The morning call., 1894-02-28
THE LOYALTY OF Ills MEN.
Overcome While Telling of the
Kearsarge'S Loss.
RECKoNING5 WERE NOT TRUE.
Two Minutes After Sighting Break
ers the Noble Warship Was
on Roncador Reef.

New YORK. Feb. 27.-The court of in
Quiry ordered to investigate the wreck of
the kearsarge reconvened in the court
martial room of the Brooklyn Navy-yard
to-day. There was one extraordinary
scene TO mark the days proceedings. Cap
tain Heyerman broke down while telling
the story of the wreck and the courtroom
was cleared until he could control his
emotions.
The first witness was Rear Admiral
Stanton, who told in detail the story of
the Kearsarge's voyage from the time she
sailed from Port au Prince until she
struck on Roncador reef.
Then Captain Heyerman was called.
After stating in reply to the Judge-Advo-
cate that the reports printed in the public
press were substantially correct, Heyer-
man was asked If he had saved any of the
ships records. particularly the trough"
and smooth" logbooks. 81 made two at
tempts," said he, latter the vessel struck
TO save the logbooks. as we'll as the night
order book, knowing they would be
wanted as exhibits in the investigation
which ] knew would follow. | was, how
ever, only able to save my life"
Reyerman identified several charts
which had been in use on board the Kear-
sarge. Questioned as to his confidence in
the charts and the instruments on board
the Kearsarge the commander said:
81 had no doubt as to the accuracy of
the charts and instruments on board. The
night sextant was a little out of gear, but
the other instruments were in perfect con-
dition."
HeyermaD, answering Judge-Advocate
Kelley's questions, said be had been in the
navy since 1861. and had commanded the
YaDtic, kearsarge and Pensacola. Re-
yerting to the day of the wreck Heyerman
described the condition of tho weather
and the currents for half a dozen hours
previous to the Kearsarge striking on the
reef. He received the reports of the navi-
gator at intervals. The latitude taken is
by the ships running.
Il was sure the hearsarge was so far to
the north of Roncador Reef that was well
clear of it," said be. II had Iookouts OH
the topgallant yards ali the afternoon. and
at $3.50 P. NJ. sent an officer aloft TO make
sure that no danger was in sight" The
officer reported everything all right. Break
ers were first reported at 6 80 O'clock. At
the time Admiral Stanton. the navigator,
Captain Lyman. and the officer of the day
were On deck with Heyerman.
What was the discrepancy" asked the
judge-adVOcate. between the point where
you really were and where you thought
you were when the ship struckY'
About six miles to southwark and four
miles to eastward of the point where sup
posed we were from our reck oniDg." There
WAS, according to Heyerman. an interval
of only two minutes at most between the
sighting of the white water and the sho ok
of striking on the reef. The commander
told how the Kearsarge was abandoned
after it was seen she was doomed. He
also described the manner in which Sea-
man Anderson Robbins lost his life while
trying to wade from the outer reef to the
main key.
Then Heyerman gave in detail the story
of the encsmpment on the key and the
boarding of the wreck to obtain proy-
siOns. and the unsuccessful search for the
night order-book.
He gave vivid description of camp
life and the Robinson Crusoe bill of fare
served during the stay on the key. The
arrival Of the City of Para and the en-
barkation of the crew were Interestingly
recounted by Heyerman. While describ-
Ing the exemplary conduct of the officers
and crew while lying at the wharf, as we'll
rs all through the trying days on the key,
Heyerman became yisibly affected at the
recollection of the mems apparent respect
and love for him. The recalling of this
devotion on the part OF the crew proved
too much for the bronZed commander, and
bis mouth twitched at the corners, and
big tears Telled up into his eyes. He
finally had to stop, owing to his emotion.
When he had recovered his composure.
HeyerTnan concluded his testimony with
the details of the return trip to New
York. The court then adjourned until to-
MORROW.