Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-11-07
MARIA TERESA SUNK
Story Of the Attempt to Save the
Spanish Flagship,
She Sinks Beneath Three Miles of Water
and Thus Ends the Story of
Ceryera's Flagship.

ship, although we had trouble in
keeping the pump in the forward fire
room from being choked with coal.
The wind continued to increase In
force until perhaps 3 a, IN. when 1t
rose to its height.
"The sea continued to rise until
perhaps p. III. There was heavy
sea all the'following day.
"Up to o'clock a. M. we were
running the starboard main engines
and had steam on the two central
boilers aud three of the short forward
boilers, but the trouble 10 the for
ward fireroom caused the steam to run
low and reduce the fires under the star
board 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 compart-
ment was driven by belt and when
the sea broke over the bows the belt
became wet and slipped. AS soon as
the water was up to the floor place In
the forward fire room the rolling OF
the ship swashed into the coal bunk
ers and carried the coal out, choking
the pump and carrying the floor
plates about, which made IL difficult
and dangerous TO work there,
Abont g o'clock called for volun-
teers to hoist coal and water toto the
ash hoist. Everybody responded and
the work was continued as long as IL
seemed Of any use. About $3.50 o'clock
IL was reported that water was COM
ing into one OF the starboard forward
coal ounkers aud running into the
fire rooms. Where the water came
from we do not know.
about 2o'clock the eleYen-inch
gun In the after turret ran out and In
twice. IL recolled the second time
aud something gave way and 1t set
tied TO extreme elevation and re-
mained stationary. About 1870 we
signalled the Vulcan TO ask the Mer-
ritt II we could be turned safely to
run for the lee OF Watllng's island.
To tins Captain Wolcott replied No.
and as Captain Crittenden thought
we would sink II we tried TO turn.
this Idea was given up.
Both the Vulcan and the
Merritt could with difficulty keep us
head to the wind and the sea was
running so high that the Vulcan's
bits started, or the tow lines parted.
The ship would fall Into the trough of
the sea. Capt, Chlttenden asked me to
signal the Vulcan to cast.off the Mer-
ritt's tow line and have the Merritt
come alongside then assumed the
command, told the men what was TO
be done, and assigned them stations.
l told the chief engineer TO start the
engine TO aid the Valcan Ia keeping
our head up. He did SC, but IL would
run but short time with the steam
we had. We signalled the Vulcan, We
are about to abandon ship. Try TO keep
us head TO wind
II ordered Capt. LecatO TO take
charge of the lee surf boat, and when
IL was lowered TO the rail ordered
Capt. Chittenden into IL against his
repeated protests He was placed in
the boat with his sou. This boat was
unable to reach the lines we had
astern, but the Merritt picked her up
aud after taking Chlttenden aboard
tUwed the boat TO our lee quarter aud
repeated this maneuYer each trip
forming a lee for the boats TO come
under, then towing them back, She
was splendidly handled. From TO 2
o'clock the work OF transferring the
crew continued.
"In all the Trips he poured oil la
the Sponsors on both sides and the
Vulcan also used oil TO make IL
smooth where the embarking was
done. l doubt II we could have
worked without IL. The ship labOred
more and more heavily, Before we
left the bridge she'rolled her spOnsons
UNDER
"She fell into the sea very heavily
and shuddered as she rose. There
was no water aft. The Vulcan did
her best TO keep her head up steering
TO starboard and going at full speed
while the sea beat the Teresa's head
tOpOrt. Throughout the day the
Vulcan did everything possible. With
the exception OF three men who got
drunk aud gave much trouble, all the
crew behaved we'll. Every man did
his duty and my orders we're instantly
obeyed by wreckers aud men OF the
navy.
willard CrOssett, buglar, was Sig
Lal man aud was as cool as possible.
He made no mistakes and was very
useful u me as messenger. About
1870 he made signal, Hang on 20 the
wreck uutil you are sure she Is sink
ing, We will hold on until she sinks
or parts the tow line. TIE last Sig
nal he made was, These two boats
will take ALL After that had 70 go
aft 10 force the drunken men over.
board, aud about we were all OF.
"The boats were hauled under the
stem as near as IL was safe where the
oil aud the lee OF the ,shlD made II
smooth, and we're held by one lice
while another line with a ladder at.