The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-31
LOSS OF THE SHIP CRAPO,
An Official Report Made by a
Consul to the State
Department.
Seamen Who Displayed Bravery
While the Cargo of Nitrate Of
Soda Burned.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 30.-On the
Goth inst. the United Press published
dispatch from Minister Strobel in Chile
giving an account of the disappearance
aud supposed drowning of Captain Ernest
Stegler of the American vessel Edward
Kidder and three of the crew of the Ameri-
can vessel W. w. Grape of New Bedford,
Mass, in the bay or Junin, Chile, on the
14th of June. 1t was stated that Captain
w. W. Hardy of the Grape escaped by
leaving the party, which was engaged in
fishing in the bay.
The State Department has since received
a dispatch from Consul Merriam of Iqui-
que, Chile, announcing that Captain
Hardy's vessel was burned on the I'd of
July, and In fifteen minutes after the fire
was discovered went to the bottom in six
teen fathoms of water. There were twenty
four persons on board, including the wife
and son of Captain Hardy. but fortunately
there was no loss of life. The ships papers
were lost as were also all the person al
effects of Captain Hardy and family. The
ship had received on board A, 09S Spanish
quintals of nitrate of soda and was ex-
pected to complete her cargo of $4,000
qhintals and to sail for the United States
on the 9Th inst.
So far as known the Consul says, the
ship was not insured. Captain Hardy,
who owned. one-eighth of the ship. and
who had hitherto kept his interest fully
protected by insurance, had on this voyage
allowed his insurance to lapse and so lost
all. The cargo, however, was, as usual,
in the case,of nitrate fully insured. The
usual precautions against fire had been
taken, and Captain Hardy suspects that
one or more of the crew Intentionally set
fire to the snip, although he has no proof
of the fact.
At the request of Captain Hardy the
Consul authorized him to- discharge and
pay off his mate, carpenter and one sea-
man, all of whom found employment III
Junin; and also to pay off and discharge
three other seamen, who Immediately
shipped on the German vessel Melete at
that port. The remaining fourteen were
in Iouique under the protection of the
Consul on July6, the date of the report,
but expected to get away soon, as there
was demand for seamen in the neighbor-
ing port of Caleta Buena.
The Consul adds: Nothing could be
done to save the ship; but Captain Hardy
was the last to leave her. and by his cool
ness and intelligent direction he was en-
abled to see his wife and son and all of the
crew in the boats without an accident.
This done he abandoned the ship few
minutes before she sank.
81 take pleasure in calling attention to
the noble conduct of Captain A. Jouan-
jean, master of the French bark Psyche.
''As soon as the alarm of fire was given
he leaped from his bed, ordered boat low
cred, and, without waiting to put on his
trousers, went personally, together with
his second mate and sailor to the rescue
of the imperiled crew, eleven of whom he
took. off from the burning ship.
Captain Jouaniean received all of the
twenty-four on board his ship, and treated
them with the most assiduous attention,
for which he refused to accept any re-
muneration. To approach burning ship
loaded with nitrate of soda is to incur a
great hazard, for violent explosions may
occur at any moment, which might prove
disastrous To boats in the Yicinitv3l