The herald., 1894-02-22
THE WRECK OF THE kEARSARGE
Officers and Crew Landed at
New York.
Admiral Stanton Tells the Story of
the Disaster.
dis Statements Corroborated by His
subordinates-A Court OF In
quiry Appointed by Sec
Rotary Herbert.

New YORK. Feb. 2l.-The steamer
City of Para arrived this morning from
Colon, bringing the officers and crew o
the warship kearssrge. wrecked on Ron
csdor reef. The City of Para arrived al
the dock shortly after noon. The dock
was gaily decorated in honor of the re-
turning sailors, and large American
flag was spread over the gsngplank. A
large crowd of friends and relatives oil
the crew was on the pier.
Admiral Stanton told the story OF the
wreck OF the Kearsarge to the Assoc
ciated Press. The accident occurred
about a. M. February I'd. stiff
northeaat trade wind was blowing. The
Kearsarge struck lightly at first, then
went high and dry on the reef. The
crew remained on board that night.
The following day all hands were taken
off in q catamaran boat, together with
water and provisions, old sails, awning
and duck to rig shelters with. Every
body was perfectly cool and the work OF
arranging RATS, ETC., to carry the plum
der ashore was carried on systematic
ally. Water was rather scarce, al
lowing only pint per day for
each man. In the transfer
Seaman Anderson Robbins, who tried
to swim to the reef, wac drowned. This
was the only fatality, and the rest OF the
officers and crew are in good health. As
soon ss they got ashore Lieutenant
Brainard was dispatched with seven
men to Old Provide nee to secure ves-
sci to take the shipwrecked men off. At
Colon Brainard secured the City oil
Para, which arrived at the scene Feb
ruary 10th, and took them of, the men
not having undergone any special hard
ship, aside from the shortage OF water.
Admiral Stanton, in advance OF the
investigation by the government. would
not say anything as to the cause OF the
wreck or the responsibility therefor. He
expressed the opinion that there was no
possible chance OF saving the hull of the
Kearsarge, as she was badly stove and
nearly full of water.
Commander Oscar F. Heyerman said ::
Admiral Stanton and l were together
from the moment the vessel struck till
we went ashore the next day together.
We went ashore to save our lives, as the
Kesrsarge was beginning to ship a
great deal of water. We made several
efforts to GO ashore, but were unsuccess-
full, till we finally succeeded in getting
ashore in a catamsrsn boat. We got
along very well after we reached shore,
although the supply of provisions was
short, and until we dug q we'll water was
very scarce. As to the responsibility
for the accident, l do not care to say
anything. Those facts will be investi-
gated, in all probability, by court oil
inquiry, or by an investigation by the
navy department. We managed to save
q great many instruments, chronome-
ters, the log of the kearsarge and other
articles
The story of the wreck told by Lieu
| tenant Brsinard was substantially tbs
same az that OF Admiral Stanton anG
Commander Heyerman. He said: "a
the time OF the accident there was quit,
sea running, which broke over tn,
poop after she struck. She ran up higi
and dry on the reef and we left her full
of water and in q very bad condition
There was nobody on the bridge at tn,
time of the accident, and there was nj
pilot; but Go not care to talk abou
the causes or effects OF responsibility O
anything of that sort. That will hav,
to be left for investigation. 1t was know
we were in the vicinity of the reef
There is no chance of saving the ship
She is full of water and high and dr.
upon the reef, and the Merritt Wreck
ing company could not save enough o
her to pay for the coal, nor could all tn
engines in New York do anything will
her. She struck 30 hard that che glide,
over two OF the reefs like a greyhoun,
before she stopped"
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. = Late thi
afternoon Secretary Herbert appointed
as court of inquiry to investigate tn
wreck of the Kesrsarge, Admiral Cher
ardi and Captains Miller and O'Kane
Lieutenant Kelly ia named as recorder
The urt,will meet at Brooklyn nav
yard Monday.