Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-23
LOSS OF THE TERESA.
DETAILS OF THE WRECK RE-
CEIVED BY MAIL.
WAS SHIPS DESTRUCTION AIDED ?
suggestion That 1t Was Made by
Members of the Crew of a British
Vessel Just from Cat Island
Looted by Negro Natives.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
NASSAU, n. p, November 1.-THE
cablegrams sent up to date have given an
outline of the case of the Spanish cruiser
Maria Teresa, which went ashore in
heavy gale at Bird Point, Cat Island. on
the afternoon of November Sd. By this
first opportunity by mail details are for
warded. At last advices the Maria Teresa
was still ashore, with little probability
Of being gotten off. The gale that sent
her ashore was so heavy that she was
driven far up the reefs, and rests now.
as solid as a rock, in twelve feet of water.
the water inside of her rising and falling
with the tide. very heavy surf is
pouring in on the reefs, rendering it diff
cult to board her.
The ships pet, fine, large cat, remains
on board, and nobody can catch him.
SHIPS FLAG AT NASSAU.
The ships flag, which was flying when
the vessel stranded, a well-WOrn Ameri-
can ensign, was brought here tonight
and Consul McLain insists on keeping 1t
at the consulate as a souvenir of the
Spanish warship. which so pathetically
sought final resting-place on the very
shores where Columbus first landed.
The British steamer Antilla returned
from the wreck on Sunday, and reported
that il was impossible for her to accom-
pish anything. The surf was so heavy
that she could not get within a quarter
of mile of the Teresa, though drawing
but nine feet. Two gentlemen on board
managed to reach the Teresa I'm a boat
49, q, ,,..f ct hon
not return to the Antilla, and finally
reached the shore. where they were left.
to return to Nassau by schooner.
LOOTING BY NATIVES.
The ship has been badly looted by the
negro natives of the vicinity, an ignorant
community, who generally believe that
all wrecks are a present sent them by
the Lord, and to be gratefully accepted
and utilized accordingly.
Certain portions Of the ships stores,
such as heavy hawsers, ropes, canned
provisions tins OF machine-oil, etc, were
taken off by local official and forwarded
to Nassau by small schooners. This OFF,
cial, ii is but fair 20 say, did all he could
to prevent the looting, but did not sue
coed TO any great extent. Immediately
upon the arrival Of these articles at Mas
sau they were taken possession of by the
the ground that the ship and it's contents
were derelictic, and so belonged TO the
Colonial authorities. United States Con-
sui Mclean notified the court that he
considered the articles salved 10 be the
property of the United States. and that
he should, at the proper time. request
that they be released and handed over
to him. The question of ownership thus
raised is not likely 10 be settled at once.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED.
NEW YORK, November 22.-The steam
er Antilla is at present in this port. Her
second officer, Edward Weber. said to-
day that when the steamer was at Cat
Island the Infanta Maria Teresa was
living in about Is feet of water. and the
surf was breaking over her She was
living easy and not on the rocks, but with
her nose in the sand. Had the surf not
been so high | believe that we could
have pulled her off, said Mr. Weber.
II questioned the natives. and learned
from them that the Maria Teresa first
appeared in the ofiing about s O'Clock in
the morning the Thursday after she was
abandoned. She rode In gracefully, and
had she been brought I'm under sSilful
guidance. she could not have come ashore
at a better place. She went on the shore
at II o'clock the same morning she was
sighted.
WAS EFFORT MADE TO SINK HER?
ut Is my opinion, as well as the opin-
ion Of those on Cat Island. that for some
reason an attempt was made by those
on the Maria Teresa 10 have her sink be-
fore she had drifted far in the storm. All
the square portfolios above the water
line were left OPEN but in spite of this
there was only 8 feet of water in her
when she came ashore. believe that the
crew. when they left her. were anxious
that that might be the last OF her.
"She is lying at present with very
slight list 10 port. As her stern is pre-
scented TO the breakers. the waves as
they break near the stern run alongside,
making little vibration. The pumps were
all right. and the working parts are
above water. / believe that the vessel
will not go to pieces. but will remain
where she is for years. Her military
masts have gone by the board, and are
lying on each side of her"