Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-13
EXPERIENCES ON RONCAD0R.
The kearsarge Castaways Suffered
Most From Intense Heat.

A special cable dispatch to the New York
World from Colon. Panama, dated yester-
day, says: The steamship City Of Para,
which left Colon en- Friday for Roncador
reef to attempt the rescue OF the crew OF
the United States corvette Kearsarge, re-
turned to Colon last night shortly before
u O'Clock. She had on board all the ofiicers
and crew of the Kearsarge, except one
Second-class Fireman Anderson Robbins.
colored. who was drowned. The men saved
by the Para are healthy.
1t was noon on Saturday when the Para
reached Roncador cay. The0ea was calm
when the relief ship arrivest the cay.
where the survivors OF the wrec3 were hud-
died on the small spur OF coral at the north
end of the reef. The castaways sent up Q
hearty cheer a salute to the rescuers and
the gun Of the Para banged in reply, while
the crew and Lieut. Brainard yelled them
selves hoarse.
Favored by the weather and the smooth
water. the work OF taking on board the
gallant tars proceeded rapidly and without
difficulty or mishap. The Para had only
four boats. but several OF the boats from
the Kearsarge were available in a calm
sea, and they We're utilized in getting the
1l3 men from the cay TO the relief ship At
the time that Lieut. Brainard sailed from
the Roncador for Old Providence Island.
seventy-iive miles southwest. the small
boats OF the kearsarge were In q half-dam-
aged condition, but while waiting for aid
the castaways devoted a great deal OF their
time to patching them.
How They Lived on the Reef.
The Kearsarges people did not suffer -
much during their stay on the cay as Il was
feared they might They had an abundance
OF provisions. which they had saved from
the wreck. and they got little fresh water
from the corvette. BY digging in the sand
brackish water suitable for culinary pur-
poses was secured.
The greatest suffering experienced by the
castaways was caused by the intense heat,
which blistered the unforturates, accus-
toned as they had been to exposure. The
sun beat down upon them like a tripham-
mer.
Two old huts were found on the cay. ana
boards and wreckage were used TO provide
partial shelter, but IL was impossible for
all the men to get under cover at one time.
The company was divided into watches and
turns Were taken In hiding from the scorch-
ing rays.
So intolerahle became the situation that
the desperate expedient of attempting to
reach Old Providence Island In the boats
OF the kearsarge was determined upon the
day on which the relief ship was sighted.
II is probable. though, had such a trip been
undertaken that many lives would have
been lost because II would have been i'm
Providence on account OF the treacherous
currents.
After taking on board the Officers ana
crew OF the kearsarge found on Roncador
cay the City Of Para steamed to Old Provf-
dence TO pick up Lieut.. Brainard's boats
crew. The strong currents running thers
rendered the task a most difficult one. and
so much time was consumed in getting the
handful Of men of the island that IL was
feared in Colon that the City Of Para mieht
have been lost. Then IT was that arrange,
| ments were made TO At out a second relisk
ship to go In search Of the first
Away Out Of Reckoning.
Nothing but an official inquiry will solve
the mystery of the presence of the Kear-
sarge in such dangerous proximity to Rom
cador reef that her loss resulted. The only
statement that can be gotten from any OF
the kearsarge people is the general one that
the ship was away out OF her reckoning;
that the wreck was brought about by .
gross error in calculating the force and
direction OF the terrific currents.
The sea was running appallingly high ana
the night was dark at the time the shin
struck. but the surprising statement Is now
made that the weather was not bad. The
wreck OF the kearsarge Is total, but the
hulk will not go to pieces entirely for a long
time, unless broken up by a hurricane. II
Is said. though. that nothing can be saved
from the hulk on account OF the impossibili-
ty to approach IL, surrounded Il Is By
rugged rocks and sharp coral strands.
The Kearsarge struck the reef on the
northeast side. more than a mile south OF
the ledge of coral called Roncador cay the
spot upon which the castaways were perch
ed for over a week. The ship went clear ia
amid the coral columns. which stand out Of
the water like colonnades.
The Kearsarge's company saved nothing
but the clothing they wore at the time OF
abandoning the wreck. The British consul
at Colon told Lieut.. Brainard that he would
send a man-of-war from Jamaica to rescue
the American sailors. but the lieutenant de-
clined the offer, he being fully confident al
that time that the City OF Para would start
in good season.