The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-02-22
KEARSARGE MEN HOME
Landed in New York in a Destitute
Condition.
NO HOPE FOR THE OLD wARsHIP.

Brainard Expresses the Opin-
ion THAT what Could be Saved of the
vessel Would Not Pay for the Coal Com
sumed in the Effort.
NEW YORK, Feb. 22.--The City of Para
arrived from Colon, bringing the officers
and crew of the United States steamer
Kearsarge. which on Feb. was wrecked
on Roncador reef in the Caribbean sea.
The steamer on her arrival at her pier at
the foot of Canal street was welcomed by
crowd of several hundred persons eager
to see the Kearsarge men. The officers and
crew of 203 men were all on board with the
exception of Anderson Robbins, colored, a
fireman, who was drowned while swim
ming in one of the numerous treacherous
pools of the reef.
All were glad TO return home, from the
admiral down. They are all in a sorry |
condition, so far as personal effects are |
concerned. On the steamer one-half of |
them were without overcoats, and they !
shivered in the cold. They have lost every |
thing except what they had on their backs. |
Admiral Stanton, when asked described |
the wreck in these words 1--WE went
ashore on the evening of Feb 2, at about ,
o'clock. The wind was blowing fresh
trade from the northeast, and the sea was
very rough. Commander Heyerman and |
were standing on the poop when the YES
sci grounded We knew only that we
were somewhere near the reef. Some of
us were sure we had passed it, At any
rate we were in the dark, not mentally but
physically 1t was impossible TO see the
breakers and they, being to the windward,
were not audible to us Wewere proceed
ing under full steam and sail, and were
making eight miles an hour when the ship
struck The steamer struck easily, and it
was at first supposed that we would get
off without difficulty. But it soon became
evident that it was all up with the ship,
although she did not leak for several hours
eve all stayed on board, however, dur
ing the night, preparing RATS, cutting
away masts and sail, and making other
| preparations for departure, No one was
hurt seriously, only two men being
bruised. At break of day we launched
our catamaran and began transferring the
crew to the Kay The launc hing was eff
fected in "A heavy surf with difficulty, and
only eight men could be taken at time.
| A rope from the steamer to the Kay
| guided the catamaran. 1t was not until 2
| o'clock that the last of us left the steamer.
| Commander Heyerman was the last to go
!
800 feet iu area. We put up tents from
old awning that we took along, and dug a
well, for we could take only POO gallons of
water with us We lived in the best way
we could The men caught fish and birds,
and we had plenty of -four and pickles
from the steamer
"The day we landed at the Kay the
sailing launch of the steamer was fitted
out to go to Old Providence to give news
of our plight Lieutenant Brainard was
put in charge He had with him eight
seamen and Naval Cadet Stitt. Old Provi-
dence is eighty miles away, and it was in
tended that Lieutenant Brainard should
proceed from thence still on the launch to
Colon. He took a small schooner, how
ever, at Old Providence.
"The Para came to us on Sunday, Feb.
10, at $3.50 o'clock in the morning, and we
were relieved to see her"
Commander Heyerman's story was prac-
tically the same as that of Admiral Stan.
ton
Lieutenant Brainard said the wind and
the current were responsible in the main
for the loss of the ship.
1--WE slid up on the reef and were held
there so fast that not even all the engines
on the steamship New York could have got
/
and then swung to where she lies now
he did not strike hard. There is no chance
of saving the ship-none whatever. What
can he saved of her would not pay for the
coal any wrecking company would expend
III the effort"
None of the officers would say who was
in command of the ship at the time she
went ashore and who was first officer OF
the deck The court of inquiry will have
to determine that, it was said 1t was SAID
by the sailors, however, that Commands
Heyerman was in charge at the time, anC
that Lieutenant Brainard was the first Of
ficer on deck No one was on the brdg,
at the time, the sailors said.
1t is understood that the officers of tn,
lost steamer will be given leave of alb
sence, and that the seamen will be quar-
tered on the Vermont As soon a. they
landed they We're all transferred to tn,
navy yard, the navy yard tug Markets.
and another tug being used to trauspor
them to Brooklyn
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Acting Secretary
McAdoo has appointed a court Of inquiry
to examine into and report upon the fact.
connected with the wreck of the Kear
sarge The court will consist Of Admira
Gherardi, in command d of the New Yorl
navy yard; Captain Miller, attached to tbs
same yard, and Captain Kane, inspector o.
4 foreign vessels. Lieutenant Commander
Joseph Kelly will act as recorder Tn,
board will begin its work Monday noon
at the New York navy yard.