New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
GREAT REGRET ~ WASHINGTON.
NO HOPE OF SAVING THE MARIA TERESA
THE COLON MAY BE RAISED.


THE COLON MAY BE RAISED.
Washington. Nov THE first news OF the
loss Of the Maria Teresa came to the Navy De-
partrnent in a dispatch from Leutenant-Coih-
mander Harris. received at about 10 o'clock TINS
morning Secretary Long being temporarily ap-
sent from the Department. the officials OF the
! Navigation Bureau. acting under strict con-
| strnction Of official etiquette. refused to make
the dispatch public until the Secretary had
given his consent consequently the publication
| Of the news was delayed until afternoon When
finally published the dispatch read as foilo"s'
Charleston, S. G. Nov 8
Secretary Of the Navy. Washington: ,-,.. ..,.,
Arrived here last night in steamer Merritt WIN
ali Of the crew OF the Infanta Maria Teresa apan.
doned in heavy northeaster Movemn"er l. tisn n
niles miles n mort OF "a" Sa'''uV'' nave HARRIS.
The officers attached 20 the Navigation bu-
reau Immediately consulted the charts to locate
the scene of the disaster. The first glance sat
| isied them that the last had been seen OF the
| Inflated Maria Teresa. As near as they couio
calculate. the vessel lies In about 800 fatnoms
! of water. The location is "a degrees north lau-
| tude by 14:3O west longitude-about Z3J miles
from Nassau. At the time the Teresa sank she
was about 80 miles distant from Caimanera-
| the port from which she started little over
| two days before.
| SCENE OF The WkECk
| Looking at the chart it was not difficult for
| the officers Of the Department to see how the
! ship had foundered under the influence Of
heavy northwest gale. She had just emerged
from the Crooked Passage and. to make her
| course was obliged to lie with her head about
northwest. This would bring the heavy sea
| fairly over her forward side Under such severe
pounding the vessel must have soon succumbed.
1 oft IN err
rocky Bahamas. and innumerable shoals. with
shadows between and with shallow water in
every direction except straight ahead or directly
/ astern. To have turned about and sought an
| other passage would have been an extremely
perous undertaking to begin with, and even
| after getting fairly about the vessel would have
| been obliged to have travelled many hundred
| miles more than intended in order to have picked
up another course.
1t IS said at the Navy Department that Lieu
| tenant Commander Harris will be ordered at
once to Norfolk. where the seamen will be
| placed aboard a receiving ship.
| The greatest regret was expressed In official
circles regarding the loss of the Maria Teresa.
| Secretary Of State Hay said that he was very
sorry indeed to hear that it had been found i'm
possible to bring the vessel TO the United States.
when everybody was much interested in
her He expressed qualification that no loss Of
life was reported in consequence OF the disaster.
Acting Secretary Allen. Of the Navy said the
loss was much greater than the intrinsic value
represented in the ship. She was the link that
connected the great naval victory with the
United States. 1t a sentiment bred in this
country that succeeded In raising her, and II
was the wish Of the whole people that she
should be brought to the United States.
1t was the general impression about the State.
War and Navy Department Building that the
loss of the Maria Teresa would prevent any
further attempt to bring any Of the other Span
ish vessels to this country.
Commenting on the statement that some OF
! the men were drunk. naval officials expressed
| the opinion that these mea were not seamen
Of the Navy but were sailors from the wreck
| ing
No orders had been issued by the Navy De-
partment I'D TO the close OF office hours as to
the disposition of Lieutenant Commander Har-
ris and his crew. and Captain Crowninshield. OF
the Bureau of Navigation said orders would
be formulated tonight.
1t is said at the Department that provision
| was made by which the Teresa could have
! weathered any ordinary storm. A rough wooden
| deck had been nailed over her upper works
| Her hull then sheathed, and heavy chains
| were wound around her so as to hold her to
gether. Although far from seaworthy. all that
was expected was that the cruiser might be kept
! aioat until locked in this country. She had
! been stripped OF all guns and valuables except
the big turret 1l-inch guns before starting. so
that II is believed there will be no loss on that
| account.
THE LOSS TO THE GOVERNMENT
It is the opinion at the Navy Department that
! the Government has lost. besides the value OF
| the ship herself. only the amount OF the p@y-
ment Of $500 day through the sinking OF the
| vessel, because the contract appears to have
required the delivery by the wrecking company
Of the vessel at the Navy Yard AT Norfolk. The
exact language Of the contract on that point is
| as follows:
If the party Of the FIRST part shall be successful