The record-union., 1894-02-09
Special to the REooaD-US1oS.

federate Cruiser Alabama.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The Navy De-
partment received dispatch to-day from
Colon, sent by Lieutenant Brainard OF
the United States steamer Kearsarge. say
ing that vessel was wrecked on the Ron
cador Reef February I'd. The officers
and crew were saved. The Kearsarge, by
the last report, sailed from Hayti for
Bluefields, Nicaragua, to look after Amer
lean interests in connection with the trou-
bic between Nicaragua and Honduras. 1t
is supposed the vessel is total wreck i.
The vessel is one of the Oldest of the
navy, and had splendid history.
Roncador Reef is about 200 miles from
the Mosquito Coast, Central America. 1t
is we'll known to mariners as a dangerous
impediment to navigation, and is sur
rounded by swift and dangerous tides.
1t is not known how Lieutenant Brain
ard reached Colon, but it is presumed the
shipwrecked crew may have reached Old
Providence Island, some seventy-tive
miles to the leeward of the reef.
A cablegram was sent at once to Brain
ard to charter steamer and proceed to
the relief of the crew.
Some time ago the officers of the Mica
ragua Canal Company were wrecked on
the same reef
Admiral Stanton was on the Kearsarge
when the steamers New Y ork and Detroit
were sent to Rio. The kearsage was
made the flagship of the North Atlantic
Squadron, and Admiral Stanton, after
making his peace with Secretary Herbert
over the incident of saluting the insur-
gent flag at Rio, was ordered to the COM
mand of the North Atlantic station with
the Kearsarge as flagship.
1t is conjecturned the Kearsage went
aground on the reef at night and foun-
dered.
Lieutenant Brainard seems to have got
aboard a small boat and succeeded in get
ting to Colon in six days. Relief can
reach the ship in less time than that.
The officers on board were: Admiral,
o. +. Stanton; Commanding Officer, F..
Heyerman; Lieutenants, G. A. Ford, c..
n. Lyman, S. T. Walling; Junior Lieu
tenants, John Hood, f. II. Brainard
Ensigns. n. G. Gates, Thomas McGiru-
der; Naval Cadets, l.. $. Thompson, T..
\ l.. Stitt, 7. b. Borden, j. B. Mccormick,
Walter Ball, d. A. Mallon; Past-Surgeon,
G.. B. Lumsden; Assistant Surgeon, n.
w. Barnum; Paymaster, J. A. Ring;
Chief Engineer, B. G. Cowing: First
Lieutenant of Marines, L. l.. A. Ingate.
The crew was composed of 200 sailors and
marines.
The Chief of the Bureau Of Navigation
had a reply from Lieutenant Brainard
at noon, saying the City of Para is avail
able to go after the crew. He was in
structed either to charter the steamer or
secure one OF the regular mail steamers to
n Of 1ntf trN
start Immediately on her regular trip, to
secure her to touch at Roncador and
take up the crew. He was, in fact, given
discretion to do what is necessary to
insure the greatest speed in getting relief
to the men of the Kearsarge.
The wreck adds another to the mis-
fortunes which have befallen Rear-Ad-
miral Stanton. he was summarily re-
lieved from command of the South At
lantic Station for saluting Mello, the in
surgent Admiral, and ordered to Wash
/ lington. His explanation of his actions
caused Secretary Herbert to detach him
from the command of the South Atlantic,
by placing him in command of the home
station. He sailed from New York on
January 10th, and joined the Kearsarge at
Port au Prince the latter part of the
month.
AS soon as the ships company has been
transported to place of safety and the
fate of the Kearsarge definitely known,
Court of Inquiry will be appointed to
investigate the circumstances and fix the
responsibility. Officials say the ships
company is in no danger. They will be
able to get along all right until the arrival
Of relief.
The navigation of naval vessel rests
entirely with the commander and his as
sistants, and the Admiral never inter
feres in the matter. He directs the gen.
eral movements of the flagship, but leaves
the details of the routes and management
of the ship entirely to the commanding
officer. Therefore it would appear that
Commander Heyerman swill be held re-
spOnsible for the loss of the vessel, and
on him will devOlve the task OF showing
that the accident was unavoidable. He
will look to the officers of the deck at the
time of the wreck for a complete expla-
nation of the circumstances. Exactly
who was at fault will not be known here
until fuller details have been received.
HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
New YORK, Feb S.-A Colon special
to the Herald gives the following ac-
count of the wreck of the Kearsarge on
Roncador reef: The disaster occurred at
P. NJ last Friday. The Kearsarge was
under both sail and steam at the time
and was going about ten knots when she
as the character Of the keys in these
waters was we'll known to the X kearsarge
officers, evident safety lay in forcing her
as far upon the key as possible before
she began to break up. Accordingly, she
was at once lightened up by heaving
her guns overheard. One Of the first to go
was her splendid old 11-inch after pivot
gun, that did such terrible execution on
the Alabama in the famous fight in 1864.
Naxt the maStS were cut away.
1t would have beensmadneSs to attempt
to make landing in such sea IN the in
tense dark ness of the tropical night, and
therefore there was nothing to be done
but wait until morning. A terrible night
was passed, the waves pounding heavily
over the stern and weather side as she
swung more and more broadside.
Saturday morning a line was got ashore,
and all hands were finally landed safe.
Owing to the manner in which the
waves had swept the decks and filled the
hold only little fresh water and q small
quantity of provisions could be saved.
Three boats were got ashore but little in
iured.
AS there is almost no water on the reef,
and about 200 men were camDed there
with trihing supply, one of the boats
was Immediately put in order to go to
Old Providence for relief. Lieutenant F.
r. Brainard and Cadet Stitt. with picked
crew of volunteers, left the key.
On reaching "Old Providence" and
finding there was nothing capable of TAX
ing off the shipwrecked crew, they came
on to Colon for assistance.
When they left Roncador Bay the
Kearsarge was breaking up fast.
The Kearsarge was of 1,031 tons regis
ter The vessel was built at the Ports
mouth Navy-yard, New Hampshire, the
engines by Woodruff 81 Beach, Hartford,
Conn.,, in 1862.
The Kearsarge became famous by rea-
son of her victory over the Confederate