Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-16
CAPTAIN M'CALLA OF OPINION THAT
TERESA CANNOT BE SAVED.
is FAST ON A CORAL REEF
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR TUGS TO
APPROACH THE WRECK.
Cruiser Has Been Badly battered by
Sens and Is Steadily Going to
Picccs-McCaIla Ready TO
Make n Try to
Save Her.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE navy de-
partment to-day received the following
cableGram:
NASSAU. Nov. 15.-Secretary of the
Navy. Neutrality-suspicious. Potomac,
Vulcan. scene wreck. on arrival TOOK
charge of Teresa. hoiSted flag. After care
ful examination of stranded ship and sit
uation and careful consideration of in
structons from department. appreciating
great interest taken by nation and gov
ernment in fate of Teresa, regret exceed
ingly TO express the opinion that 1t is
hopeless to expect the rescue the ship.
Craven. Blow. Hobson, Crttenden con-
firm my opinion.
Wreck is stranded in from sixteen to
twenty-one feet, with head to northward
With exception of few feet astern ara
forward. where cut away, ship rests OH
rocky reef, covered with coral sand, in
terspersed with bouiders. half mile south
Bird point Line of reef extends outside
OF wreck both to northward and south
ward ship having been driven into slight
indentation of reef. Surf from astern and
outside Of ship continues between ship
and shore then runs out slightly to point
forward of and outside of ship again to
northward. Small passage thus left for
small boats TO pass under stern to lee
side.
sible, | think, for small tug, drawing ten
feet of water. in hands of very skllful
seamep, to pass close under the stern OF
the Teresa, in smooth sea, to make fast
10 lee side, for the purpose of supplying
power for wrecking pumps. If, however,
such vessel We're caught inside the Teresa
by storm, probabilities are that she would
be swamped by the seas or thrown on
reef. Surf thus cuts off communication
-t..,r,
stages of tide. or when there is very little
sea running. During heavy seas the break
ers would also be continuous outside the
ship.
Passed Sunday on wreck, examining
carefully all compartments which were not
flooded, as well as ships surroundings, ac-
companied by Craven, who had previously
inspected Teresa. and Crittenden. who was
perfectly familiar with the ship. Evi-
denccs show that, after striking reef. main
| mast was driven up and broken off short
below spar deck, military top lying out
side bilge under port quarter. Seas had
gone entirely over her Inner bottom had
been driven upward from one and one-half
| to two feet, patch on bottom abreast for
| ward turret had disappeared, air ports had
| been driven in and seas had entered
| through them and gun ports on starboard
| side. Spar deck and deck house had been
| crushed in by seas after ship struck. Large
| proportion OF the lumber in short pieces
| lying or floating below berth deck. Tide
rises and falls in ship below protective deck
aft engine room bu,khead. Seas which now
| break over starboard quarter and enter
| through ports keep water IN that part Of
| ship five or six feet above fine of that in
| engine rooms and fire rooms. Pumps which
1 We're erected by wrecking companies on
| forward and after ammunition hoists and
| secured to berth deck beams have been
| driven upward from eighteen to twenty
four inches. Both starboard and port en-
| gines have been forced upward from one
| and one-half to two feet. and separated
laterally by from six to eight inches.
Best way TO illustrate general condition
! of wreck is to say thar the two sets of
| engines, boilers, and their foundations
| form part of reef itself around which rest
| of ship works laterally and vertically.
| Same effect would be produced. in my
| opinion If ship had settled on pinnacle of
| rock.
| Sunday trade wind was very light. and
there was little difficulty in approaching
| wreck from Vulcan, but communication
| with shore would have been very difficult
| in boat al cne stage of tide. Can best de-
scribe condition of ship generally by stat
| ing that she is already teescoped. and my
| view is that as rivets are sheared by the
| constant working of snip the telescope
| process must continue.
| In considering the practicability of Tescu-
| ing Teresa. the fact must be considered
| that she lies upon 4 coral reef with but a
| thin layer of sand. on the windward side
| of an island constantly exposed TO seas due
| to trade winds and TO the Influence of many
| storms developing to the eastward or south
! ward. The character of the bottom makes
| anchorage off the eastern coast of the isl
| and dangerous. The geographical position
| permits force OF more or less magnitude to
| BE- constantly ,lisntegrating the ship Dur
| ing gales or with very heavy seas the
| wreck would not be tenable for working
parties which would be Obliged to leave
| the ship before communication should he
cut off with ship anchored outside or with
| shore inside.
Board of officers also examined and re-
ported yesterday upon question of rescuine
Teresa. This board confirms my report
Should department determine to attempt to
float stranded ship. would recommend that
| expedition be based on Cat island. not far
from ships outside reef. and should be
! very pleased to command any organization
prepared to work on wreck. In addition to
| turret guns. there are four f-inch guns on
! Teresa taken from one Of the wrecked
| ships and remonnted I'm Guantanamo
| ff,,, Il ,.,lr-G fiIrth