The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
WRECKERS CLAIM THE PRIZE
COMPLICATIONS OVER THE
ABANDONED WARSHIP.
Now Lying Between Two Reefs on
Cat Island With Her
Hold Full of
Water.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NASSAU, Nov. 11.-Wreckers have
brought ashore stores from the strand
ed vessel off Cat Island which estab-
Iish beyond doubt that she is the In
fanta Maria Teresa. AS the vessel is
looked upon as being a derelict the
wreckers claim the right to seize all the
stores which can be saved. They re-
port that the water is up to her be
tween decks; that she has a list to
starboard, which side is damaged. and
that she is dismantled. The vessel lies
between two reefs, on a smooth bottom,
and has her anchor out.
The British Admiralty authorities
here are going to take possession Of the
Maria Teresa as a derelict. The Amer
lean Consul has protested against this
course, claiming everything less the
salvage.
The steamer Antilla is leaving here
for Cat Island with customs officers
and police aboard.
Opinions differ as to the chance Of
saving the cruiser. Although she has
been aground since Thursday the
Maria Teresa rests in an easy position
and the weather is moderate.
NEW YORK, Nov. IA Washing
ton special to the Herald says: Secre-
tary Hav could not be seen tonight
concerning the report from Nassau
that the British authorities Will take
possession Of the Maria Teresa, ashore
on Cat Island, and that our Consul
there had protested. If such informa-
ton has come to Secretary Hay it has
been suppressed, as a dispatch from
Consul McLain at Nassau. given out
at the State Department this evening.
made no reference to any difficulty
,r,r
the wrecked ship.
Subordinate officers with whom l
talked, while anticipating that Ba-
hama fishermen viii make a claim for
salvage, do not look for any difficulty
with the British authorities over the
legal status of the wrecked vessel. They
consider that. the title of the United
States to the vessel is unimpaired. not
withstanding she was temporarily
abandoned. Furthermore, they are con-
f1dent that Great Britain, on account
of the friendly relations now existing
between the two countries, viii waive
any technical claims against the vessel
and allow her to proceed to the United
States. with the understanding that the
salvers could later present their claims
through diplomatic channels to this
Government.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE Navy
Department has decided that court of
inquiry shall be held TO determine
whether the abandonment of the Ter
esa atJsea was justifable, and. if not,
who was responsible. The detail for the
court has not yet been announced, nor
has the court been formally appointed,
for it cannot take the testimony neces-
sary to elicit the facts until the wreck
ers who have gone to Cat Island return
with an account of the conditions they
found on board the Teresa. The report
that the water in the hull was up be-
tween decks, taken in connection with
the fact that the vessel was rolling
when abandoned, is believed to make
out a very favorable case for the peo-
pie aboard the Teresa, unless it is
shown that this volume Of water was
admitted through injuries sustained on
the coral reef after the vessel was
abandoned.