The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-09
OLD KEARSARGE WRECKED
Famous Old American Warship
Los. or the Coast OF Gen.
tral America
Admiral Stanton and Grow OF
over 200 Saved From Wat
cry Graves.
MsaEer Details of the Disastsr-The KeAr,
sarge's Famous Victory over the Ala
bRma In 1864

WASHINGTON. Feb. s.-The navy depart
ment has a dispatch from Colon. sent by
Lieut.. Brsinerd. saying that the United
States wArship KearsarRe was wrecked on
Ronoardor reef. Fob. ?. The officers and
crew were saved. The KsarsarRe. by last
report. sailed from Hsyti for Blushelds
NieAfauRuA. TO look after American inter
osts in connection with the trouble between
Nicaragua and Honduras. IL is supposed
that the vessel 10 a total wreck. She was
one of the oldest vessels in the navy and
had a splendid history.
RoncArdor reef is about 900 miles from
the Mosquito coast Of Central America and
we'll known TO mariners rs = dangerous i'm
Dediment TO navigation, being surrounded
by swift and tresohe;ous tides II is not
known how Lieut.. Bfainerd reachsd Colon,
but IL Is presumed the shipwreckod crew
may have reached Old ProvIdencs island,
some ssvsnty-hVs miles to leewaTd OF the
reef. A eablegram was al once sent 20
Brainerd to charter a steamer and proceed
10 the relief OF the crow. Some time ago
officers OF the Nicaragua Canal company
were wrecked on the same reef.
Admiral stanton wss on the Kearsarge.
When the cruisers New York and Detroit
were sent TO Rio the Kearsarqs was made
the flagship OF the North Atlantic squad
ron, and Admiral stanton. after making
his peace with Secretary Herbert over the
incident OF salutinR the insurgent flag at
Rio, was ordered TO the command OF the
North Atlantie squadron, with the KeAr-
sarge ne his flagship.
II is conjectured that the kearsa -ge went
aground during the night on tho reef and
foundeTed. Lieut. Brainsrd seems TO have
got aboard a small boat and succeeded in
reaching Colon in six days. Relief can
reach the ship in less time than that.
The officers on board were Admiral O. +.
Stanton, Commanding Officer r. Hyerman
Lisuts. c. A. Ford. c. II. LYMAN and b.
4. WAlling. Chief Engineer h. G. Gowine
First Lieut.. OF Marines, q. l. A. EnRate.
lhs crew was eomT osed OF 200 sailors and
marines.
The wreck adds another TO the misfor-
tunes that have befallen Rear Admiral
Stanton. He was snmmariy ralisved from
command Of the South Atlantic station for
aalutinR hello, the inSurRent admiral. and
ordered to WAshinR RtOn. His explanation
Of this action caused Secretary Herbert 90
detaeh him from command OF tbs South
Atlantic squadron by placing him in COM
mani of the home station. he sailed from
new loIA jan. ~ anu lOluol tlo hearaarQe
az Port hu Prince the latter part OF tbs
month. As soon as the ships com pany has
been transported TO place OF safety ami
the fate Of the keGTsarge is definitely
known. q court of inquiry will be Apo ntsd
to investigate the circumstances and FL the
responsibility. Officials say the ships com
pany iA In no danger. They will be able to
get along all right until the arrival Of re-
lief
The navigation OF naval vessel rests en-
tifsly With the commander and hiG assist-
ants, and the admiral never inteFferes 20
the matter. He directs the general move
ments of the flagship, but leaves the details
OF routes and the manRRemAnt of the ship
entirely to the commanding officer There
fore 10 would appear that Commander Hey
erman will be held responsible for the loss
of the vessel. and on him will dsvolvs the
task OF showing that the accident was IN
avoidabe. lie will look 10 the officers on
deck at the time of tue wreck fos a com
plete explanation OF the oircumstancss
Exactly who was at fault will not be known
here until further details have been re-
ceiVtd.