The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-29
THE WRECKED KEARSARGE.
THR COURT M<RTI<E DBETBBRlT-
re ON A VERDICT

Ths views Taxes ~ ,hs Fresee-u.e Oneer
| o. wktsh re Rssss Hts Expectation
| of Conviet,ns Commander Hsysr~sn.
The court martial OF Commander Oscar F,
Heyerman for the loss Of the corvette Kear-
sarge Feb 2 was resumed yesterday at the
Navy Yard in Brooklyn. Commander Crownin-
shield Identified his testimony OF the pre-
cedIng day. Lieutenant Commander Mark
| raid that Comm ander HeyermAn had not re-
ceived from the Navy Department the COPY
OF his CHeyermsn's) record. In accord
snce with his request. but that the
accused was willing to proceed. He then
read the defence and nnal statement prepared
by the accused oficer. II was in part ss fol-
lowe:
That should be accused OF having through
negligence suffered vessel Of the navy to run
upon reef and be stranded. was . complete
surprise to me. That I did not steer . course
that took me clear OF Roncador Reef is I'M
| doubtedly true. land equally acknowledge
that there was plenty OF sea room to the north
ward for me to do so had ny judgm emit die
| tsted that such would be the proper method Of
| navigating under the circumstances. But
that neglected or failed TO do so 10 not estab-
lished By one word Of testimony. II THAT IL
negligence. then must man be held negligent
for every act OF his life which IL not followed
by favorable results"
The Commander dissvowsd any desire TO
throw blame on any one else. as he was re-
sponsible for every course steered By the shin.
He gave an account Of the manner In which
the KearsarRe had been naviGated. and con-
ciuded with Q declaration OF his confidence
that. II the court should ind that he had erred.
{ would be in judgement only. and In q de-
gree. less than had been charged. He. how
ever. had still greater confidence that he would
be acquitted.
Judge Advocate Kelley then began reading
the Governments side Of the case He said
that from the beginning the prosecution IL
willing to concede that Com N ander Hsyermsn
did not neglect many Of the duties imposed
upon an officer Of the navy In command OF .
ship about to approach land or danger. nor
that any Of the testimony showed the desire
OF the prosecution to impute the claim that
Commander Heyerman carefully considered
the waters he had to traverse. The proof
Of his negligence rested in the fact that
when about fifty-lye miles north and east
eoarss s0. which lay close aa a'a dan,
Gerous reef. Furthermore that the neg
sspss Ss%%. HsSs IiSfnSs
/. %ss e hsss Sss the ;R: R s
dor might have been sighted In broad day
Ara ss sysv tS.s = ISs s
the ship to the position OF imminent danger
danger to be avoided. ne did noe before dark:
clear water to the north"
The closing statement was:
oution may read between = she lines sol Of tssti-
81 a rssi IN the
&C. to nayiestors- also to queer per-
sisteney which maintained course that Up to
safely around The north edge Of bsnk "sysn
miles In extent, and which. after 12:2O. was,
with equal al safety expected to esrIy vessel
position before safHnsss fell. aided and sSetsed
already threatening the disaster.
Finally; GROWING mishap with mishsp. the
dangerous shoal because the only assurances It
had yielded OF safety was that at sunset no
Alter this the court was cleared for delibera.
tion on a verdict. The proceeding Of the court
is:a SssfSssHa
taken up and the Junior ofncer 10 asked by the
f II. .
and 50 on until all have written theif opinions
On paper and passed them to the presiding Of
Next follows the question A. to whether tho
Gssfs. the sa The. aI Inc
sSsssss S. UP wasn all these
ishment for the offence and asking the officers |
In turn. always beginning with the junior, II
next heaviest punishment 10 taken. until a |
majority agree on one punishment This 10 |
the Navy Department with the sentence writ
The trial of Lieut. Lyman will no doubt be-
gin very soon, He reported yesterday to Gd-
m W.s ansyn5SL M.r,b os-s..,...rv u.,
failure Of. the Boston Towboat Company to
X. .ss oaof s s5pE .R the
sos 10n .a Sssi
ori lon sHyipE that he had saved some relies
opinion opinion that the name Of the wrecked ship
II think 4 would bs well 70 have the mex.
il authorizes smother ship that i should Be
adopted and probably ought TO be- adhered SY to.
thst battle ships should be named Tor ,th:
made By, an act Of Congress. and an authorize.
would 20 as Tar as anything else know 81 to
make reparation for the loss OF the historic old
The wrecking company will be amply remu-
pPerated 70, ,,, sending the Orion to koncador
Sr rc Undsr IN sssss ssss
10 to be paid By the Government whether the
DsTy failed iS IA 1ndsrtsEiag or not pro
raise the vessel The legal officials at the Navy
Department have no doubt that the company
secure this sum. '
BALTIMORE. March pa letter from the
Bluetields. Nicaragua. March 10. says the
schooner passed the wreck OF the United
states steamer Ksarsarge on Roncador Reef
on March u Tho war ship was high and dry.
There were five schooners around the reef, and
wreek-rs were stripping the shin The Rssr-
sarRes main and mizzen masts and smoke
stack were then still standing. The Moves
passed within three miles OF the wreck.