The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-11
THE MARIA TERESA
Does Not Sink-She Goes Ashore on Cat
Island-Tuss Sent to Investigate Her
Condition

Norfolk, Va, November S.-The Mer-
rift Wrecking Company has received
information that the Teresa is ashore
at Cat island. Captain Chittenden will
leave with the steamer Merritt at
once.
Nassau, n. P, November S.-Relia-
BILE news has just been received here
saying that a steamer is ashore on the
northeast coast of Cat island. She is
painted black, is deserted, has two fun
nels, two masts and no deck houses.
Her name is unknown.
Washington, November S.-A mes
sage received at the navy department
today from Captain Crowinshieid,
chief of the navigation bureau, who is
in New York, called attention to the
report that the Spanish cruiser Maria
Teresa had been seen off Cat island.
The captain expressed belief in the
accuracy OF the report and suggested
to the department that the repair ship
Vulcan, now at Norfolk, be sent at
The department acted Immediately
upon the suggestion. A telegram was
sent to the commandant Of the Nor
folk navy yard directing him to place
the Vulcan in command of Captain
McCalla, the captain of the yard, and
sen her with all dispatch to look for
the Teresa. A similar order was cabled
TO captain Converse, at Guantanamo,
directing him to send the big wrecking
tug Potomac from that place north
ward on the same quest. She goes in
charge of Commander j.. f. Craven,
and the department believes that she
will be in the vicinity of Cat island
within thirty-six hours. The Vulcan
was one of the vessels which was tow
ing the Teresa when she was supposed
to have foundered and the department
believes she will reach the scene OF the
wreck in about forty-eight hours after
leaving Norfolk.
Cat island lies about thirty miles
southwest of the spot where the Teresa
was last seen, and it is said at the
department hat If the vessel did not
founder outright within a few hours
after having been cut adrift, she would
almost certainly have fetched up on
the shoal beach off Cat island, for the
wind and tide set directly on the
beach. If so, the location is much more
favorable for saving the ship than the
position occupied by her off Santiago.
where the bottom was covered with
~ bt1ht "olhtd at
great disadvantage. Captain McCalla
was selected for the task because of
his great energy and ability for this
particular class Of work. and the OFF,
GERS declare that If any man can bring
the Teresa into port he a
1t is the belief Of naval constructors
that the Teresa took water aboard al
most altogether through the decks.
and not through the hull. as would
appear from the first accounts OF the
loss of the ship. The decks were rude,
temporary constructions and were en-
tirely unsuitable for rough weather.
The fact that the reports indicate that
the ship settled by the head and that
water ran into the coal bunkers and
thence into the firerooms goes to bear
out the constructors theory. II also
tends to give color TO the report that
the ship may not have fonndered at
once, but drifted ashore on Cat Island.
1t is presumed that the wrecking COM
pany which had the vessel I'm hand.
will take immediate steps to recover
the ship, IL possible, In order to secure
the large salvage which was almost
within its grasp when the ship was
cast off