The times., 1898-11-25

ticles of more or less value from the
wrecks, but discovered unusual and unex-
pected difficulties In the case OF the
Teresa. This vessel, after some difficulty,
vas pumped out dry, and an attempt
was made to pull her OFF the rock on
which she was resting. 1t then appeared
that this rock was of pinnacle shape, and
had penetrated through the lower bottom,
and the attempt to pull the vessel off
made the rent larger. and she immedI-
ately filed and settled down again.
From that time. by direction OF the
department, wrecking operations were
centered on this vessel. Cofferdams were
built inside; the hull divided into water
tight compartments. These were pumped
cut. and after good deal of hard work
the vessel was hauled or the rock upon
which she rested and towed into Guanta-
namo Harbor. There she was out into
such order and fitted for sea with such
appliances as the United States steam
ship Vulcan, at hand. happened to have,
and started north on her voyage Under
the control OF the wrecking company, as
by the contract with this company 1t was
to deliver her at the Norfolk navy yard.
On November l, while being conveyed by
the Vulcan, the Leonidas, and the wreck
ing tug Merritt, she encountered heavy
weather off the Island of San Salvador.
After a very exciting experience the crew
abandoned the Teresa and sshe 'disap-
peared In the darkness
"It was supposed by those who had left
the vessel that she had sunk in deep
water. The crew was safely taken from
the Teresa, put aboard lhe Vulcan. and
brought into Norfolk. 4 few days later
on November 7-word came - the depart-
ment that one of the Ward Line steamers
had sighted a large vessel, which was
thought to be the Teresa. ashore on Cat
Island. sand spit about $50 miles to ihe
westward of San Salvador Isiani. As the
wind was northeast at the time the
Teresa was abandoned, her natural drift
would have taken her toward Cat Island.
Accordingly, the department directed
The Potomac, d strong sea-going tug, then
AT Santiago. TO be sent at once in search
of the Teresa, and at the same time di-
rected Capt. McCaila the captain OF the
yard at Norfolk TO take command of the
| L. 5. S. Vulcan, then at Norfolk and to
start at once. with such wrecking and
other appliances as he had at hand, to
the place where the Teresa had been re-
ported. AT the time of submitting this
report both vessels were on their way to
the destination. When the Teresa started
north under the charge of the wrecking
companies. it was decided To terminate all
the contracts then in force with respect
to the vessels still of Santiago under the
provision in the contracts providing for
such action. Accordingly. the command
ing officer at Santiago was directed,
and the company in New York notified OF
the action of the department.
''Our experience in the Spanish war has
really been the only opportunity we have
had with the system of an auxiliary naval
! force, organized as a naval militia, and
| while such organizations responded with
! eagerness and showed the greatest pa
| triotism and earnest desire to render serv
| ice to the Government, it was found that
! the existing system had elements of
! weakness, which, under severe stress and
| against a powerful enemy. would have
4 caused great anxiety; that for the actual
f.! needs of warships and such auxiliaries
as were required for deep-sea work there
| was needed a reserve which could be
| promptly modified under the call of the
| President and which would be so enrolled
! that such call could be at once sent out
| to the individuals making up such a re-
serve through the department
| Thus the attention Of all has been turn
/ ed to a national naval reserve-a body of
| seafaring men, of the sea habit, whose
/ occupation and daily training make them
more or less familiar with sea work,
! whose status should be that of a body OF
/ men directly under the control of the
! Federal Government. To this end such
{ a force must necessarily be maintained alb
/ solutely out of the Federal appropriations.
and no other appropriation could be con-
sidered. Az complications of that sort
would lead to friction. which could only
! impair the efficiency Of the force as We'll
as tend to a divided authority.
The Bureau OF Navigation will ask du-
thority to enlist up to 2D,O)0 men. which
will be a sufficient number for the pres-
| eut vessels of all classes
There are, however. in process Of con-
struction and under repair. but not In
I commission: