The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-02-28
SHE WILL Be RAISED
The Old KsaTSlrs, |; 10 RlOl! 0nCa
Again.
IN THE COURT OF INQUIRY
investlg atlons of the Court Martial
Into the Conduct of Conn
mandar Heyerman and
Ills Crew.
! THE COURT OF INQUIRY

4 'H<shANoNoNN W itp. hc vi
the Rearsarse will be raised from Rom
cador reef If the house committee on
naval affairs has its way. To-day tile
committee voted 10 report favorably on
the bill of Blair OF New Hampshire, but
was more generous than Blair proposed.
While his bill would appropriate $4,000,
| the committee dacided TO raise the sum
| 10 Sl5,o 900 with proviso tina; the wrecking
company shall receive not more than s10,.
| COO II the attempt is 4 failure. Several
proposals for raising the Kearsarge have
been made and wreclSng companies have
represented that the attempt would be
| perfectly feasible one.
McEttrick of Massachusetts introduced
| bill to incorporate tho organization
| formed by veterans who served on the
| Kearslrge during the war. II is called the
| kearsarge Association of Naval Veterans.
The survivors intend to collect mementoes
| of the old vessel and when the organiza-
tion comes to an end they will be given 10
the Smithsonian Institute.
Secretary Herbert to-day sent Cum
mings, Of the house committee on naval
affairs, letter endorsing the project Of
rescuing the Kearsaxge. The secretary
taken at once. The naval committee
therefore sou1nt 10 secure immediate con-
sideration TO- bill framed according to
tue secretary's suggestions. Bland de-
mandcd that the silver debate proceed,
adding that the Kearsarge rescue and
oiaer projects would have to wait until the
| silver bill is disposed of.
/ New YORK. Feb. 27.-The court of in
quiry, ordered TO investigate the wreck OF
| the kearsarge, reconvened in the court
martial room OF the Brooklyn navy yard
to-day. There was one extraordinary
scene to mark the days proceedings.
Captain Heycrman broke down while tell
ing the story of the wreck, and the court
room was cleared until lie could control
his emotions. The first witness was Rear
| Admiral Stanton, who told in detail the
story OF the kearsarge's voyage from the
time she sailed from Port au Prince until
she struck ON Roncador reef. Then Cap
| tain Heyerman was called. After stating,
in reply TO The judge advocate, that the re-
.iorts printed in the public press were SUBJ
| stantialy correct, Heyerman was asked IL
he had saved any of the ships records,
particularly the "rough' and "smooth"
log books.
III made two attempts" said he, "after
the vessel struck to save the log books, as
well as the night order book, knowing
they would be wanted as exhibits in the
| investigation which knew would follow.
was, however, only able to save my
| life."
Heyerman identified several charts which
had been in use on board of the Kear-
sarge. Questioned as to his confidence in
the charts and instruments on board OF
I the Kearsarge, the commander said: ~
had no doubt as 10 tho accuracy of the
charts and instruments on board. The
night sextant was a little out OF gear, but
the other instruments were in perfect
condition"
Heyerman, answering Judge Advocate
Kelley's questions. said he had been in
the navy since 1861 and had commanded
the Yantic, Kearsarge and Pensacola.
Revcrting to the day of the wreck, Heyer-
man described the condition of the
weather and the currents for q half dozen
hours previous to the kearsarge striking
on the reef he received the reports of
the navigator at intervals. The latitude
was taken by the ships running.
II was sure the Kearsarge was so far to
the north of Rancador reef / was well
clear of it," said he. II had lookou,s OIL
the topgallant yards all the afternoon,
| and at ) 40 sent an officer aloft to make
| sure no danger was in sight. The officer
reported everything all right. Breakers
were first reported at $50 o'clock" AT
that time Admiral Stanton, the navigator,
Captain Lyman and Officer May were on
deck with ueyerman.
"What was the discrepancy" asked the
| judge advocate, ''be;ween the point
where you really were and where you
thought you were when the ship struck ?"
"About six miles 10 the southwark aud
| four miles to the eastward of tho point
where / supposed VIC were from our reca-
oning."
There was, according 10 Heycrman, an
| interval OF more than two minutes at the
most between sighting the white water
and the shock of striking on the reef. The
commander told how the kearsarge was
abandoned after il was seen sho was
doomed. He also described the manner
in which Selman Anderson Robbins lost
his life while tring TO wade from the outer
| reef to the main. Then Fleyernan gave
| in detail the story of the encampment on
the key and the boarding of the wreck to
obtain provisions and the unsuccessful
search for the night order book.
| lie gave vivid description of the
camp life and the Robinson Crusoe bill Of
fare served during the stay on the key.
| The arrival of the City of Para and the
embarkation of the crew was interestingly
recounted by Heyerman. While describ-
ing the exemplary conduct of officers and
crew while lying at the wharf, as well as
all during the trying days on the key,
Hcyerman became yisI5ly affected AT the
recollection Of the me1's apparent deep
respect and love for nim. Recalling this
devotion on the part of the crew proved
too much for the bronzcl commander,
and his mouth tN.tchei NJ the corners
and big tears wellcd NJ into his eyes. Ito
finally had tp stop uWinE "a hi- emotions.
When he had recovered ComppsGrc, HcyCT-
man couclu tel his f.siuuDnN with dc,alls
ofthe trip 10 New lorE. Court Thea adj
journcd Until tomorrow.
|