The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-16
TERESA A HOPELESS WRECK
CAPT. M'C1LLA,S REPORT TO THE
 N1YY DEPlRTMENT,

Thorough Description of Position and
 Condition of Stranded Cruiser Off Cat
 island-ship Telescopcd by Coral
 Reef Around Which She Works yirtl-
 caily-Board of Officers, Including
 Hobson, Agree With McCalla in HIS
 Opinion That it is Hopeless to Expect
 to Rescue the Vessel,
 Washington, Nov. 15.--The navy de- partment late to-day received the fol- lowing:
 Nassau, Nov. 15. Secretary Navy:
 Arrived, Potomac. Vulcan. at scene Of wreck. On arrival took charge of Teresa; hoisted flag After careful ex- animation of stranded ship and situa- lion and careful consideration of in- structions from department, appreciat- ing interest taken by government in the snip, 1 express the opinion that it is hopeless to expect to rescue the ship. Craven, Blow, Hobson, Crittenden con- firm my opinion. Wreck is stranded in from Is to 21 feet, with head to northward. With exception of a few feet astern and forward, where cut away, the ship rests on a rocky reef covered with coral sand, interspersed with boulders a half mile south of Cape Bird Point. Line of reef outside of wreck both to northward and south- ward, the ship having been driven into slight indentation in reef Surf from astern and outside of ship continues between ship and shore, then runs out slightly to a point forward of and out side the ship and then again to north ward. Small passage thus left for small boats to pass under stern to lee side. In fairly good weather it would be possible, think, for small tug drawing ten feet water in hands of very skillful seaman to pass close un- der the stern of the Teresa in a smooth sea, to make fast to lee side for pur- pose of supplying power for wrecking pumps. If, however, such vessel were caught inside Teresa by storm, prob abilities are she would be swamped by seas or thrown on reef. The surf that cuts off communication between ship and shore except at certain stages of tide or when there is very little sea running. During heavy seas the break CTS were also continuous outside the ship. Passed Sunday on wreck exam ming carefully all compartments which were not flooded as well as ships sur- roundings accompanied by Craven, who had previously inspected the Tere- sa, and Crittended who was perfectly familiar With the ship. Evidences show that after striking reef mainmast was driven up and broken off short below spar deck, military top lying outside bilge under port side Air ports had been driven and seas had entered through them and gun ports on star board side; spar deck and deck houses had been crushed in by seas after ship struck. Large proportion of the lum- Der below deck. Tide rises and falls in ship below protective deck abaft engine room bulkhead Seas which now break over starboard quarter and enter through ports keep water in that part of ship three feet deep. Both starboard and port engines have been forced up- ward from one and one-half to two feet and separated laterly by from six to eight inches. Best way to illustrate general condition of wreck is to say that the two sets of engines, boilers and their foundations form part of reef itself around which ship itself works vertically Same effect would be pro- duced in my opinion if ship had settled in pinnacle of rock. Sunday trade wind was very light and there was little diff inp L. can, but communication with shore would have been very difficult in boats at one stage of tide. Can best describe condition of ship generally by stating that she is already telescoped and my views by expressing conviction that as rivets are sheared by the constant working of ship the telescopic process must continue. In considering practic- ability of rescuing Teresa, the fact must be considered that she lies upon coral reef, with but thin layer of sand, on windward side on an island con stantly exposed to seas due to trade winds and to influence of many storms developing to eastward and southWard. Character of bottom makes anchorage off eastern coast of island dangerous. Geographically, position permits force of more or less magnitude to be con- stantly disintegrating ship. During gales or with very heavy seas wreck would not be tenable for working part ies. which would be obliged to leave ship before communication could be cut off with ship anchored nearby. Board of officers also examined and reported yesterday upon question of rescuing inc Teresa This board confirms my renort. Should department determine to attempt to float stranded ship 1rou1d recommend that experiment be tried from Cat island and not from shin. Awaiting developments and fur ther orders.
 c;oned. McCalla.