The herald., 1894-02-09
WRECK OF THE KEARSARGE.
The Historic Old Battle Ship
Meets Her Fate.
She Goes Ashore on a Central
American Reef.
Admiral Stanton's Flagship in Davy
Jones' Locker.
The vessol Total Loss, but All of the
Grew and Officers Saved-Particu-
lars of tho Disaster Not
Yet Obtainable.
By the Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, req. 0.-lno navy de-
partment received a dispatch today from
Colon. sent by Lieutenant Brainard, OF
the United States steamer Kearsarge,
saying that vessel was wrecked on
Roncador reef February 2nd. The
officers and crew were eaved. The
Kearsarge, by last report, sailed from
Hayti for Bluefelds, Nicaragua. to look
after the American interests in connec-
tion with the trouble between Nicaragua
and Honduras. 1t is supposed the ves-
sel 10 total wreck. The vessel was one
oil tbe oldest in the navy and had q
splendid history.
Roncador reef is about 200 miles from
the Mosquito coast, Central America,
and is we'll known to mariners as q
dangerous impediment to navigation.
1t is surrounded by swift and dangerous
tides. 1t is not known how Brainard
reached Colon, but it is supposed the
ship-wrecked crew has reached Old
Providence island, about rs miles to lee
ward of the reef.
A cablegram was at once sent to
Brainard to charter steamer and pro-
ceed to the relief of the crew.
Some time ago the officers OF the Mica
ragua Canal company were wrecked on
the same reef.
Admiral Stanton was on the Kearsarge.
When the steamers New York and De-
troit were sent to Rio, the Kearsarge
was made the flagship of the North
Atlanticsquadron and Admiral Stanton
after making his peace with Secretary
Herbert over the incident of Baluting the
insurgent flag at Rio, was ordered to the
command of the North Atlantic station
with the Kearsarge as his flagship.
1t is conjectured that the hesrsargt
went aground on the reef at night HnC
foundered. Lieutenant Bfainard seeml
to have got aboard a email boat and cue
ceeded in getting to Colon in six days
Relief can reach the ship in less tim,
than that. s4
4 The officers on board were Admira
o. F. Stanton, Commanding Officer F
Heyerman, Lieutenants @. A. Ford, G
II. Lyman, E. T. Walling, Junior Lieu
tenants John Hood, F. B. Brainard, En-
signs H G. Gates, Thomas McGruder
Naval Cadets l., S. Thompson, T. L
Stitt, T. S. Borden, j. B. Mccormick, D
A. Mallon. Walter Ball, Past Surgeon
G. B. Lnmsden, Assistant Surgeon NJ
w. Barnum, Paymsster j. A. Ring
Chief Engineer B. @. 6owing, Firs
Lieutenant OF Marines @. l.. A. Ingate
The crew was composed of 200 salor
and marines.
The wreck adds another to the mis-
fortunes which have befallen ReRr-Ad
miral Stanton. He WAS summarily re
lieved from command OF the South Al
lantic station for salnting Mello, th
insurgent admiral, and ordered to Wash
ington. His explanation OF his actio
caused Secretary Herbert to detach HIN
from the command OF the South Allan
tic squadron, by placing him in com
mand OF the home station. He saile
from New York, January 10Th, an
joined the Kearsarge at Port-au-Princ
the latter part of the month.
AS soon as the ships company ha
been transported to place OF safety an
the fate of the Kearsarge is de6nitel
known, court of inquiry will be ap
pointed to investigate the circumstances
and fix the responsibility. The official
say the ships company is in no danger
They will be able to get along all righ
until the arrival of relief.
The navigation OF naval vessels rest
entirely with the commander and hi
aseistants, and the admiral never intel
feres in the matter. He directs th
general movement OF the flagship, bu
leaves the details of routes and mar
sgement of the ship entirely to th
commanding off Ger. Therefore it woui
appear that Commander Heyerman wi
. be held responsible for the loss of th
vessel, and on him will deyolve the tas
of showing that the accident was uni
voidable. He will look to the officer
deck at the time OF the wreck for con
plete explanation of the circumstance
Exactly who was at fault will not b
known here until fuller details hay
been received.
Commander Heyerman was placed
command OF the Kearsarge abodt thrt
months ago. She made short cruisl
between home ports to blow up der
licts and assiet at the trial OF sever
new war ships. Several weeks ago tt
Kearsarge sailed for San Domingo, " he
a revolution had started. The troub
was soon over, without necessity for il
reference on the part of the Kearsarg
She then cruised around the islands
the vicinity, when joined at Port-a
Prince by Admiral Stanton.
The City of Para, it is expected, wi
get away promptly to the relief of tl
Kearsarge's crew. 1t seems to be O.
pected that alter she takes them 81
will proceed at once to New York, al
will not put into the nearest port al
send word of the condition of Il
wrecked crew. This would defer Il
reception of further news until the 8
rival oil the City of Para at New York.
THE Kearsarge will always occupy
conspicuous place in American nav
history, from the fact that she was Il
vessel that sunk the confederate rs
Alabama in the English channel ne
the close of the war of the rebellion, a
upon which incident Great Brits
based her famous Alabama claims. FL
HOW THE WRECK OCCURRED.
rhe Grew of tho Kearsarge In q Per
Situation.