The evening world., 1894-02-09
FOUGHT SEAAND FIRE.
Kearsarge's Grew Had a Desperate
Struggle for Life.
Lieut.. Brainard's Full Story Of the
Old Ships Loss.
Sailors Left on an Islet to Await the
Coming Of Relief.

PANAMA. Feb. a-Lieut. Brainard's
full story OF tho wreck Of the old United
States steamship Kearsarge on Ron
cador Reef Feb. 9 Is n thrilling MARIA
tive of naval experience.
Lieut.. Brainard SAYS that at 6.45
o'clock on the evening OF Thursday,
FEB. 2. while the Kcarsarga was on her
way from Port au Prince, Hayti, to
Blewfelds, Nicaragua, the lookout rails
"a the cry OF breakers ahead" and
within a few minutes the vessel went
IN the reefs with great force.
She was proceeding under sail at the
line and had, comparatively speaking,
10 steam up. There was. a terrific sea
On and the ship heelcd to such nm
alarming extent that It was feared she
would capsize.
In order to ease her and to help her
back OF an even keel the great gun OF
Alabama fame was jettisoned. This
had no effect in the direction Of causing
the ship to stand up. The next move
To save the vessel from going clear over
On her beam-cnds was to cut away the
II asts, II being evident that II would
he impossible to furl the sails in season
70 relieve the enormous pressure Of the
%lrd that was bearing down on the
'anvas with such weight, that II was
a question OF only a few minutes before
the ship would capsise.
Cutting Away the Mnsts.
The men worked willingly and with all
the despatch possible under the circum-
stances. attacking the fore, main and
miazen rigging at the same time. All
the time the axes were being welded
heavy seas were breaking over the
decks, and 1t was with the greatest diff
Guilty that the men at work prevented
themselves from being washed over
board or dashed to death against the
masts or bulwarks.
50 nicely was tho chopp.ng timed that
the three masts went crashing by the
board at the same instant. and as soon
rs the rattle was cleared away the ship
In a measure rlghted, but only to be
dashed further up on the reefs, where
she pounded and ground herself in a
way to convince everybody on board that
the man who could live to tell the story
must leave the ship and that speedily.
But the man who would attempt to
leave the ship while such a terrific sea
was running would simply commit sui
eide.
The ship Afro.
When the Kearsarge went over after
striking the reef she went so far that
the banked fires in the furnaces were
thrown out, and, scattering In all direc-
tons, set fire to the ship, so that In ad-
dition to being exposed to the savage
waves, the merciless reef and the rip
ping wind. the vessel was in danger OF
being burned and blown up.
Urged by the desperation of the stu
alton. everybody on board that could be
spared from on deck. manfully attacked
the flames and, after n short. sharp
fight. succeeded in ex%tinguishing the
tblaze before IT reached the magazine.
After the fire was extinguished and the
masts were cut away, there was nothing
to do but to await an opportunity to get
ashore. At daylight the boats were low
cred and the short. but dangerous, trip
over. the reefs and through a PREACHER.
Gus surf was attempted. 1t was accom-.
plished with the greatest imaginable diff
ficulty, and after many narrow escapes
all hands eventually succeeded in reach,
ing shore In safety.
Provisions were thrown overheard be.
fore abandoning the ship, In the hope
that they would wash ashore to be
plucked from the surf, provided anybod.
got ashore alive.
AS soon as the officers and crew were
landed q camp was established on thu
islet OF Roncador. and enough food tc
last a month was picked up. but no frest
water was procurable.
Lient. Brainard volunteered to select g
crew and start for the island of Ole
Providence. ninety miles southwest of thu
scene OF the wreck. He left on the morn
ing OF the 4th inst, and reached Ole
Providence on the morning Of the 9Th
He Immediately sailed from Old Provi
dence on a schooner for Colon, 230 miles
south. He arrived at Colon last night.
Lieut.. Brainard reported that at tn,
time he left Roncador the kearsarge wa:
fast going to pieces. He reported tina
the Kearsarge's company could not reach
Old Providence, and that they were ii
need OF immediate assistance.