The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-16
Surroundings Make Il Impossible TO Get
Cruiser Into Deep Water.
THE REPORT OF CAPTAIN MCALLA,
Spent Sunday In Examining the Wreck After She
Struck Malnmast Was Driven Up and Broken
or Below the Spar Deck.

Washington, Nov. 16.-The navy de-
partment has received a oablegram from
Commander McCalla. dated Nassau.
Nov. 10. The commander states that
upon arrival at the scene OF the wreck
he took charge of the Teresa and hoisued
a flag. After careful examination of
the stranded ship and situation, and
careful consideration OF instructions
from the department, appreciating the
great interest taken by the nation and
government in the fate Of the Teresa he
regrets exceedingly 10 express the opin-
ion that IL is hopeless To expect to rescue
the ship. Craven, Blow, Hobson and
Crittenden confirm his opinion. The
wreck is stranded in from 16 TO II feet of
water. With the exception OF a few feet
Hstern and forward, where cut away, the
ship rests on rocky reef. covered with
coral sand. interspersed with boulders
The line of reef extends outside of the
wreck both 10 northward and south
ward, the ship having been driven into
a slight indentation in the reef. In fair
ly good weather IL would be possible, the
commander thinks, for a small tug
drawing 10 feet of water, in the hands Of
very skillful seamen. TO pass close under
the stern of the Teresa in a smooth sea
To MAKE fast to the lee side for the pur-
pose OF supplying power for wrecking
pumps. If. however such vessel We're
caught inside the Teresa by a storm. il
probably would be swamped by seas or
thrown on the reef The surf cuts off
communication between the ship and
shore except at certain stages Of the
tide or when there is very little sea run
ming. During heavy seas the breakers
would also be continuous outside the
ship.
Commander McCalla reports that he
passed Sunday on the wreck, examining
carefully all compartments which were
not flooded. as we'll as the ships sur
roundngs. accompanied by Craven, who
had previously inspected the Teresa. and
Crittenden. who was perfectly familiar
with the ship. Evidences show that af-
ter striking the reef her mainmast was
driven up and broken off short below
the spar deck. the military top lying out
side her bilge under the port quarter.
The seas had gone entirely over her: her
inner bottom generally had been driven
upwards from 1h to two feet, the patch
on her bottom abreast the forward tur-
ret had disappeared air ports had beers
driven in, and seas had entered through
them and the gun ports on starboard
side: the spar deck and deckhouse had
been crushed in by seas after the ship
struck.
The tide rises ard falls In the ship be-
low her protective deck abaft the engine
room bulkhead Seas which now break
over the st.arboard quarter and enter
through Ia, hat
OF the ship five or six feet above the line
of that in the engine rooms and fire
rooms. Pumps which were erected by
the wrecking company on the forward
and after ammunition hoists ard se-
cured 10 berth deck beams have been
driven upward from Is to "a inches.
Both starboard and port engines have
been forced upward from IL to two feet.
and separately laperally by from six to
eight inches. The best way to illustrate
the general condition Of the wreck is to
say that the~two sets Of engines, boilers
ard their foundations form part of the
reef itself, around which the rest OF the
ship works laterally and vertically The
same effect would be produced, i'm Com
mander McCalla's opinion. If the ship
had settled on pinnacle OF rocks.
The Sunday trade wind was very light
and there was little difficulty in APP
preaching the wreck from the Vulcan.
but communication with the shore would
have been very difficult in boat at one
stage of the tide. The ship is already
telescoped, and Commander McCalla ex-
presses the conviction that, as the rivets
are sheared by the constant working OF
the ship, the telescope process must
continue.
In considering the practicablity OF
rescuing the Teresa, the fact must be
considered that she lies upon a coral
reef with but thin layer OF sand on the
windward side OF an island constantly
exposed 10 seas due to trade winds. ana
10 the influence OF many storms develop
Ing to the eastward or southward The
character OF the bottom makes anchor
age off the eastern coast Of the island
dangerous. The geographical position
permits force Of more or less magnitude
TO be constantly disinteerating the ship.
During gales, or with very heavy seas,
the wreck would not be tenable for work
ing parties which would be Obliged To
leave the ship before communication
should be cut off with a ship anchored
outside or with the shore inside
The boar of officers also examined
and reported upon the question Of rescu-
ing the Teresa. This board confirmed
McCalla's report Should the depart
ment determine TO attempt TO float the
stranded ship. Commander Mccalla
recommends that the expedition be based
on Cat island not from shin outside the
reef In addition TO turret guns. there
are -four slG-inch gurs on the Teresa,
taken from one of the wrecked ships and
remounted 81 Guantanamo.
CRUSHED ny FALLING SLATE.