The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-06
HER SEAMS FORCED OPEN
Lioutsnant Commander Harris
Was in Charge of the War
ship-All Efforts to Save Her
Were in Vain, and She Had to
Be Abandoned.

Charleston. s. c.. Nov. 5.-The tug
Merritt put into Charleston this MORN
ing. She reported the loss of the
cruiser Maria Teresa of San Salvador.
bahamas. Nov. ;. in the midst OF a
furious storm. The cruiser left Cal
manera, Cuba. on the morning of Oct.
30. I'm tow for New York. She had al
ready passed Cape Maysl and started
northeast around the Bahamas.
A furious storm overlook her. and In
her condition she was unable TO
weather the gale. The strain opened
rents I'm her hull which had been
patched to enable her to make the
tourney. and she began to I'LL rapidly.
The Merritt took of Captain Harris
and crew from the sinking ship n she
soon went down.
The Merritt brought the captain and
l3s men. who will proceed north by
rail. No lives were lost as far as
known
washington, Nov. 5.-The navy de-
partment has a message from Lieuten-
ant Commander Harris. now at
(nAIlt&kOn. COnlI illlIB ~ AVec Va 49,
Marie Teresa.
Looking at the chart II was not diff
cult for the officers at the department
TO see how the ship had foundered UNI
der the influence of the heavy north
west gale reported. The location Is "a
degrees north latitude by 143o west
longitude. about 235 miles distant from
Nassau. and $40 miles distant from
Caimanera. the port from which she
started a little over two days before.
She had just emerged from the
Crooked passage and to make her
course was obliged TO lay with her
head about northwest. This would
bring a heavy sea over her forward
side. and under such a severe pound
ing the vessel must have soon sue
cumbed There was no alternative.
On her lee lay rocky Bahamas and
innumerable shoals with shadows be-
tween them and with shallow water
in every direction, except straight
ahead or in an easterly direction.
To have turned about and sought an
other passage would w been an ex-
tremely perilous undertaking TO begin
with, and even after getting safely
about. the vessel would have been
obliged TO travel many hundred miles
more than intended in order to have
picked up another course closer TO the
American continent and with the added
dangers the Florida shoals might bring.
II Is said at the navy department that
Lieutenant Commander Harris will be
ordered at once to Norfolk. where the
rescued seamen will be place. aboard a
receiving ship.
The greatest regret was expressed In
oficiai circles regarding the loss OF Tho
Maria Teresa. Secretary OF state Hay
aid thai he was indeed sorry to hear
that 1t had been found impossible tc
bring the vessel to the United States
when everybody was 50 much interest
ed in her. He expressed qualification
that no loss of life was reported In con
sequence Of the disaster. Acting Secre-
tary Allen of the navy said the Loss
was much greater h any intrinsic
value represented In the ship. She wa;
the link that connected the great nava
victory with the United States. Ii wa
a sentiment bred In this country tina
succeeded in raising her n II was tn
wish OF the whole people that shI
should be brought TO the United States
II was the general impression abou
the state. war and navy buildings tha
the loss of the Teresa would proven
any further attempt 10 bring any o
the other vessels TO this country.