Evening star., 1894-02-16
THE WRECKED KEARSARGE
An Effort Will Probably Be Made to Get
Her Of.
The Navy Department Waiting the
Return of the Crew-TwO PROPOSE
tiOns to Recover the Wreck.

The officers of the navy and particularly
those of the old navy who remember the
achievements of the old wooden ship Kear-
sarge, cast away on Roncador reef, nave
recently been encouraged in the belief that
the famous ship is not yet to be abandoned,
and that she may see further service, if
only as training ship or receiving ship. so
that she may be preserved as a patriotic
memorial. The reason for the renewal of
this hope is to be found in visit to the
Navy Department of Capt. Merritt the
head Of the well-known w-ecking COM
pany. The captain has had an interview
with Assistant Secretary McAdoo and has
signified Willingness to undertake the
salvare Of the Kearsarge on reasonable
terms He says he has worked vessels out
OF all kinds of difficulties; has even picked
them out of the trees, and tha. the Kear-
sarge must be in a bad plight, indeed, II he
cannot get her off the reef
Ihe Navy Department is waiting for the
arrival OF the castaways at New York on
the city OF Para before coming to Il definite
decision In the matter. When they arrive
which should be Within a week, they will
be questioned as to the exact condition of
the kearsarge. Of which they should know
more than any one else as they were the
last persons to see her. The old ship was
stanchly built Of live oak timbers, and II
Is believed that she could stand much
pounding before breaking up. 1t is also
near to deep water. owing to the rapid
shelving of the reef, so that the task of
| floating her off would be Compare lively
easy.
When Capt Merritt has satisfied himself
from inquiry of the Kearsarge's officers
that the undertaking is feasible he will
proceed at once from Norfolk, the nearest
port where the wrecking company has head
quarters. In well-equipped vessel, for Rom
cador reef, where he will make a personal
examination Of the wreck. If she is be-
yond salvage the government will be put to
no expense on account of the expedition
and II she can be saved Capt Merritt will
name the figure for which he will undertake
the job. He feels fairly confident that he
will succeed and points to the salvage Of
the Aguan. which carried Warner Mlller's
lll-starred party and which the Merritt
Wrecking Company succeeded in taking on
this same Roncador reef.
The Navy Department Is disposed to act
with all due speed in the matter, because of
fear that the Kearsarge may be loot ed by
some of the lawless natives of New Proyi-
dence before the saIvors can arrive en-
the scene.
Another to the Rescue.
Lieut.. j. A. Smith of the navy has PEE
scented to Senator Chandler and Representa-
tive Blair a plan for rescuing the guns and
armament of the kearsarge. The plan was
submitted to Lieut.. Smith by E. NJ. Stod-
dard, who commanded the 11-inch guns Of
tIic Ned sdIkc uurlHR engagement with
the Alabama. Mr.. Stoddard is now in the
wrecking business at Norfolk, Va. He esti-
mates that an expedition could be fitted
out to rescue the Kearsarge from the West
lnoian buccaneers for about $4,000. The
expedition outfit could be sold when out of
use for about $4,000. The estimate is made
to cover fitting out the expedition Tor Ave
months. -s.--.---.- -
MI Stoddard thinks the battery and a
portion of the hull could be recovered He
calls attention to the fact that the north
east trade winds slack up about the mid
die of April which would aid the expedi-
ton. Acting on this letter Mr.. Blair to-
day presented bill for Kearsarge rescue
expedition.