Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-09

the distance at which Sampson lies from
the cable station. All that came from him
last night was brief report as to the con-
dition of the wrecks of the Spanish ves-
sells. The admiral has had some of his
experts, including. it is believed, Con-
structor Hobson, examine the ships as they
lie beached and makes a report that is en-
couraging to the authorities here to the ef
feet that the Colon is in good condition,
and even the Teresa and Vizcaya may be
saved. The naval officers are particularly
pleased with the prospects of recovering
these vessels and adding them to the
American navy. The only approach to this
type of armored cruiser on our lists are
the New York and Brooklyn. In the ter
rible running duel of sixty miles. the Span
ish vessels showed more than once the
possibility not only of escape, but of max
ing a destructive fight had they been
handled with anything like the skill and
coolness displayed by our own naval COM
manders. The Colon in particular came
very near getting away altogether, and
from Capt Evans recital of the chase 1t
appears that had it not been for the Ore
gon's splendid speed the crack Spanish
cruiser might have escaped to the west
ward to give our navy endless trouble be-
fore being run down.
The text of Admiral SIMPSONS dispatch
is as as follows:
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July s.
Secretary of the Navy. Washington, d. C.
Preliminary report from board ordered
to examine Wi ecks states that wrecking
(appliances) should be gotten here i'm
nediately. Think no doubt about saving
Vizcaya, Maria Teresa and Cristobal Colon
if haste be made. Colon is much the most
valuable. being in perfect order. Would
recommend most powerful appliances be
sent at once.
SAMPSON"
The department has already arranged with
the Merritt-Chapman Wrecking Company
to undertake the salvage of these vessels,
and two of the vessels of that company are
ow on their way TO Santiago. AS Samp-
sens dispatch makes out a much stronger
possibility of saving the ships than was
supp ed copy of it has been sent to the
contractors with the request to hasten the
v ork and to be prepared to send additional
assistance if it be found necessary.
Delay In Unloading.
Efforts are being made by the War De-
partment to obtain some good seagoing
tugs and other vessels to be sent to Gen.
Shafter, with which to unload the stores
and artillery from the transports The fact,
however, is that many of these tugs Of
too great draught to be of much service on
the Cuban coast where the water is too
shallow to permit of their use. The light
ers which were lost had been towed from
Mobile by the tug Nimrod, which has re-
turned to that city. No lives were lost.
Arrangements had been made by the quar-
termaster generals office for the dispatch
of two lighters from New Orleans by the
tug Goldsworthy, but reports from there
are that an accident occurred which pre-
vented her successfully carrying out the
mission.
Lighters at Santiago.
Secretary Alger and Adjt. Gen. Corbin
went to the White House at noon today.
They remained about half an hour Secre-
tary Alger said that he had received no
news as to the situation at Santiago at
that hour. He said that his department
had obtained lighters at Santiago on which
to land the troops.