The morning call., 1894-02-13
ONE MAN LOST.
kearsarge Survivors
Rescued.
TAKEN OFF RONCADOR
A Fireman Drowned on
the Reef.
SAILORS BEHAVE NOBLY.
They Worked Cheerfully, AL
though Against Heavy Odds.
JOY WHEN THE PARA CAME.
SAILORS BEHAVE NOBLY.
They Worked Cheerfully, AL
though Against Heavy Odds.
JOY WHEN THE PARA CAME
Some of the Men Wept, While
Others Laughed and Shouted
Like School Boys.

NEW DIRK, E6D. 1Z.-In6 herald
Colon special says: Early this morning
the steamer City of Para, with the crew
of the late corvette Kearsarge on board.
came alongside her duck here and reported
all lives saved except one. From the Off
GERS and men l learned the following ad-
ditional particulars of the wreck:
Having left Port-au-Prlnce. Hayti, for
Bluefields. Nicaragua, on January 81, the
Kearsarge was proceeding under plain sail
and steam on the evening OF February 2,
when she struck, few minutes before Z
o'clock. on the outer reef of Ron cador Cay.
There was fresh northerly breeze, with
long. heavy following sea. Breakers
were sighted only three minutes before
striking. She took the bottom forward on
level plateau. with three fathoms of
water aft.
There was little or no excitement. The
officers were cool and collected and the
crew obedient and prompt in executing
orders. The sails were furled and every
thing was done to work the ship off the
reef, the engines backing hard and the
crew shifting from side to side to roll the
ship and assist her in getting clear.
Meantime the seas were breaking over
her poop and port rails and the ship was
straining heavily. Her deck and knees
were cracking and complaining loudly.
Still the vessel was making very little
water and the amount coming in was cas-
lily kept down by pumps.
Ii was pitch dark and the ship showed
no sign of backing off. The matches were
battened down fore and apt AS the ship
was straining and careeniug to port the
sea carried away the second cutter from
the davits. and then, TO tighten the vessel
the after pivot gun was hove overheard
and the foremast was cut away, bringing
the main tOpmaSt and maintop sail yard
with it as the maintopmast stay ran to
foremast head.
Thereafter the ship lay easier, but she
was working higher up on the reef at
every send of the sea. Finally the hull
was so twisted that the steam connections
gave way. The fires were then hauled and
rockets and signals were sent up at inter-
walls to attract assistance if any should he
within sight of the wreck.
The men continued cheerful and worked
at the pumps. singing and joking. The
carpenters gang were at work making
RATS out of spars, ladders and gratings,
AMI other members of the crew were en-
gagged in breaking out provisions and
water and getting the remaining boats
ready for use should it become necessary
to 60 ashore.
The prospects were not encouraging. as
there were two lines of submerged reefs
between the ship and the shore, and on
these reefs the waves broke heavily.
At daylight the gig was safely worked
over the reef into smooth water, with an
h0 ri mi
line was run from the starboard fore
chains to the anchor. The whaleback, sail
ing launch, dingy and the third cutter
were then hauled inside the breaker line
and the disembarking of the crew began
Men generally left the ship with nothing
on except their underclothing, so as to be
free to swim if necessary. All other CLOTH
ing and personal property were abandoned
and lost.
The marines were the first landed, to
establish guard on the island.
In disembarking the life-raft or cata-
maran was of inestimable value. All the
officers and men except the first two boats
crews were taken through the surf on the
catamaran. five or six at a time being en-
barked. The catamaran was loosely at
tached to the warping line by traveller
lines between the ship and smooth water.
While the crew were thus being con-
veyed beyond the dangerous breakers,
those on shipboard awaiting the turn
threw overheard water-casks and pro-
visions. buoyed by gratings and ladders.
and as these foated over the reefs they
were picked up by the boats in smooth
water and taken to the island, nearly
mile away.
1t was half-past 3 o'clock in the after
noon before the last load quilted the ship.
Commander Heyerman being the last man
TO leave.
The muster of the ships company
showed that every one on board aad been
brought off in safety, but unfortunately A.
Robbins. fireman, was drowned while
trying to wade from the reef to the shore
A camp was formed on the island, which
was low. with no shelter. It was about
third of mile long by quarter of a mile
in its widest part. A partial shelter was
improvised out OF drift wood and boat sails
ana all hands were put on short allowance
Of provisions. with one pint of drinking
water day. There was no fear of starv-
alton. for the island was roosting- place
for quantities of, sea fowl known as the
BOBBY, but great uneasiness was felt lest
the fresh water would give out before res
cue could arrive.
On the second day, after several attempts
| to find fresh water by digging in the sand.
| a sufficient supply of drinking water was
discovered. 1t was hard and unpalatable,
but IL was good enough TO sustain life.
BoOby soup was made and served to the
men to help out the short rations. and
nIf - ri q
| ing party was hauled out to the ships In
one boat and more provisions and more
| canvas were brought ashore.
| Immediately after getting all hands