New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06

rst part II so required by the party Of the second
part without unnecessary delay 10 me e. the COM
mandant OF that Navy Yard subject to sucI
change in place Of delivery of vessel or recovere1
propertv as NAV be decided upon by the party oil
the second part
The above language applied in the connection
used was recited in the contract for work on
the Colon. which was supposed to be In better
/ condition than any OF the other vessels anu
easier to raise. but as a subsequent paragraph
requires the contractors to give direct attention
TO the other vessels under the terms OF the con-
tract Il would seem that they have lost the sal
wage on the ship. According to the contract
salvage was to consist OF such further compen-
sation over or above the per diem and stipulated
expenses as might be awarded by a board ap-
pointed for that purpose consisting OF repre-
sentative Of each party and third party
AS a matter OF fact II turned out on close in
spection by wreckers. that while the Colon was
practically intact so far hull and fittings were
concerned and the Teresa had been damaged to
some extent by fire. the latter In a much
better position to raise.
COURT OF INQUIRY TO BE HELD.
The first thing in order now is a court OF In
quiry. In fact. the Department has no option
In the case OF the loss Of a vessel under sucn
conditions. This court Is required TO fix the re-
sponsibility for the loss and to examine Into the
considerations which led ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
er Harris to choose the eastery course around
Cape Maysi and eastward OF the Bananas
rather than that around Cape Antonio and TO
the Florida Channel 1t must determine also as
1t can whether the work OF preparing
the ship for the homeward voyage was prop
erly executed and whether the officers and crew
were justified in abandoning her On the CON
martial shall be held Lieutenant Commander
Harris is the only officer whom the Department
knows to have been attached to the Teresa, al
though he was doubtless supported by some
other officers whose names were not reported TO
the Department when the snip sailed. he was
in command Of the Vulcan throughout the war
and was transferred to the Teresa just before
she sailed. He bears al enviable reputation for
ability In his profession.
In the work of raising the ship great deal
OF valuable material was recovered by the
wreckers. Just what this amounts to Is not
positively known. but it included expensive
guns, torpedoes and much material OF value;
The opinion is expressed that with the material
raised from her and from the other ships which
have been operated upon so far, the Navy De
partment will he able TO reimburse itself fully
for the outlay OF $500 day TO the contractor
The loss OF the ship will be a bitter disap-
pOintment to the people In Norfolk. where eN-
tensive arrangements had been made to bring
excursions from all points to the Navy Nard
there 10 look at the famous ship. and where the
reconstruction Of the vessel would AFFORD AT
least year and half Of work TO large pocy
OF mechanics and lahOrers. The Norf0'k peo-
pie had assured themselves that this work
would be assigned 20 their yard. and only TO-
day preparations were begun for the RECEPTION
Of the vessel which expected to arrive
about Monday morning
MAY TRY TO RAISE THE COLON.
As already stated. the Navy Department was
discouraged by the i'll success Of this most prom
Using venture and at tlrst declared against
continuance of the attempt TO raise any Of the
other vessels However the first feeling Of dis
couragement gave place in short time to
determination to save at least one Of Cerveras
ships as a trophy Of the battle of July 3. Acting
Secretary Allen had already under considera-
ton the report Of the Board of Bureau Chiefs
which looked TO CuItailing the wrecking opera
tons off Santiago and 10 the continuance or
work on the Colon only. condition that the
contractors. Merritt & Chapman. required pay
ment only in the event Of the success Of their
undertaking. It may he that the loss reported
to-day has strengthened the hands OF Con
structor Hobso1, who is urgently pleading with
the Department 10 grant money To enable MN
to conduct operations in wreckng the vessels on
his own account. il may induce the Depart
ment to offer liberal terms to the con-
tractors The present DISPOSITION OF the Depart
ment however is. as already stated. to raise
the Colon bring to the United states,
place her under the American flag and attach
her to the United States Navy