The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-03
TRAGEDY OF THE SEA
A TERRIBLE TALE OF THE LOSS OF
THE COMMODORE.

How the Chief Engineer Of the Famous Fill
clustering Steamer Met His Fste-Inter-
esting story Told at the National Marine
, Engineers' Convention at Washington.
An exceedingly interesting story was
told by delegate from New York city
to the national marine engineers con-
vention, recently in session in Washing
ton. The chief engineer of the ill 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 a young
man of good 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
~9red as chief engineer Of the Com
IT fore. Against his protest an assist
was assigned him whom he knew
Inotling about and who had not belonged
ito any local marine engineers associa-
ltion. Upon the pretext of being i'll the
assistant engineer of the Commodore
ft ked work for several days before the
eAtp went to sea, so that when the ves-
sci took her departure the chief engineer
was practically exhausted, there being
only two mates and two engineers in
the list of officers.
After the Commodore left harbor, {"
says the narrator, "the assistant en-
gineer, upon the plea Of continued ill
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 to 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 one of the firemen, who
told him that the ship was sinking and
that practically everything in the en-
gine room had become disabled. The
chief Immediately went to his station
and found that the assistant engineer,
who had been q beach comber and an
ex-convict and whose services had 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 short time
after the crew left the vessel scuffle
took place on the raft, which resulted
in the chief engineer and one 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 a great cost that not only
ability but integrity and character are
required even in the engine rooms of
flibustering steamers.
Weakened by continuous work and
exhausted by his duties in charge of the
raft, the chief engineer of the Commo-
dore lost his life in the surf in attempting
to make landing His comrades in the
New York Association of Marine En-
gineers, in connection with friends Of
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.
''The belief has too long prevailed
that the mate in charge of the deck can
undertake to supervise the work Of the
engineer officer below. The unfortunate
fate of the Commodore will probably
be practical object lesson to the naval
officials of even great nations in teach
ing them that naval warfare has greatly
changed during the past decade and
that the man below as we'll as above
the protective deck is an important
factor"
The marine engineer delegates from
New York city declare that the story
as told above was from the official state
ment as furnished by President Palma
of the Cuban junta in New York city.
The committee of New York marine
engineers distinctly told him that the
organization would boycott every fill
clustering steamer starting from the
coast unless the exact facts in regard to
the death Of Chief Engineer Hartigan
were furnished them.
The story has never before been in
print, and from the earnestness and sin
cerity of the Cuban leaders the New
York engineers are convinced that the
tale is true one. ne.-Washington Post.
Judge Harlan . Giant.
Justice Harlan of the supreme court
is a physical as well as an intellectual
giant and can be depended on to meet