Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-08
LOSS OF THE TERESA.
Thrilling Report of an officer of the
Vulcan.

NORFOLK, VA, November 7.-(Spe-
cial)-After holding on to the Inflated
Infanta Maria Teresa four hours after
the signal to cast off had been given, the
naval repair-ship Vulcan arrived in
Hampton Roads yesterday, to report the
failure OF her last desperate attempt to
save the former Spanish warship. 1t was
tale Of daring told by her officers Of the
men who stood by the fated ship. despite
the imminent danger of her sinking and
dragging the Vulcan down with her.
The account given your correspondent
by Chief-Engineer Sims, OF the last at
tempt to save the Teresa is as follows:
Held TO the Teresa by a 1j-inch hawser,
secured by a chain bride around the
after bits, and also the bits on either
quarter, our position was a most precd-
riOus one, but the most hazardous work
came after the Merritt had rescued our
los men from the Teresa. At that time
the seas were running so high we could
only see the tips Of the Merritts masts.
the Teresa was rolling and plunging, and
our great danger i'm casting off from her,
was the fear that the chain bride and
hawser would foul our propeller. When
Teresa longer meant certain death. the
Vulcan's engines were stopped. the men
stood by with axes. and al the word of
command from Lieutenant Gilmer the
lashings We're cut, the chain bride thrown
overheard. and the Maria Teresa was left
TO her fate, but not until we had fought
as long as possible TO hold her
For some time afterward the Teresa
maintained her course i'm the Vucan's
wake. but evidently thousands of tons
Of water were going over her from stem
TO stern. and She could not float much
longer. When last seen. at $40 o'clock,
she was rapidly settling. She took n
header. we thought her gone. but she
rghted. and there at her stern still float
ed dehantly the flag of her cOnquerOrs.
Three cheers for the flag | called. and
| they were given with q will by the hat
| less coatless seamen. who had lost all
| their clothing As the darkness settled,
/ the flag still floated, while the ship rolled
| on her beams. She probably went down
q few minutes afterward.
I'VE never heard the Merritt's whistle,
| and headed northeast all night at two
| knots. barely steerage way.
| AT daylight we turned and went back
| to where we last saw the Teresa. There
| was nothing to be- seen Of her or tho Mer-
! rift. and the gale increasing in the eve
ming. we turned and came TO Hampton
! Roads. Although badly shaken up. the
| Vulcan's crew is i'm prime condition, and
| the ship could so to sea now
/ The Chief Egneer declared that It was
! almost impossible for the men TO work
| below aboard the Teresa on account OF
| the foul air, In which lamp would not
| burn. Almost daily skeletons Of Spanish
sailors were found below.
! A peculiar coincidence was the arrival
! simultaneously with me Vulcan, of the
| German ship Senior. first chartered by
| the Morritts 10 raise the Teresa.
There arrived in this city last evening
| fifty-nine Of the crew OF the lost war
! ship They came from Charleston 10 Pin
| ner's Point via the Atlantic-Coast Line
/ and were met by the navy-yard tue
! Wahneta. The men were taken immedi
! ately down the Roads and placed aboard
! the Vulcan. They were without coats
! caps. or shoes. having lost everything
when they abandoned the Teresa. Lieu
| tenant Commander Harris was in com
| mand.