The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-12
MARIA TERESA BEYOND DOUBT
HRITIsH AUTHORITIES To TAKE
CHARGE OF HER AS A DERELICT.

American Consul Enters n Protest.
But Customs Officers and Police
Leave Nassau for the Wreck.
Washington Authorities Claim the
Legal Title of the United States 10
the Vessel Has Not Been Impaired.
Fishermen May Claim Salvage.
Nassau, ". p, Nov. 11.-Wreckers who
have arrived here have brought with them
stories from the stranded vessel of Cat
| Island which establishes beyond doubt
that she is the Infanta Maria Teresa AS
the vessel is looked upon as being a dere-
ict the wreckers claim the right to seize
the stores, which can be saved. They
report that the water is up 10 her between
decks, that she has a list to starboard.
which side is damaged but that she is
dismasted. 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 American con-
sui has protested against this course.
| claiming everything less the salvage. The
steamer Antilia is leaving here for Cat ISL
and with customs officers and police on
board. 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.
Washington, Nov. 11.-Officials at the
navy department were interested in the
news from Nassau identifying clearly the
steamship lying off Cat Island as the Ma
ria Teresa,
The legal status of the vessel has been
considered cursorily. and in the opinion
of the department the title of the United
States to her Is unimpaired, notwithstand-
ing the fact that it was necessary TO aban-
don her for a time. There may be some
question involved as to the salvage TO
the Bahamas fishermen, but that depends
In large measure on what they have
done. If they have simply been looting
the vessel, then not only are they not en-
titled to salvage, but the goods stolen
may be recovered. On the other hand, IL
IL was the fishermen who anchored the
ship in smooth water, and If they made
| any endeavor to bring her in, probably
they would have a good claim for salvage.
The vessel, however, Is not subject to de-
/ tention on this account, International law
| exempting national vessels from seizure
on any score in time of peace.
| From the account received IL Is feared
that the damage to the vessel sustained
through the storm and the probable
| pounding upon the coral reefs outlying
Cat Island, added to the wounds received
by the ship in action when she sunk orig
tnaly, are sufficient TO render her entire
ly yalueless. Nothing but an experts ex-
animation can determine this point but,
as the Merritt experts are already on their
way to Cat Island that question will soon
be decided.
The navy department has decided that
a court of inquiry shall be held to deter
mine whether the abandonment of the
Teresa at sea was justlhable, and, If not,
who was responsible. The detail for the
court has not yet been announced. Nor,
indeed, has the court been formally ap-
pointed, for it cannot take the testimony
necessary to elicit the facts until the
wreckers who have gone to Cat Island re-
turn with an account OF the conditions
they found aboard the Teresa