The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-08
OFF WATLlNG'S ISLAND
BENEATH TWO THOUSAND SIX
HUNDRED FATHOMS OF
WATER.
SCENE OF THE DISASTER The BAHAMAS
The Crew were All Saved. Gallant Service Of
the Wrecking Tug, l.. J. Merritt.
Board of Inquiry to Investigate
the Disaster.

Washington. Nov. 5.-The Maria
Teresa was lost during a heavy gale
Tuesday night thirty miles north OF
Watling's Island. in the Bahamas. She
sunk in two thousand and six hun
dred fathoms of water. All the crew
were saved.
A thrilling story of the loss of the
cruiser Maria Teresa is given in the Off
cial report of Lieutenant Commander
Harris to the Secretary of the Navy,
received by telegraph at the Navy De
partment late this afternoon. 1t Is dated
on board the wrecking steamer Merritt.
fifty miles off Charleston, November 4th
and says:
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
Sir: | have the honor to make the
following report of the loss of the Infan-
ia Maria Teresa on November LIST, at
Il. III.
Il found that it was blowing hard
and went on the lower bridge. We had
left Watling's Island light abeam at &c
o'clock. and up till midnight the weather
was pleasant and went well with the
ship, although we had trouble III keep
ing the pump in the forward fire room
from being choked with coal. The wind
continued to increase in force until per
hapS 3 a. m., when it reached its height,
although there were times all day when
it blew as hard as ever. The direction
was almost northeast. The sea cOntin-
ued to rise until perhaps 6 p. M; there
WAS a heavy sea all the following day.
The pumps were reported every hour.
Soon after l came on deck | relieved
the second mate. Mr.. Johnson, so that
he could go below to fight the water.
About $50 the first mate. Captain Leca-
to. came up and he also went below to
work. Captain Chittenden, who was on
deck almost as soon as |. gave his at
tention to the pumps and especially to
printing the centrifugal pump in the
FORWARD fire rOom.% There We're many
new lfaks. 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 We're not tight. There was
at the mainmast an inch of thwartship
vibration and only half an inch Of longi-
udina vibration. While making this
examination about 4:30 a. m. 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 advice.
PUMPS CHOKED BY COAL.
AT s a. m. we made signal to the Nul-
can and Merritt to go to windward.
which they did as we'll as they could.
Up to 1 o'clock we were running the
starhoard main engines and had steam
on the two central boilers and three of
the short forward boilers. but the trouble
i'll the fOrWard fire room caused the
steam to run low: we 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 compart
ment was driven by a belt. and when
the sea broke over the bows the belt
became wet and slipped. As soon as the
water was up to the floor place in the
forward fire room the rolling Of the shin
swashed into the coal bunkcrs and car
ried the coal out. choking the pump and
carrying the floor plates about, which
made it difficult and dangerous to work
there. About s O'Clock | called for vol
unteers to hoist coal and water in the
ash hoist. Everybody responded and
the worN was continued as long as it
seemed of any use. About $50 a. m.
'"' NHtA "tt'A was oIIl1ll
into one of the starboard forward coal
bunkers and running into the fire rooms.
Where the water came from we do not
know.
About = o'clock the lin. gun in the af-
ter turret ran out and in twice. When
it recOiled the second time sometime
gave way and it settled to extreme ele-
walton and remained stationary. We
asked the Vulcan to signal the Ieoni-
daS to stay close to us, and the latter
holSted the flag at the signal yard arm,
which was a signal agreed upon to call
the LeOnidas to come within hail. She
was steaming ahead Of us and making
rather bad weather. It 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
Marla's stern, although at some dis
lance. | think she picked up the life
RATS which the Vulcan threw over.
About 1870 we signalled the Vulcan to
ask the Merritt if we could be turned
safely to run for the lee of Watling's
Island. 70 this Captain Wolcott re-
piled No and as Captain Chittenden
thought we would sink if we tried to
turn, this idea was given up. Both the
Vulcan and the Merritt could with diff
Guilty keep us head to wind and the sea
was running so high that the Vulcan's
bits started or the tow-lines parted
The ship would fall into the trough of
the sea. At 1 p. IN. Captain Chittenden
asked me to signal the Vulcan to cast
off the Merritt's tow lines and nave the
Merritt come alongside.
ABANDONING THE SHIP.
Il then assumed the command, told
the men what was to be done and as
signed them stations. | 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