The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-22
EEARSARGE MEN HOME
Landed in New York in a Destitute
Condition.
NO HOPE FOR THE OLD wARsHlP.

Braihard Expresses tho Opin-
ion That what Could be Saved of the
Vessel Would Not Pay for the Coal Con-
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 sorry
condition, 40 far ~ personal effects are
concerned. On the steamer half of
them were without overcoats, and they
shivercd 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. 9, at about
O'Clock. The wind was blowing fresh
trade from the northeast, and the sea was
very rough. Commander IIeyerman end |
were standing on the poop when the ves-
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 10 the windward.
were not audible to us. We were proceed
ing under full steam and sail, and were
making eight miles an hour when the ship
struck. The steamer struck easily, al | it
was at first supposed that we would get
of without difficulty. But ii soon became
evident that it was all up with the ship,
although she did not leak for several hours,
I'VE all stayed on board, however, dur
ing the night, preparing RATS, cutting
away masts aud sail, and making other
preparations for departure. No one was
hurt seriously, only two men being
bruised. At break of day we launched
our catomaran aud began transferring the
crew to the Kay The launc hing was eff
fected in n heavy surf with difficulty, and
only eight men could be taken at time
A rope from the steamer to the Kay
guided the catamaIan. 1T was not until 2
o'clock that the last of us left the steamer
Commander Heyerman was the last TO go
on the Kay which, by they way, is ,2OOx
800 feet in area. We put up tents from
old awning that we took along, and dug n
well, for we could take only go gallons of
water with us. We lived in the best way
we could. The men caught fish and birds,
and we had plenty of flour and pickles
from the steamer.
1.-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
seumen and Naval Cadet Slit 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 small schooner, how
ever, at Old Providence.
"'rhe Para came to us on Sunday, Feb.
10, at $50 o'clock in the morning, and we
were relieved to see her"
Commander Heyerman's story vas 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.
there so fast that not even all the engines
on the steamship New York could have got
us off. She keeled first to the starboard
and then swung to where she lies now.
She did not strike hard There is no chance
of saving the ship--none whatever. What
can be saved of her would not pay for the
coal any wreckiug company would expend
in the effort
None of the oIIicpra ,ynnll CIV who Woo
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, 1t was said. II was said
by the sailors, however, that Commander
Heyerman was in charge at the time, and
thnt Lieutenant Brainard was the first of
ficer on deck. No one was on the bridge
at the time, the sailors said
II is understood that the officers of the
lost steamer wiz be given leave of alb
scncc and that the seamen will be quar-
tered on the Vermont As soon as they
landed they were all transferred to the
navy yard the navy yard tug Markeeta
and another tug being used to transport
them to Brooklyn,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22-Acting Secretary
McAdoo has appointed a court of inquiry
to examine into and report upon the facts
connected with the wreck of the kear-
sarge. The court will consist Of Admiral
Gherardi in command of the New York
navy yard Captain Miller, attached TO the
same yard, and Captain Kane, inspector of
foreign vessels. Lieutenant Commander
Joseph Kelly will act as recorder The
board will begin its work Monday noon,
al the New York navy yard.