The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-16
MARIA TERESA
A TOTAL WRECK
lcontinned from Flrst PageD

bouldcrs. half miles south Bird Point.
Line of reef extends outside OF wreck
both TO northward and southwark. SNIP
having been driven into slight indenla-
tiOn In reef.
Surf from astern and outside Of ship
continues between ship and shore then
runs out slightly to a point forward or
and outside ship again 10 northwaro'
small passage thus left for small boats 10
pass under stern to lee side In ialfy
good weather II would be possible think
for small tug drawing 10 feet water IN
hands very skillful seamen to pass close
| under stern OF Teresa. in smooth sea. 10
make fast to lee side. for purpose OF sup
plying power for wreckng pumps. r.
however. such vessel were caught inside
Teresa by storm, probabilities are she
would be swamped by seas or thrown
on reef Surf thus cuts of communica-
zion between ship and shore except GER
tain stages OF tide or when there is very
little sea running. During heavy seas
the breakers would also be continuous
outside ship
HER CONDITION.
Passed Sunday on wreck examining
carefully all compartments which were
not Hooded. as well as ships surround
fngs. accompanied by Craven, who had
previously inspected Teresa, and Crit
tenden who was familiar with ship. Evil
dences show that after striking reef.
main mast was driven up and broken OF
short below spar deck. military top mast
lying outside bilge under port quarters
Seas had gone entirely over her. That
inner bottom generally mad oeen drlNeh
inward from ~ BY feet; patch on bot
I'd had NlE1D-
reared. air pC IT'S had been driven In and
seas had entered through them and gun
ports on starboard side. spar deck ana
deck houses had been crushed in by seas
after ship struck Large proportion or
the lumber in short pieces lying or noat-
ing below berth deck Tide rises ana
falls I'm ship below protective deck apalt
engine room butts Seas that now break
over the starboard quarter ana enter
through the ports keep water In that
mart OF the ship five or six feet above
line OF that I'm engine room ana hre
rooms PUMPS which were erected by
wrecking company on forward ana ai'er
ammunition hofsts and securef 70 be'th
deck beams have been driven upward
from IS TO q inches. Both starooard ah1
port engines have been forced up"a,u
from IL 10 feet and separated later
allN bV from SIX u tibhN hiN-'N
HER BOTTOM PUSHED IN
Rest way TO Illustrate general condi-
ton of wreck Is to say that the TWO sets
Of engines. boilers and their foundations
form n part OF reef itself around whlch
rest the shipwreckel works laterany ana
vertically. The same conditions would
have been produced in my opinion II snip
had settled on pinnacle rock
sunday trade wind was very light, ana
there was very little difficulty in APP
nroeehIng wreck from Vulcan, but COM
munication with shore would have been
very difficult in boat at one stage OF tide.
Can hest describe condition Of ship gen
erallv by stating that she ia already teie-
scoped. and my views. by expressing con-
viction that as rivets are sheareu py .he
constant working OF the ship the teie-
scopic process must continue.
A PERILOUs TASK
In considering practicability OF rescue
ing the Teresa the fact must be consld-
cred that she lies up on coral reef with
but this layer of sand. on windward SIDE
OF an island constantly exposed 70 seas
due to trade winds and 10 influence OF
many storms developing 10 eastward or
sou,hvard Character OF the bottom
makes anchorage of easten coast or ISL
and dangerous. Geographical position
nermfts force Of more or less magnitude
10 be constantly disintegrating snip. Dur
inc Gales or with very heavy seas wreck
uouid not he tenable for working parties,
which would be obliged TO leave ship be
fore communication should be cut on
with ship anchored outside or shore IN
side. o,,D
Roard OF officers also examined and re-
oorted Yesterday upon question OF rescu-
Ing Teresa This board confirms my re-
mort Should Department determine 10
attempt to float stranded ship would re-
comuend that expedition be based upon
cat inland not from ships outside OF reefs
and should be very pleased to command
any organization prepared TO work on
wreck. In addition 10 turret guns tnere
are four six-inch guns on Teresa taken
from one OF the wrecked ships ana re-
mounted In Guantanamo. Awaiting De-
partment's further orders