New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-24
TO SAVE THE hEA RSA hGE.
AN ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO GET
HER OFF THE REEF.

SECRETARY HERBERT TO ASK CONGRESS FOR
AN APPROPRIATION TO SAVE THE
WRECK WILL BE ASKED FoR-AD-
MRAL STATIONS REPORT OF
THE SHIPS CONDITION.
Wasblng,on Feb 23-An attempt will be made
II save tho old warshp Kearsarge' ana the i'rS'
steps were taken to-day when Secretary Her
b.r, addressed letters to the Senate and House
asking for authority and an appropriation 10
contract with some wrecking company for saving
the wreck 81 the historic vessel now lying on
Roncador Reef
To a United Press reporter Secretary HERBERT
said he could not make any definite estimate as
f. the cost for the work of taking the snip from
her present position. hut he believed that F-oO'o
would be sufficient for the purpose. TehulhS
action ON his request Of Congress. Mr.. Herbert
will receive bids tor saving the wreck III order
that an estimate Of the appropriation required
may be made and it is probable that there will
be some sharp competition owing to tho valuable
advertisement which the work Of raising the snip
will afford to the successful bidder.
The decision Of the Secretary to attempt the
preservation Of the Kcarsarge was based on re-
port submitted to the Secretary to-day by Rear
Admiral Stanton. The report is as follows:
Washington. February %, 1874.
Cir. In obedience to Your verbal order Of this
datr | have, The honor to report that at the tme
Of the last trim To the Kearsarg" to Roncalor ne!
made nv Ensign Gates Paymastcr Ring ana part OF
a boats crcN who hauled themselves through. the
breakers on the catamaran by the ha"ser whlch
had been left from the inner re"I 10 the p"WS 1i
tho ship they found the holds and berth deck iu,I
Of water TO within fifteen hes OF the spar dc,k
beams the port side Inc snip pelnS Icel'' ~ ~
nor about T. d arces left the starboarl sid" OF inc
berth deck partly free Of water. This visit was
Tho ship lies with her bows in about nine rect or
wafer and her stern in about thirteen fc"t. ~ thc
time of striking the reef she was drawing ap,
nvi,natolv thirteen ana a half feet forward and
fifteen feet aft Two three Of tn" butts fOrWari
ON the port side appeared To De started. ana am
OF the Union that tho port bilg" under inc pollSS
IL partially crushed in. from the fact tnat inc
boilers had been displaced ana tnat thc WateI
seemed to come In more readily in that part OF the
shin Tho masts. spars. sails, guns and equipments.
while not Of IA" modern type. were NOT ttosc ti"I
originally belonged the ship In the historic PERIOD
70 TN. aims hull was extensively repaired at Mare
Island Navy Yard in lS72-73 The keel stem. stern
post dcadwood and about onc-quartrr oi IN. lIaine
irb.rs of In. ship are believed b. the chief or the
Inreau Of CONSTRUCTION and Repair To belong 70
Tho ORIGINAL ship. As the frames were dlagonaliy
braccd and strapped with iron. she VIII not IN my
ouinion break up during thu next four months. ana
think q w.ll-cqulppci wreck company couii,
hv working at favorable times. move the snip To inc
lee side OF the reef. keeping their po~ciiul pumps
,.oirc 10 keep her anoat during the change or
position Her bottom could then be- patched by
riyrts and believe she could bee lowed by way Of
the west end Of cuba to Key West, aui . fhrie 70
' Rear Admiral. L. ). y.
Rear Admiral Stanton left Washington for
New-York tonight.