The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-06

reau of Navigation, said no orders would
be formulated tonight
1t is said at the Navy Department
that provision was made by which the
Teresa could have weathered any ordi-
nary storm. A rought wooden deck had
been nailed over the upper works. Her
hull was then sheathed, and heavy
chains were wound around her so as to
hold her together. Although far from
seaworthy, all that was expected was the
cruiser might be kept afloat until locked
in this country. She had been stripped
of all guns and valuables save the big
turret eleven inch guns, before starting,
SO that it is believed there will be no
loss on that account.
1t is the opinion of the Navy Depart
ment that the Government has
lost besides the value of the
ship herself, only the amount of the
per diem of $500 per day through the
sinking of the vessel, because the con-
tract appears to have required the de-
livery by the wrecking company of the
vessel at the Navy Yard at Norfolk, Va.
The wrecking of the ship, owing to
the engineering difficulties, presented,
occupied good deal of time so that
while the vessel was raised on September
22nd. and the work was prosecuted with
vigor it was not until October Both that
she was able to start away from
Caimanera under her own steam bound
for Norfolk. She was accompanied on
the start by the repair ship Vulcan, the
collier Leonidas and the cruiser Gin
cnnati, but the latter left the other
ships at Cape Maysi.
NEXT A COURT Or INQUIRY.
The first thing in order now is court
of inquiry; in fact the Department has
no option in the case of a loss of n
vessel under such conditions. This
court is required to fix the responsibility
for loss; to examine into the considera-
| tiuons which led Commander Harris to
choose the easterly course around Cape
Maysi and eastward of the Bahamas to
| that around Cape Antonio and to the
Florida channel. 1t must determine also
as near as it can whether the work of
preparing the ship for the homeward
voyage was properly executed and alos
whether the officers and crew were JUS
titled in abandoning her. Upon their
conclusions will depend whether or not
a court martial shall be held. Command
or Harris is the only officer whom the
Department knows to have been attach
ed to the Teresa although he was
doubtless supported by some warrant Of
ficers whose names were not reported
to the Department before the ship sailed
He was in command of the Vulcan
throughout the war, and was transferred
to the Teresa just before she sailed. He
bears an enviable reputation for ability
in his profession.
During the progress of raising the
ship, n great deal of valuable material
was recovered by the wreckers Just
what this amounts to is not positively
known, but it includes expensive guns,
torpedoes and much material of value
The opinion is expressed that with the
material raised from the Teresa and
from other ships which have been operat
ed upon SO far, the Navy Department
will be able to reimburse itself fully for
the outlay of $500 per diem, to the CON
tractors.
NORFOLK'S DISAPPOINTMENT
The loss of the ship will be bitter
disappointment to the people in Norfolk,
where extensive arrangements had been
made to bring excursions from all points
to the navy yard there to look at the
famous ship, and where the reconstruc-
ton of the vessel would afford at least
year and a half's work to a large body
of mechanics and laborers. 1t may be
that the loss reported to-day will
strengthen the hands of Constructor
Hobson who is urgently pleading with
the Department to allot money to en-
able him to conduct operations in wreck
ing the vessels on his own account, or
it may induce the Department to offer
more liberal terms to the contractors.
but however, that may be, the present
disposition of the Department is, it is al
ready stated, to raise the Colon, bring
her to the United States, to place her
under the American flag and to attach
h.r to the United States Navy