The record-union., 1898-11-06

buildings that the loss OF the Marie
Teresa would prevent any further at
tempt to bring any Of the other yes
sells to this country.
A thrilling story of the loss of the
cruiser Maria Teresa is given in the
official report of Lieutenant Comman-
der Harris to the Secretary of The
Navy, received by telegraph at the
Navy Department late this afternoon.
1t is dated on board the wrecking
steamer Merritt, fifty miles off Char
lesion. November 4th, and says:
Secretary of the Navy, Washington
Sir: 1 have the honor to make the
following report of the loss of the In
fanta Maria Teresa:
ION November 1st, at l a. m. / found
that it was blowing hard, and went on
the lower bridge. We had left Wat
ling's Island light abeam at 10 o'clock.
and up to midnight the weather was
pleasant and all went we'll with the
ship, although we had trouble in keep
ing the pump in the forward fireroom
from being choked with coal. The
wind continued to increase in force un-
til perhaps a. m., when it reached its
hight, although there were times all
day when it blew as hard as ever. The
direction was about northeast The
sea continued to rise until perhaps Is
p. M; there was a heavy sea all the
following day. The pumps were re-
lieved every hour.
Soon after I came on deck relieved
the second mate, Mr.. Johnson, so that
he could go below to fight the water.
About 3:30 the first mate Captain Le-
cato, came up, and he also went below
to work. Captain Chittenden, who was
on deck almost as soon as I. gave his
attention to the pumps, especially 10
priming the centrifugal pump in the
forward fireroom. There were many
new leaks. When a heavy sea struck
the sides the plates leaked at the butts
and seams, showing that after the fire
they had resumed their former appear
ance, but We're not tight There was
at the mainmast an inch of thwart ship
vibration, and only half an inch Iongi-
tudinal vibration.
While making this examination.
about 4:3O a. M, Captain Chittenden
was thrown down and fell on the chain,
hurting his side and back enough to
temporarily disable him. He continued
to give us valuable advice
al q d. H. we maQe signal to the
Vulcan and Merritt to go to windward,
which they did as we'll as they could.
Up to J. o'clock a. m. we were running
the starboard main engines. and had
steam on the two central boilers and
three of the short forward boilers. but
the trouble in the forward fireroon
caused the steam to run low and to
tighten fires under the starboard after
boiler and we stopped the engine so as
to run the steam up for the pumps.
The pump for keeping the water from
the forward compartment was driven
by belt, and when the sea. broke
over the bows the belt became wet and
slipped. AS soon as the water was I'D
to the floor place in the forward fire
room the rolling of the ship swashed
into the coal bunkers and carried the
coal out, choking the pump and carry
ing the floor plates about, which made
1t difficult and dangerous to work there
About o'clock 1 called for voIun-
teers to hoist coal and water into the
ash hoist. Everybody responded. and
the. work was continued as long as it
seemed of any use. About $50 a. m.
1t was reported that water was comi1.r
| into one of the starboard forward coal
bunkers and running into the firerooms
Where the water came from we do NOT
know. About o'clock the 11-inch gun
IN the after turret ran out and in twice.
When it recoiled the second time some
thlng gave way, and it settled to ex-
treme elevation and remained station
ary.
We asked the Vulcan to signal the
Leonldas to stay close by US. and tha
latter holsted the flag at the signal
yard arm, which was a signal agreed
upon 10 call the Leonidas to come with
IN haI. She was steaming ahead of us,
ana making rather bad weather TT
seemed as II she feared to turn in The
heaVy sea, but eventually she did cross
aheau OF the Merritt, and twice passed
under the Merritt's stern, although a+
some distance. l think she picked mn
the life RATS which the Vulcan threw
over.
About 1880 we signaled the Vui-
can to ask the Merritt if we could he
turned safely to run for the lee of
WatnngS Island. To this Caotain
Wolcott replied NO" and as CAPTAIN
Ch1ttenden thought we would sink if
we tried to turn, this idea was given
up. Both the Vulcan and Merritt
could with difficulty keep their head to
Wlnd, and the sea was running so high
that the Vulcan's bits started and the
tow lines parted, the ship falling into
the trough of the sea.
AT p. m. Captain Chittenden, asked
me to signal the Vulcan to cast off the
Merritts tow lines and have the Mer-
r1tt come alongside. Then l assumed
the command, told the men what was
to be done, and assigned them stations.
told the Chief Engineer to start the
engine to aid the Vulcan in keeping
our head up. He did so, but it could
run but a short time with the steam
we had. We signaled the Vulcan we
had TO abondon Ship
Il ordered Captain Lecato to take
charge of the lee surf boat and when
it was lowered to the rail ordered Can
tain Chittenden into it against his re-
peated protests. He was placed in the
boat with his son. This boat was una
bic to reach the lines we had astern. but
the Merritt picked it up, and after taxi
ing Captain Chittenden aboard, towed
ed this movement each trip. She was
splendidly handled.
From 2:20 o'clock the work of trans
ferring the crew continued CAPTAIN
Lecato made two more trips, when, his
arm being disabled, his place was TAX
en- by Mr.. Johnson, who also took two
boat loads. The life raft was taken
over and capsized, but was righted. 1t
was put in charge of James Bashford,
ordinary seaman of the Illinois Naval