The Portland daily press., 1894-02-10
THE LOSS OF THE KEARsAReE.
A Night of Hardship for the Crew of the
Warship.

New York, February GA special
cable to the Herald from Colon gives the
following particulars of the wrecking of
the warship Kearsarge. The Kearsarge
was using both sail and steam at the
time she was wrecked and was going ten
knots. A heavy sea was running and as
the character of the rocks in these waters
was well known to the Kearsarge
officers it was evident that safety lay
in forcing her as far upon the reef as
possible before she began to break up.
Accordingly she was at once lightened
by heaving her guns overheard. One of
the first to go was her splendid old 11-inch
after pivot gun that did such terrible ex-
ecution on the Alabama in their fight in
1862. Next the masts were cut away,
not only to Tighten her but to provide
material for constructing RATS.
1t would have been madness to make a
landing in such sea in the intense dark
ness of tropical night and therefore
there was nothing to be done but to wait
until morning. A terrible night was
passed, the waves pounding heavily over
the stern and weather side as the vessel
swung more and more broadside. On
Saturday morning, February 5, a sailor
went ashore and all hands were finally
landed safe and sound. Owing to the
decks and filled her, only little fresh
water and small quantity of provisions
could be saved.
The boats were got ashore and were
but slightly injured. AS there is almost
no water on the reef and about 200 men
were camped there with trifiing sup
ply, one Of the boats was Immediately
r,I1f n order fn cro tn Old prOUid for
relief.
Lieutenant F. r. Bralnard and Naval
Cadet T.L.Stitt with picked crew of
volunteers left. On reaching Old Proyi-
dence and finding nothing capable of
taking off the shipwrecked crew, they
came on to colon for help. When they
left Roncador the Kearsarge was break
ing up fast.
Washington, February :9-The Navy
Department has received cable message
from Lieutenant Brainard, of the Kear-
sarge, saying that he left Colon this
morning on the City of Para for the
relief of the castaways ON Roncador
reef, and that the City of Para will re-
turn to Colon when she takes
Admiral Stanton and his ships COM
pany will be brought back to New York
on the Para and reassigned to service.
Messages OF inquiry from anxious rela-
tions and friends are pouring into the
bureau of navigation, but no news can
be given them other than that contained
in the press dispatches. There need be
no anxiety, however, for the safety OF
the men on the reef as they will probably
be rescued tomorrow if not today.
New York, February ga court of
inquiry to determine the responsibility
for the loss of the Kaarsarge surely will
be held The three officers who are like
ly to be asked for explanations are the
commanding officer, the navigator and
the officer who was in charge of the
deck at the time the vessel stranded.
Lieut.. Charles H. Lyman was navigator
of the vessel, Int it is not known
whether he was act ng in that capacity
at the time
AS Admiral Stanton had nothing to
90 with navigating the ship, the respon-
sibillty for her stranding will not de-
vo1ve upon him. He recently joined the
old ship at Port au Prince and hosted
his flag on her.
In the last week in January informa-
ton was received at the State Depart
ment at Honduras was invading Nicara-
qua, ana, after IL consultation between
Hecretarles Gresham and Herbert, 1t was
declded to send the Kearsarge ana
Aomlral Stanton to Bluefelds to protect
the Nicaragua canal interests there.