Evening star., 1898-11-07
LOSS OF THE MARIA TERESA
Thrilling Story Told by Lieutenant Com
mander Harris.
Report to the Navy Department.
Hard Fight for Hours TO Save
the Cruiser.

thrilling story of the loss Of the cruiser
Infanta Maria Teresa is given in the Off
cial report of Lieutenant Commander liar-
ris to the Secretary of the Navy. 1t is dated
on board the wrecking steamer Merritt, fifty
miles off Charleston. November 4, and says
Secretary of the Navy. Washington.
Sir: 1 have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report of the loss of the Infanta Ma
ria Teresa on November 1 at / am / found
that it was blowing hard and went on the
lower bridge. We had left Watling's ISL
and light abeam at 10 O'Clock, and up till
midnight the weather was pleasant and all
went well with the ship, although We had
trouble in keeping the pump in the forward
fire room from being choked with coal. The
wind continued to increase in force until
perhaps 3 am, when il reached its height
although there were times all day when il
blew as hard as ever. The direction was
about northeast. The sea continued to rise
Until perhaps pm. There was heavy sea
all the following day. The pumps were re-
ported every hour. Soon after L came on
deck L relieved the second mate, Mr.. john
son, so that he could go below to fight the
water. About $50 the first mate. Captain
Lecato, came up and he also went below to
work. Captain Chttenden who was on
deck almost soon as L, gave his attention
to the pumps, and especially to printing the
centrifugal pump in the forward fire room.
There were many new leaks. When a heavy
sea struck the sides the plates leaked at the
butts and seams, showing that after the
fire they had resumed their former appear
ance, but were not tight. There was at the
mainmast an inch Of thWartship vibration
and only half an inch longitudinal vibra-
tio1. While making this examination about
4:30 am. Captain Chittenden was thrown
down and fell on the chain, hurting his side
and back enough to temporarily disable
him. He continued to give US valuable ad-
vice.
'At 3 I'm. we made signal to the Vulcan
and Merritt to go to windward, which they
did well as they could. Up to l O'Clock
a we were running the starboard main
engines and had steam on the two central
boilers, and three of the short forward
boilers, but the trouble in the forward fire
room caused the steam to run low, and
lighted fires under the starboard after
boiler, and stopped the engine SO as to run
the steam up for the pumps. The pump
for keeping the water from the forward
compartment was driven by a belt. and
when the sea broke over the bows the belt
became wet and slipped. AS soon the
water was up to the floor place in the for
ward fire room the rolling of the ship
swashed into the coal bunkers and carried
the coal out, choking the pump and carry
ing the floor plates about, which made it
difficult and dangerous to work there.
Volunteers Called For.
About o'clock called for volunteers to
hoist coal and water in the ash hoist.
Everybody responded and the work was
continued as long as it seemed of any use.
About $3.50 am. it was reported that water
was coming into one of the Starboard for
ward coal bunkers and running into the fire
rooms. Where the water came from we do
not know.
About o'clock the 11-inch gun in the
after turret ran out and in twice. When it
recoiled the second time something gave
way and it settled to extreme elevation
and remained stationary. We asked the
Vulcan to signal the Leonidas to stay close
ar,1 l,ttn hlic fa1 thx d,,r
signal yard arm, which was signal agreed
upon TO call the LeOnidaS to come within
hail. She was Steaming ahead of us and
making rather bad weather. 1t seems as
If she feared to turn in the heavy sea, but
eventually she did cross ahead of the
Merritt and twice passed under the Maria's
stern, although at some distance. L think
she picked up the life RATS which the Vul-
can threw over. About 11:3U we signaled
the Vulcan to ask the Merritt if we could
be turned safely to run for the lee Of Wat
lings Island. TO this Captain Wolcott re-
piled no" and as Chaplain Chittenden
thought We would sink if We tried to turn,
this idea was given up. Both the Vulcan
and Merritt could with difficulty keep US
high that the Vulcan's bits started or the
tow lines parted. The ship would fall into
the trough of the sea. AT l pm. Captain
Chittenden asked me to signal the Vulcan
to cast off the Merritt's tow lines and have
the Merritt come alonside.
Abandoning the Ships.
81 then assumed the command, told the
men what was to be done and assigned
them stations l told the chief engineer
to start the engine to aid the Vulcan in
keeping our head up. He did SO, but it
could run but a short time with steam
we had. We signaled the Vulcan, We are
about to abandon ship, try to keep us head
to wind 1 ordered Captain Lecato to take |
charge of the lee surf boat, and when it |
was lowered to the rail ordered Captain |
Chittenden into it against his repea ted pro-
tests He was placed in the boat with his |
son. This boat was unable to reach the |
lines we had astern, but the Merritt picked |
aboard towed the boat to our lee quarter |
and repeated this maneuver each trip, |
forming lee for the boats to come here
and then towing them back. She was splen-
didly handled. From until the work of |
transferring the crew continued. Captain |
Lecato made two more trips, when, his |
arm being disabled, his place was taken |
by Mr.. Johnson, who also took two boat
loads. The life raft was gotten over and |
charge of James Bachford. ordinary sea-
man of the Illinois Naval Militia. He and |
his crew took six Cubans to the Merritt |
The smaller surf boat slowed inboard on
the lee side was then gotten out and I |
put it in charge of Charles A. Dunno quar-
termaster first class. gave him nearly |
all the good seamen left for a crew. It |
was launched very handsomely and made |
two trips. In all these trips we poured oil |
Vulcan also used oil to make il smooth