The record-union., 1894-02-10
WRECK OF THE KEARsARGE.

heard before Judge Cox of the Equity
Court on Monday.
WRECK OF THE KEARSARGE.
The City of Para Goes to the Rescue
of the Crew.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The Navy De-
partment had word from Lieutenant
Brainerd this afternoon that he sailed
this morning from Colon with the City of
Para for the relief of the shipwrecked
crew of the Kearsarge. The steamship
will return to Colon with all hands. The
agent of the steamship informed the
Navy Department that when they ap-
piled for the use of her she had not fin
1shed taking on her cargo, and would
have to return to Colon for that purpose.
1t is about days trip t250 miles) from
Colon to Roncador Reef. 1t is expected
therefore that the Kearsarge crew will be
safely and comfortably on board some
time tomorrow, and will be back in
Colon Sunday. 1t is expected that they
will come TO New York on the City Of
Para when she starts on her regular trip.
The North Atlantic squadron, Of which
the kearSarge was the flagship, is now
reduced to the Miantonomah and Vesu-
vius. This depleted condition is due to
the large force ordered TO Rio and the ab-
sence OF other vessels on their way to the
Pacific to take part in the Behring Sea
patrol.
The last naval disaster suffered by the
United States was the loss of the Dispatch
OFT Assateugue shoals, Virginia, October
10, 1891. NO lives were lost at that time.
In fact, the United States has been nota-
bly, free Of disasters involving great loss
OF life. compared with other navies of
the world. The Huron went to pieces off
Oregon Inlet. n. c., during a terrible
hurricance, November "a, 1877, and 104
lives were lost.
The most notable disaster in which the
United States has been involved was the
hurricane at Samoa, in which the Tren-
ton, Vandalia and Nipsic were wrecked
and l45 lives in all lost. This included
the loss of all vessels at Apia. The dis
aster occurred March 10, 1885, and three
German ships were also lost. February
Is, 1888, the Ashuelot went ashore on a
rock off the coast of China, and eleven
men were lost.
1t is expected that the loss of the kear-
sarge will result in the placing Of light
on Roncador bank a result which the
United States Naval Department has
earnestly sought to bring about fol sew
eral years, but without result, owing to
the wish of this Government that other
nations bear share in the expense.
bELA1 IN ZEN O1NU hELI IL In thEWs
New YORK, Feb. ga Panama special
to the World says: Advices from Colon
tonight state that great excitement pre-
walls there in consequence OF the delay in
sending help to the crew of the wrecked
Kearsarge on Roncador reef. The Lieu
tenant says it was impossible to procure
fresh water from the wreck, owing to the
loss of the small boats, that were shat
tered and rendered useless at the time
v01 70 hn
company from the wreck to the shore.
The loss OF the small boats not, only pre-
cluded the possibility of reaching the
wreck, but makes the officers and crew
prisoners on a ledge of coral only seven
feet above the level of the sea, with know
ledge that high wind would send the
sea over the key, and the ships company
could not even take the open sea in the
splintered boats. Lieutenant Brainerd
became frantic when he found that he
could not instantly procure the use of the
steamship City OF Para at Colon to pro-
ceed to the rescue. He was told by the
agent of the Panama Railroad Company
that the request could not be complied
with, because the charter with the Paclflc
Mail Steamship Company specified that
the vessel should ply only between New
York and Colon. It was then found
necessary to submit the question to the
officers of the company in New York,
but no reply was received. Their busi
ness was to make money, not to rescue
periShing sailors.
Lieutenant Brainerd explained that if
it had not been that the small boats were
shattered, some of the castaways could
have reached Old Providence, an island
in the caribbean Sea belonging to the
United States of Colombia, one hundred
miles east of the Mosquito coast.
The wreck of the kearsarge lies half a
1cyln hi. lNn laff J.,
companions camped, but the hulk might
as we'll be hundred miles away so far
as those on shore are concerned. 1t is
hoped the City of Para will be patched
10 the rescue tomorrow. She is the only
available steamer in these waters.
The officers and crew of the Kearsarge
are still encamped on Roncador reef, so
far as anything is known to the contrary.
The men are huddled on a little ledge of
coral at the northern end of Roncador
bank, and are in great danger of perish
ing from thirst, even if not washed away.
Sudden Death of Congressman.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Representative
George W. Houk of Ohio died suddenly
this afternoon. Houk left the committee
room this afternoon, where he was en-
gagged in debating letters to a steno-
grapher, remarking that he felt tired and
would not do any more work during the
afternoon. He made social call on Mrs.
A. Reynolds and sister at l27 Connecticut
avenue and at 4:30 went to the window in
the parlor and looked out. At the win
dow he stopped as if to pick up some
thing from the carpet and fell forward on
his face. Medical aid was at once sum-
moned, but it was found that death was
instantaneous. The remains will be
taken TO Dayton. Ohio, tomorrow.