Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-11-16
Lieut. M'CaI|a's report of
the Ships Condition.
FAST DISAPPEARING
Already T.lc,copci. Her pc.,,,or :, ~
Neef Exposes Her To the Full Fury
OF Wind anI Wave. Details
of Dnrmnge. ..
l.N Tt.lngranh.l

WASHINGToN. Nov. 15.-Tbe Nav,
department lat. today received tha foi,
lowing: "... IL" 'Ae -
Nassau. n. P. Nov. Is.
secretary Navy. Washington:
ArfiV"d. Potomac. Vulcan scene
wreck. ON arrival took charge of Te-
t'sl h"lSt'l ila@. After careful exam
'ha,l"n 81 stranded ship and situation.
anu careful consideration Of Instructions
from department. approaching great in
.erGSt taken by nation ana government
~ rate OF Teresa. regret exceedingly to
'NprNSS ise opinion that it is hopeless
10 eNi"e't I" rescue the ship. Craven
!'lo". ll"ltS"n. Chittcnden confirm nv
"l'tnion. Wreck Is stranded in from is
t' :! fct't with head {" ncrthward. With
exception OF few feet astern ana for
ward. where cut away. ship rests on
rocky rect. covered With coral sand. in
trSpcrSci With houlticrs, half mile south
Bird Island.
Line Of reef extends outside of wreck.
hoth /" i"rthWard ana southwark. ship
haNln. been driven in slight indenta-
ton in reef. Surf from astcrn and out
side Of ship continues between ship and
shore. then runs out slightly to a point
"rW;tr OF and outside ship again to
Small passage thus left for
small boats to pass under stern to lee
side. In fairly good weather Ii would he
possible. | think. for small tug dra wing
ten feet of water in hands very skillful
Se;llncn 10 pass close under stern Of Te-
resa in smooth sea. to make fast to lee
side. for purpose of supplying power for
wrecking pumps. If. however. such yes
sci We're caught inside Teresa by storm,
probabilities are she would be swuinped
by seas on thrown IA reef.
EFFECT OF SURE.
surf thus cuts off communication be-
tween shin ana shore except certain
81 a., yA.- ~ i, 49,. K"l,a -. --L T. .N--- ~
tie sea running. During heavy seas
the breakers would also be continuous
outside ship. Passed Sunday on wreck
examining carefully all compartments
which were not flooded, as well as ships
surroundings. accompanied by Craven,
who had previously inspected Teresa,
and Chittenden, who was perfectly ia
miliar with ship. 0N.' f"
Striking
reef, main mast was driven up and
broken off short below spar deck. mill
tary topmast lying outside bilge under
port quarter. Seas had gone entirely
over her that inner bottom generally
had been driven upward from 1-2 to 2
feet, patch on bottom abreast forward
iurret had disappeared, air ports had
been driven in and seas had entered
through them and gun ports on star
hoard side. spar deck and deck houses
had been crushed in by seas after ship
struck. Large proportion of the lumber
in short pieces lying or floating below
deck. Tide falls and rises in ship below
protective deck abaf engine room bulk
head. Seas which now break over star
board quarter and enter through ports
keep water in that part of ship five or
six feet above lire Of that in engine
rooms and fire rooms. ..
Pumps which We're erected by wreck
ing company on forward and after am
munition hoists and secured to berth
deck beams have been driven upward
from Is To y inches. Both starboard
and port nginc have been forced up
ward from / IL to , feet and separated
literally by from six To eight inches
Fest way to Illustrate general condi-
ton of wreck is to say tina: the two sets
OF engines. boilers ana their foundations
form part of reef itself. around which
rest of ship works latcrally and vertical
~. Same effect would be produced. in
my opinion. if ship had settled on pin
naclr of rock. Sunday trade wind was
very light and there, was little difticulty
in approaching wreck from Vulcan. but
communication With shore would have
heen Very difficult in boat at one stage
Of tide. . .~. . Ill., ....."
SHIT is TIcLESCOPED.
Can best dascrihc condition of ship
generally by stating that she Is already
l~elesropct and my views by Expressing
conviction that. as rivets are Sheareo
by the constant working of snip, the
.olescopic process must continue. In
considering practicability If rescutng
Teresa the fact must he considered that
she lies upon coral reef. win hut tiilS
aver of sand, on windward side of an IS
and constantly exposed to seas, que 10
trade winds and to Influence Oh maHS
| storms developing to eastward or SOUTH
ward. Character Of bottom makes 'neli-
aragc off eastern coast OF isiahd oan-
gerous. Geographical position perm!es
orcc Of more nr less magnitude TO De
constantly disintegratinS shtp. I'urllis
,nl.s or with very heavy seas Wrech
| y,uld not be tenabln for WORKING par
ties. which would be- "hiige 70 leave
hin before communication Shousd De
ut off. with ship anchored OUTSIDE or
Elm shore inside. I;oard Of officers asst'
xamined and reported yesterday ulot,
.,,.stion nr rcscuing Teresa. TINS boa'u
.optirms my report. Should departneI,
determine To attempt 10 it"a' ;ao
hin would recommend tha' eAie'. 49,,
-. r,s,d nv, CAT Island and no' from
hips outside reef ana S'o''u t;nn
,,ensa1 10 command amy orSai'!"i..oi
,ron,rod "a work on wreck. In ithni.io,l
turr.t "u,is there are tour ".''',ii
-,pc an Teresa taken from one tn w
v,ackcd sbipS and ictnnuniHd ~ 'u'n
,nnmo. Awaiting department i"'-
her orders. N.rArIA.
tSigned) ....M". ..-. - .
a;es, ~. have about . pairs lace
md bn,ton siio,; thai sold lpr s''.V. ~
lose. them out utFrk W" WlfN -
-o, Csc. Peyscr. a7l5 Washington aEsn =,
uc. d. .. ..... .a... -"