey.
tried to take a line ashore through the
surf. When the boat had nearly reached
the shore the waves were SO heavy that
II was necessary TO cut the line TO save
the boat from being swamped. The gig
then anchored just outside the last line
OF breakers. and a line was noated ashore
on grating. Deerey and the gigs crew
got ashore and made fast the line to "a
solid piece Of sunken coral.
The first cutter and the second cutter
had been swept from their dayits and
stove in. The steam-launch was success
fully put overheard. but was then stove
In and sunk by the butt OF the fore
mast. which was ztiil floating alongside.
Inc SdIlluS iduncn anu tDt tniru tutttf
were lowered on the lee side In good
condition. ~------.
OTHER BOATS REACH THE BEACH.
Lieutenant Brainard took volunteer
crew In the sailing launch. and pulled for
the beach. getting through the breakers |
by the aid of the beach-linc already se-
cured by the Gigs crew. The third cnt-
ter commanded by Ensign Magrudersl
also got arhore by hauling on the beach |
inc
Lieutenant Bruinard took charge Of the |
party on the beach and collected every |
;anned provisions were dashed to gratings. /
adders. and light spars. and were thrown
,verboard from the ship. The surf car
He'd them up on the beach. where they /
we're picked up and slowed IN the boats.
The whaleboat soon afterwnrd came /
lshore with eight men. and at last the
ife-1avipg baisa, or cafamaran. was |
igsed With doubb hauling lines and vas
,ulled hack and forth between the ship /
md the shore. landing SIX or eight men
ach time. Enslgns Oates and Magruder4 \
lnd Iieutenaat BFeioard. With soue of D
helr men. wa4e1 into 1he nprf end helpod
o<k pestf e1oyss =. .-..>'- n
\ SIr8 cxrTxfN Last no LEAVE,
cpmman1er H1yrma3 sna s1e1lsnAnsI |
ToFee we're ~ M5k - lehye the mp
When ~ Wpfy( gndp1 . cesnt xag
ss 3 . 50 s''ssss ass ~ "a e e. y: ,sss -