The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-12
MAY BURN THE ship.
These Are Evil Days for the Brave
Old Kearsarge.
NAVAL OFFICERS SAY WRECKERS
MAY MAKE TROUBLE.

They Recall the Case of the San Jacinto
Value from the Kearsarge Will BE
Recovered-The San Jacinto, Wrecked
on the British Bahamas. Was Looted
Notwithstanding the Presence of Her
Crew.
Washington, March Though the
Navy Department has been prompt to
offer the reward of S45, 200 authorized by
Congress, to any one who would bring
the Kearsarge back to port, and the Bos-
ton Tow Boat company has lost no time
i'll preparing to send its big steamer to
Roneador reef, no naval officer, not even
Lieutenant Brainard, who represents the
government on the expedition, has any
idea of success. They think the only
possible result will be the satisfaction of
having expended $40, 900 to the end that
the famous old ship should not be
abandoned without at least some effort
to rescue her. In fact, every one
familiar with the surroundings of the
wreck would be very much surprised if
the expedition should find enough left at
Roncador to bring away any practical
amount of relics. One off cial said this
morning that it was almost past belief
to those who knew the condition of the
5000 population of San Andreas and Old
Providence islands belonging to
Columbia, that they had not already
secured everything worth having from
the helpless wreck. Doubt is expressed
even as to whether the United States
would have any valid claim ito anything
that had been already secured by the
islanders. The famous case of the San
Jacinto, in 1864, during the civil war is
recalled. 1t is like the present case in
every particular. The American frigate
ran ashore on No Name key, east of the
Bahamas. A guard was left on board,
the flag kept flying and Capt. r. W. Meade
commanding, landed the remainder OF
his force on the key, entrenching his
position to protect the ship. Wreckers
in great numbers were attracted from
Nassau and other islands, who drove
the guard off the ship and took posses
sion, even going SO far as to threaten
Captain Meadesand his men with annihi-
1ation. They claimed that the ship was
on British soil. All that Captain Meade
could do was to stick close to his fortif-
cation and wait. for aid, which he sent
for to Key West. The government sent
several vessels from the East Gulf block
aiding squadron to his relief with orders
to secure everything Of value from the
wreck which could be rescued. The
state of affairs finally became known at
Washington and, at Secretary Stewards
suggestion, no claim was made against
Great Britian but -all efforts we-e
directed towards getting Captain Meae
off the key before any active hostilities
occurred between his men and the
wreckers. 1t is said the Colum bian SUBJ
jects on the islands near Roncador
would hardly hesitate to burn the Kear-
sarge if that would enable them to get
at her contents with greater ease, and
they probably are aware that no time is
to be lost if they expect to work before
relief vessel gets there. Another point
that occurs, is whether relief ship with
only sixty men on board will be per-
mitted to go near the wreck by the
islanders, and whether it would not be a
wise provision to equip her with rapid
firing guns !. and a detachment of