The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-27
TONYESTIGATE THE WRECK.
TEE KE1RszRsE CoURr or IN0UIRX
MEETs ar THR NAHH IARD.

The court Of inquiry ordered by the sscrs-
tary Of the Navy 10 investigate the Rroundink
and loss on Feb 2. on Roneador Reef. Of NE
United States steamship KearsarRe convened
yesterday at the Navy YARD. The proceedings
were conducted in the eotrt martial room Of
building No. z. The members Of the court are;
Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi. President;
Lieutenant Commander J. d. Jerrold Kelley.
Judge Advocate; Capt Joseph N. Miller Of the
receiving ship Vermont, and Capt Theodore
4. Kane. Equipment ofiicer OF the yard. Will
liam J. Woods and John W. Crawford Of wash
inRton were detailed as official stenoeraphers
The officers Of the court were In full dress
uniform. with swords clanking at their heels.
The dark blue coats gilt buttons and braid
were quite In harmony with the large flags Of
all nations with which the walls Of the room
were draped.
Precisely at noon Admiral Gherardi entered
and took his seat at the long table. which was
Uttered with charts. blue books Of regulations.
and omlnous looking Official documents. The
Judge Advocate sat opposite him. with Can't.
Miller to the right and Capt Kane to the left.
As soon as all was quiet Admiral Ghersrdi
nodded to Commander Kelley and said;
Clear the court"
Then the orderly opened the door and the
reporters fled out Half an hour later the
door was thrown open and the Judge Advo-
cate announced Il was the decree Of the court
that the proceedings should continue with
open doors. In other words. be public. The
precept signed By Acting Secretary oil the
Navy William MoAdoo. under which the
court convened was read. Il ordered that
= thorough and diieent inquiry be made
to determine whether the loss OF the Kear-
sarge was due to neglect and that q succinct
statement be rendered Of those to be blamed.
II such blame be found. A letter from Assist
ant Secretary McAdoo to Admiral Ghsrardi
was read. II was to the effect that Commander
Oscar +. Heyerman and Lieut. Charles II.
Lyman. navigator. both Of the KearsarRe, had
been informed Of their right to be present at
the Investigation. to cross-examine witnesses
and to give evidence II they desired to do go.
Commander Hsyerman was not then present.
so an orderly was despatched to the Vermont
for him. This occasioned recess OF about
ten minutes. during which time Rear Admiral
Oscar F. Stanton came In and was heartily
greeted by his fellow officers. When Com
mander Hsysr arrived he sat beside Ad-
pniral Stanton. Commander Kelley then asked
Commander Hsyerman and Lieut. Lyman:
Do you desire to appear voluntarily before
this court"
Each officer answered quickly In the afirma-
tive.
do you desire to be represented by coun-
selT
without counsel" was the reply.
do you desire to challenge any member OF
this court Of inquiry"
The two officers smiled and each said.
II do not, cir"
ministered to Admiral Gherardii CAPT Miller
and Cant. Kane by the Judge Advocate. who
stenographers' turn came next and then
Commander Kelley arose and said:
On the motion sE of the presiding oiieee 70.
O'clock on board the receiving ship vermont
not many AND asHs
officers. took place. The converting Of the
sccordSacs With the regulations reg soSerDins al
investl legations CONCERNING the grounding or
Gases s: sa9Gl sS ns g
found are to ss ;s sh report Of sheis
The sgEylVpfs q the ismeu. IS old cor sSS.,st.s
deck oft6s Vermont. The oiiicers stood In q
little group aft on the starboard side. while
line. four or ivs men deep. on the. port side:
Bot Both officers and men bore re, evidences Of
ths 1puss %ss
white. whore salt water had dried under
and caps was Of a greenish tinge., Several Of
the officers were in citizens clothes, and
ried visits to ciothiers. because very little was
saved when the kearsargc struck the bar. Tho
siOns Of vel" SS,hins with dress eaps Snd knit
caps. blue trousers and canvas ones. peacoAts
The ofiicsrs Of the. court stood together
contrasting. strongly with the weather beaten
Sase sSok both The sSss sHT
occasionally and looked az u they did not
wn two palms swsyed sThty
as the yermon moved at her moorings.
Out on the Cob dock sailor struck tiye bells
assembled to perform some funeral rite over
Are, all who can be OF the survivors Of the
JIdSs Rssy stsppsd 10 III. from.
and read Commander Heysrman's report Of
the wreck and It's endorsement by Admiral
printed In THE Sun on Feb. 81 Every one
listened very atfentively. and at Its close Ad:
niral Gherardi addressed the silent line OF
Now Isd: am an, about a, to swear ~ you not
and Sn e.ptas SSestions will be- put 70 yoS 9oa
have all heard read the rsPOr. Of your
mind the solemnlty OF the oath that you, are
certain questions put to you which It is your
duty. both officers and men. to answer. no
matter how painful 1t may be TO any of you. /
shan give you few minutes to think over exc
sSssssusstIy e this YOU have got to swear to
Then followed. for the first time, the hum Of
general conversation. This lasted six or eight
minutes, Then the Admiral turned again.
"Gentlemen," he said. slowly and distinctly,
and crew, please raise your right hands"
Two hundred and three hands went up as one.
Having heard read the report Of your com
mAnding officer and the endorsement thereon
by the Command er-i Chief. you do solsnnly
sweaf that the evidence you shall give In the
case now before this court she'll be the truth.
the whole TRUTH and nothing but the truth.
and that you will state everything within your
knowledge In relation to the inquiry SO help
Assent was plain on every face. and Admiral
Gherardi nodded approyinRly as the arms
came down. He faced about and addressed
Commander Heyerman. holding out the lat
ter's report;
Is the narrative Just read to the court .
true statement OF the grounding and wreck OF
the United states late ship the KeArsArRer
IL is" replied the Commander
Have you any complaint 70 make against
any Of the surviving offiesrs and crew OF the