The San Francisco call., 1897-01-05
THE COMMODORE WRECK.
Captain Murphy Says 1t Vas a Result
of Ne0liOeuce

Captain Murphy Says 1t Has n Result
of Negligence.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 4-Cap-
tain Edwin Murphy, the commander of
the wrecked flibustering steamer Com
modore, and the remainder of those saved
from the wreck arrived in this city from
Daytonia tonight. Seven men are still
missing and are believed to be drowned.
Captain Murphy gives their names as fol-
lows:
James Reddlngan, chief engineer, of
Brooklyn; E. R. Ritton. assistant en-
gineer, of Jacksonville, Fla; Thomas
Smith, sailor of Charleston, S. c.; Jonas
Franklin (colored), fireman. of Jackson
vile, Fla; w. 4. G. Smith (colored) fire.
man of Jacksonville, Fla, and one un-
known colored man, who took the place
OF Murray Mobiles just before the ship
sailed. Besides these William Higgins of
Connecticut is dead, having been drowned
in the surf while landing.
Captain Murphy says that Ritter and
the two colored men were on board the
vessel when she went down and were
drowned. The other men were on a raft,
and the cruiser Newark and steamer
Three Friends, as we'll as feet of small
boats from the Halifax River, are now
hunting for them. The Newark went to
the scene Sunday night and used her
powerful searchlight, but to no effect. 1t
Is now believed the men are all drowned.
Captain Murphy story of the sinking of
the Commodore is as follows:
At midnight Friday the engineer re-
Ported that the vessel was leaking badly
and the water was rapidly rising in the
hold. The pumps could not be made to
work, fer they were choked and the sue.
tion was gone. The men were put to
work with buckets bailing, and wood. oil
and alcohol was put in the furnace to
keep up steam aud get the vessel to the
shore if possible. The water gained in
spite of the efforts of the men, and before
the vessel ran three miles the fires we're
extinguished.
Anchor was then dropped and the boats
launched. In the first were Major Del
gado. Paul Rojo, Felix de Los Rios,
Emilio Marquis. Ventura Linares, Romeo
Hernandez. J. Franco Blanco, Jose Her
nandez, T. b. Benier. Leno Soldrio, Ga
briel Martinez and Santiago Diaz. In the
second boat were: Julio Rodriguez Boz,
Manuel Gonzales, Louis Sierra Medios
and Jesus Alvarez. The first left imme-
diateIy, but the other stood by to render
assistance if needed.
Later another boat was launched and
Mate Grain and seven men entered it.
This was stove in before they got away
from tie ship. The men clim bed back on
board and built a raft. All got on it and
the raft was taken in tow by the dlngy,
in which we're Captain Murphy, Stepf en-
Crane, G. B. Montgomery and William
Higgins. The heavy sea caused the raft
TO break loose twice, and the last time it
was carried out to sea.
The captain and companions landed
Sunday morning, Delaado and party
landed Sunday night and Julio Boz and
party landed Sunday night. Nothing has
been seen of the raft since it drifted out
Of sight of Captain Murphy. When asked
if there was treachery on board Captain
Murphy said tonight: mo, 1 do not
think so. 1t was neglect more than any,
thing else"
c. 3. Montgomery, the steward, still in
sists that there was treachery, but he can
not definitely place it on any one.
Paul Rojo, the Cuban commander, said
tonight: II think the engineer was
drunk and neglected his duties When
went below found the pumps would not
heave water and that the injectors which
are used TO inject kerosene In the fire in
case OF emergency when steam is needed
rAn1ied that he had ordered them put on,