The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-19
Might They Have Saved the Kearsarge 2

Might They have saved the hearsargeE
The discovery and purchase by Mr.. LLOYD
PH9SIx OF the bell and log book OF the
Kearsargs. and part of the tablet telling of
her victory over the Alabama. has awak-
ened fresh regret for the loss Of that vessel.
so dear to the American people. 1t also
suggests the inquiry whether she might not
have been saved. even after her wreck. by
judicious. energetic. and seasonable action.
II the Cayman Islanders could secure such
articles OF value as Mr.. PHOENIX, while voy-
aging In his yacht. found In their posses
sion. and II. as 1t further appears. vessel
after vessel. from port after port. for days
In succession. visited the stranded craft
without difficulty and plucked and plum
dered her at will. was 1t not also possible to
guard and save her from these despoilers
until rescue for her should Gomez
In the account given Of the visit OF the
wrecking tug Orion. recently sent in Govern
ment employ TO Roncador Reef. perhaps the
most suggestive statement Is this: Had
she remained In the condition In which they
left her. there Is no doubt as to the possibility
OF having raised her. as there were no signs
Of the ships breaking up" The reference
here is to the story told by wrecker who
had visited the Kearsarge early In March.
and found her all right. whereas on sub
sequent trip for plumber. on March II. he
saw that she was burned to the waters edge
by those who were after the copper bolts
and other spoils: and the sea was covered
with pieces of burned timber" In other
words. except for the fire. she might have
been saved by the Orion.
II this view Is correct. 1t supports the ac-
ton OF Congress In trying. even tardily. to
save her: it vindicates also Secretary HER
BERT In his earnest and most praiseworthy
attempt to save her; 1t justifies the official
opinion OF Admiral STANTON. which will
always stand to his credit. that she could
be saved. since she was high up on the reef.
and resting easily. and likely TO hold to-
gether for three or four months; finally. II
reflects upon some despairing opinions
which declared that there was little use in
attempting to do anything to save her.
The question. therefore. arises. whether
il would have been possible to prevent
wreckers from burning the Kearsarge TO the
waters edge2 Suppose that when the
steamer came to take her crew from their
camp on the cay. volunteers had been
called for to stay by her little longer.
Suppose that. supplied with any comforts
brought by that steamer, a force. under
an Ofleer, had been left temporarily In
charge OF the ship. Suppose Mr.. HERBERT
had then received the CHEEKY message by
telegraph that a guard was watching her.
that she probably would not break up
for three or four months. and that II he
thought 1t advisable to send down q wreck
ing tug at once. and meanwhile would by
telegraph authorize the ehartering Of a
small steamer or tug for the use Of the
guard. he might rest assured that no
wrecksr's hand should injure her. What
would have been the result
The experts must be left to answer that
question; yet from what is known OF Sec
rotary HERBKRT's eagerness to save the
ship. the readiness Of Congress 10 aid him.
and the onieiAl opinion Of Admiral SrAKToz
that she could be saved. It seems clear that
the attempt tardily begun weeks lAteT. alter