The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-06

and al went well with the ship. although
We had trouble in keeping the pump in
the forward part OF the room from be-
ing choked with coal The wind contin-
Jed to increase in force until perhaps 3
a N. when il reached its height. al
though there were times az day when il
blew as hard as ever. The direction was
about northeast. The sea continued 10
rise until perhaps s p. m. and there was
heavy sea al the following day. The
pumps were reported every hour
FIGHTING THE WATER.
soon after came on deck I relieved
the second mate. Mr.. Johnson. 50 that
he could 90 below 20 fight the water.
About $50 the first mate. Captain Lecste.
came up and he also went below 20 work
Captain Chittendsn. who was On deck
almost as soon as I. gave his attsnttop 20
the pumps ard especially 10 pTining the
centrifugal pump IN the forward fire
room There were many new leaks
When q heavy sea struck the sides the
plates leaked az TIE butts and seams,
showing that the seams had resumed
their former appearance but were not
light There was at the nainmast only
an inch OF thvartship brading and only
a half inch along it. II making this ex-
animation. about 40 a m. Captain Crit
tenden was thrown down and fell on the
chain. hurting his SIDE and back enough
10 temporarily disable him He continued
10 give Us valuable advice. A. a. m
We made signal to the Vulcan and the
Merritt 70 go 70 windward. which they
did as well as they could. Up 10 ! O'Clock
a m we were running the starboard
main engines and had steam up on the
two central 5oIlers and three OF the short
forward boilers. But the trouble in the
forward FIRE room caused the steam 70
run low and tighten fires under the star
board after boiler and we stopped the
engine so as 10 run the steam UP for the
pumps. The pump for keeping the water
from the forward conpar tment was dTiv-
En- by a belt, and when the sea broke
over the bows thebelt became wet and
slipped. As soon as the water was Up
20 the floor place In the forward fire room
the rolling OF the ship swashed into the
coal bunkers and carried the coal out
choking the pump and carrying the floor
plates about, which made Il difficult and
dangerous 10 work there.
About O'Clock called for volunteers
10 hoist coal and water up the ash hoist.
Everybody responded and the work was
continued as long as IL seemed OF any
use.
About $50 a. m Il was reported that
water was coming into one OF the for
ward coal bunkers and running into the
fire rooms. Where the water came from
we do not know.
About O'Clock the gun in the after
turret ran out and in twice. When Il re-
coiied the second time something gave
way and IT settled 70 extreme elevau ton
and remained stationary.
DARED NOT TURN THE SHIP.
I'VE asked the Vulcan to signal the
latter holsted the flag az the signal yard
arm. which was a signal agreed upon 10
call the Leonidas to come within hail.
She was Steamlng ahead OF Us and max
ing rather bad weather. Il seemed as II
she feared TO turn in the heavy sea, but
eventually she did cross ahead Of the
Merritt and twice passed under the Ma
ria's stern, although at some distance
I think she picked up the life RATS which
the Vulcan threw over About 1l-30 we
signaIled the Vulcan to ask the Merritt
if we could be turned safely to run for
the lee OF Wading's Island. To this
Captain wolcott replied No and as
Captain Chittenden thought We would
sink II we attempted to turn, this idea
was given Up.
Both the Vulcan and the Merritt could
with difficulty keep Us head TO wind. and
the sea was running SO high tina. the
Vulcan's bits started. or the tow lines
parted The ship would fan into the
trough OF the sea
TOW LINES CAST OFF.
AT D. m. Captain Chittendeu asked
me 10 signal the Vulcan 70 cast OF the
Merritts' tow line and the Merritt came
alongside I then assumed the com
nand. told the men what was TO be done
and assigned them stations. I told the
chief engineer 10 start the engine 10 aid
the Vulcan n keeping our head Up. He
did so, bu it could run but sh0-. tine
with the steam We had.
We signalled the vulcan: We are
atcut to abl1i)n ship. t-y to >eso O.
head 70 wind
TAKING OFF THE CREW.
ct ordered Captain Lecato 70 take
charge OF the lee surf boat. and when 4,
vas lowered TO the rail ordered Captain
Chittenden into Il against lis repeated
protests. He was placed in the boat WITH
mis- son. The boat was unable . reach
the lines We had astsrn. but the Merritt
picked II ~ and after taking Captain
Chirtendeu aboard towed the boat 70 our
lee quarter and repeated this mzneuve-
each trip. forming lee for the boats 20
cone under. then towing them back
she was splendidly handled. From 2
O'Clock until The work OF transferring
the crew continued
Captain LecatO made two more trips
when. his arm being disabled. bis place
was taken b NJ. Johnson. who also
took two boat.oads- The life raj, was
taken over and capsized. but was righted
L was put II charge OF James BashfOrd
ordinary seaman. % the Illinois naval
militia He and his crew took SIX ca
bans 20 the Merritt
OIL OK THE WATERS
The smaller surf boat t0Vsc u1tL
that Oh the See side Ea- got out and %;
II IN caErge = Charles Dune. quarter
master arst class I gave hin nearly a.
tie GOD sean-l left. for a crew Z va
launched ve-y handsomely and made wv
trsps- Il az these trips re poured oI
from the spozs7ns CT bon s1es. and ths
Vulcan also used o. % make u susooth
where re sr7barkl1E was done. 1e1o'
r xe couid nave worked wi-5o11- r.
The snip Labored more ard more h-av-
~. Before Jeff the b-sgs sas rolled
Ter s1o1sous uzts-. whic1 7 Taol-d ssf-
mace 20 - tairry dezrees. ard ser pl-cn.
.aE Wa enough 20 SHOW he- r1e5er. 7co-
---L--s 81 $3.50 -u-.--a - ~ -