Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-27
TO SAVE THE kEARSARGE
Action of the House Committee on Naval
Affairs.
The Attempt to Raise Her Believed to
BE Feasfble-Mr. Bland OBJ
tects to a Bill.

The remains of the historic Kearsarge
Will be raised from Roncador reef if the
House committee on naval affairs has its
way. Today the committee voted TO report
favorably the bill of Representative Blair OF
New Hampshire. 1t was more generous than
Mr.. Blair proposed. While his bill would
appropriate $4,000 for the undertaking,
the committee decided to raise the sum to
$4,000 proviso was added that not more
than $4,000 shall be used If the attempt is
a failure.
Several proposals for raising the Kear-
sarge have been made to the government
by wrecking companies. and it is represent
ed that the attempt would be a perfectly
feasible one. The wreck lies well out OF
the water, and there are four months of
generally calm weather in which the work
can be done.
The kearsarge Veterans.
This morning Representative McEttrick
of Massachusetts, introduced bill to in
corporate an organization formed by the
veterans who served on the Kearsarge dur
ing the war. 1t is called the Kearsarge
Association of Naval Veterans. The sur
vivors intend to collect mementos OF the
old vessel and when the organization comes
to an end they will be given to the Smith
sonian Institution. The incorporators are
Martin L. White. Roxbury, Mass; Daniel
Shea of Boston, Chas. w. Wilson of Boston,
Francis HI. Harrington of Washington, ID.
c.. Andrew Houghton Of Boston. James
Briscoe Of Roxbury, Mass, VIM. z. Clark
of Charlestown. n. H., Joseph A. Dudgeon
OF Nebraska. Michael Rougan of Charles
town, Mass, Philip H. Irving of New York,
Horatio Little of Junction City. kan.
Christopher OBrien Of Boston, James o.
Smith of Pawtucket. r. l.. and VIM Jones
OF Boston. Mass.
Secretary of the Navy Herbert today
sent RenreSenfaf tive Cummings fhe
House committee on naval affairs informa-
ton as to the proposed rescue Of the
wrecked warship Kearsarge.
What Secretary Herbert Says.
The Secretary says: THE department,
fully sympathizes with the patriotic public
sentiment. Of which we see daily so many
manifestations. in regard to saving to the
country, If possible, this historic old ship %
The Secretary says he has an offer from a
responsible wrecking company to attemp,
the rescue on a guaranty of $4,000 and
$4,000 additional If the ship is reclaimed
The Secretary incloses a report from
Rear Admiral Stanton as to the chances OF
saving the ship. He says that on February
Ensign Gates and Paymaster Ring and
part Of a boats crew made the last trip to
the Kearsarge by hauling themselves
through the breakers on a catamaran. They
found the holds and berth decks full of wa
ter The bow was in about nine feet OF
water and her stern I'm thirteen feet Some
OF the timbers of the ship had already
started and the displaced boilers had prerc:y
well crushed the port bi,ge.
ADMIRAL Stanton says that the masts
spars, sails, guns and equipments are moi
those belonging to the ship during her his
toric period.
Admiral Stanton's Opinion.
He adds: "As the frames were diagonally
oraced and strapped with iron, she will not
in my judgment. break up during the mex,
four months. and 1 think a well-equipped
wrecking company could, by working in
favorable times. move the ship to the lee
side OF the reef. keeping their powerful
pumps going to keep her afioat during the
change OF position Her bottom could then
be patched by divers. and believe she could
De towed by way of Cuba to Key West and
thence to any point desired"
Mr. Bland Objects.
Secretary Herbert urged that any action
toward rescue should be taken at once.
The naval committee therefore sought to
secure immediate consideration for a bin
framed according to the Secretary's sugges-
tions. Mr.. Bland demanded that the silver
debate should proceed, adding that the
kearsarge rescue and other projects would
have to wait until the silver bin was dis
posed Of.