The evening world., 1894-02-28
CHART WAS WRONG.
Navigator Lyman, Of the Kear-
sarge startles the Court.
No Declares that Roncador Reef
Is Out Of Its Mapped Position.
Saws an Error Was Made in the
Charting of Longitude.

Additional interest was lent to tn,
proceedings to-day of the Court of In,
ouiry, which is investigating the loss Of
the United States corvette Kearsarge,
on R%oncador Reef, by the fact that
Lieut.. Charles H. Lyman was to take
the stand.
Lieut.. Lyman was the Kearsarge's
navigator, and it was upon his calcula.
tons on that fatal February day thai
Commander Heyerman depended for his
latitude and longitude.
1t was expected that Lieut.. Lyman
would have some little difficulty in ex-
planning why he was nearly seven miles
out Of his course at the time the grand
old corvette ran head-on into the white
water which marked the location Of the
treacherous reef.
The court assembled at 1890 o'clock
and Admiral Gherardi called for order
a few minutes later. Rear Admiral
Stanton and Commander Heyerman
whose testimony was taken yesterday
were both present to listen to the read.
Ing of the record of the previous days
proceedings, which. In accordance with
the rules governing Naval Courts OF
Inquiry, was undertaken by the Judge.
Advocate.
1t took Judge-Advocate Kelley an hour
and a half to read the testimony taken
Yesterday, Commander Heyerman was
then recalled to the stand.
he was asked what had become OF the
the gig men took 1t ashore and that 1t
was expressed on to the Navy Depart
ment at Washington.
Commander Heyerman was asked II he
white water was sighted. He answered
That he had not.
-."Why?'' was Admiral Gherardl's ques-
ton; rather sharply put.
were running at the rate of eight knots
an hour. and we were within a half mile
OF the reef, In the four minutes 1t took
70 run that half mile l would not have
machine In working RIDER. IT would
have been useless to attempt IT,"
Lieut.. LYMAN was then called to the
stand.
Lieut.. Lyman is a man of marked per-
sonality. He is apl arently about forty
five years old. and although not above the
average height has a commanding pres
ence.
A high. intellectual forehead and a
pair of kindly blue eyes are his principal
facial characteristics. A sweeping blond
mustache partially hides a fairly firm
mouth.
His appearance is not that of a mar
who would be likely to make mistake:
at critical periods.
He said in answer to the Judge Advo,
eate's questions that his name wa!
Charles Huntington Lyman, and he hac
been in the navy twenty-seven years.
He was asked to Identify the rough ugh,
the book Of sailing directions of tn
Gulf of Mexico and various charts.
Commander Schley, who was II
Charge Of the Bear. and Thetis In tn
NrAA1y ~Alto ~ ~ vNa t~tn Ontrr
At this juncture. He was an interestet
listener during the examination of Lieut.
Lyman.
The witness made the rather %startlin
assertion that since the wreck Of tn
kesrsarge he had reason to believe tina
Roncador Reef was from three to fv
miles to the westward of It's position a
shown on the chart.
an observation taken twenty minute
before the Kearsarge struck, and Will
camping on the key: observations wer
!sEea by other officers With result
Lieut.. Lyman thought, however; the
me chronometer used in making the oil
Servations, on the key had been damage
made from a survey taken in 1885, an
Lieut.. Lyman thought that the method
81 taking latitude and longitude were
tnose days not as accurate as now.
tn four chronometers used on boar
me corvette were, according TO Lieu
lyman, in perfect condition previous
kkeS1i.og He had tested them befo'
asked as to the navigation, equipms,
VI me kearsarge, he said that II wa
ampie. All the instruments were. GOO
except the night sextant and the binoc'
about years. The Lieutenant then d.
scri6ed the method of taking the latitut
ana longitude three times a day.
ne had reason to believe that his ca
WAYS went over them carefully a secor
tune m then two naval cadets check'
mem all over.
Cadet Mccormick aided him usual
IN taking sights.
A recess was then taken.
,hAiter recess Lieut.. Lyman returned
ime WltnesE-chair. Judge Advocate H
n resumed the examination by askii
nthselr as to the character of the vat
~ pe sailed over on the run from Pc
~ f diG TO the Nicagaruan coast.
seTSsion'' was the reply.
Inc navigator then described {
rrnce. The Kearsarge's Course W
Snaped 50 as to take her to the sout
"ard and westward of Roncador Reef
on The charts?'
nornmGSsi sir, They were so near to t
mars men that II was thes ubject Of co
'SvWWS among the ships officers
what time did you first change yo
course on Feb. 80"
sout,he course was changed to we
f~ftrrnWest NJ 1912 A. A., when abe
Tbs az ~ miles from Runcador Re
al mrst observation taken that day v
tsLoS' y, NJ, the noon observation "
am under perfect conditions OF :
II Of nnat was the bearing and dlstar
2o""'o nearest danger at noon on Il,
Rsal,he NEAREST danger was Roncat
ava. lorty.two or forty-three mi
four and bearing southwest by we
Tn unSIccs west OF :hc devia Ion
iefnSSTI SWeT To a question. Lieut.. Lynn
hEoach'1F iard n bc, Gtss, 10 ~"
~ POSITION VI the ship al the last