The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-03
TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.
Terrible Tale OF the Loss Of the
Commodore.



An exceedingly interesting story was
told by delegate from New York city
10 the national marine engineers con-
vention, recently in session in Washing
ton. The chief engineer Of the i'll fated
Commodore, which was wrecked off the
coast of Florida several weeks ago, was
an active member Of the New York city
local organization. He was young
man Of geod character and ability, and
his love of adventure induced him to
offer his services TO the Cuban junta.
His services were accepted, and he was
ordered as chief engineer of the Com
modore. Against his protest an assist
ant was assigned him whom he knew
nothing about and who had not belonged
10 any local marine engineers associa-
tion. Upon the pretext Of being i'll the
assistant engineer Of the Commodore
shirked work fer several days before the
ship went to sea- SO that when the YES
sci took her departure the chief engineer
was practically exhausted, there being
only two mates and two engineers III
the list of officers.
"After the Commodore left harbor,
says the narrator, 1.-THE assistant en-
gineer, upon the plea Of continued i'll
ness, kept the chief on watch for the
greater part of the day. AT midnight,
after leaving port, the assistant volun-
teered for duty, and when things were
turned over TO him everything about
the machinery was working well. The
chief engineer had thoroughly tested all
the pumping appliances before leaving
harbor, and they were found 10 work
excellently. Particular attention had
been given to the adjustment Of the in
spirators for clearing the bilges Of water.
"Within two hours from the time the
chief engineer had been relieved he was
awakened by ore of the firemen, who
told him that the ship was sinking and
that practically everything i'll the en-
gine room had become disabled. The
chief Immediately went to his station
and found that the assistant engineer,
who had been beach comber and an
ex-convict and whose services bad been
secured because they could be obtained
cheaply, had practically wrecked the
machinery.
After vain attempt TO put things
to rights the vessel was abandoned, the
deck officers taking to the boats and
the. engineer force being left to find
safety ON raft. The captain of the
Commodore gallantly stood by the raft,
and after battling with the storm for
80 hours reached one of the Florida
keys, but in the attempt to effect land
ing from the raft all of the engineer s
| force were lost.
while the raft was being towed the
men from the captains boat carefully
kept watch over it, and "A short time
after the crew left the vessel scuffle
took place On the raft, which resulted
in the chief engineer and Que Of the
firemen throwing the traitor into the
| ocean.
''It is unnecessary to state that the
| leaders Of the Cuban junta have now
! learned at great cost that not or.J
ability but integrity and character are
required even in the engine rooms OF
filibusteriDg steamers.
Weakened by continuous work and
exhausted by his duties in charge Of the
raft, the chief engineer of the Commo
dore lcsthis life in the surf in attempting
TO make landing. his comrades in the
! New York Association of Marine En-
gineers, in connection with friends oi
| the Cuban cause, propose TO make some
! substantial recognition Of his excellent
services in fitting out the Commodore
and his pluck in sealing the doom OF
the traitor who had betrayed his ship.
'"Hhe belief has too long prevailed
that the mate in charge of the deck car
undertake TO supervise the work of th'
engineer officer below. The unfortunat,
/ fate Of the Commodore will probably
be practical object lesson to the nava
| officials of even great nations III teach
ing them that naval warfare has greatly
changed during the past decade anc
that the man below az well as above
the protective deck is an importan
factor. ii-----
The marine engineer delegates from
New York city declare that the stor.
as told above was from the official state
ment as furnished by President Palm;
of the Cuban junta i'll New York city
The committee Of New York marin,
engineers distinctly told him that th'
organization would boycott every fiji
clustering steamer starting from th'
coast unless the exact facts in regard e
the death Of Chief Engineer Hartigai
We're furnished them.
The story has never before been il
print, and from the Carnestness and sin
cerity of the Cuban leaders the New
York engineers are convinced that tn
tale is a true one. Washington Post.
| CorNirfcI- huf "a Candidate