The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-16
Exposed to Strong Winds and Angry
Surf, Which VIII Probably Soon
Disintegrate the Wreck.
LARGE HOLES IN THE VESSEL
THROUGH WHICH THE TIDE Is SAID
TO RISE AND FALL.
Views of McCaIIn COncurred I'm by
Messrs. HObsOn, Craven, Blow and
Crittenden, Naval Experts.

WA0E11lNNT1ON,
partment late to-day received the following
cablegram from Commander McCalla, dated
Nassau, Bahamas
Arrived with the Potomac and Vulcan
at the scene of the wreck. On arrival took
charge of the Teresa and hoisted flag.
After careful examination of the stranded
ship and situation and careful consideration
of instructions from the department, appre-
ciating the great interest taken by the Ma
ton and government in the fate of the Te-
resa, 1 regret exceedingly to express the
opinion that it is hopeless to expect to res
cue the ship. Craven, Blow, Hobson and
Crittendsn confirm my opinion The wreck
is stranded in from sixteen to twenty-one
feet with head to northward. With the
exception of few feet astern and forward,
where cut away, the ship rests on rocky
reef, covered with coral sand, interspersed
with bowlders half mile south of Bird
point. The line of reef extends outside of
the wreck, both to northward and south
ward, the ship having been driven into a
slight indentation in the reef. The surf
astern and outside of the ship continues
between the ship and Shore then runs out
slightly to a point forward and out
side of the ship again to the northward A
small passage is thus left for small boats
to pass under the stern to the lee side In
fairly good weather it would be possible, 1
think, for small tug drawing ten 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 purpose of supply power for
wrecking pumps. If, however, such vessel
were caught inside the Teresa by a storm,
the probabilities are she would be swamped
by seas or thrown on the reef. The surf
thus cuts off communication between the
ship and the shore, except in certain stages
of the tide or when there is very little sea
running During heavy seas the breakers
would also be continuous outside the ship.
PASSED Sunday on the wreck, examining
carefully all compartments which were not
flooded, as well as the ships surroundings,
accompanied by Craven, who had previously
inspected the Teresa, and Crittenden, who
was perfectly familiar with the ship Evi-
dence shows that after striking the reef the
mainmast was driven up and broken off
short below the spar deck, the military top
lying outside the bilge under the port quar-
ter. The seas had gone entirely over her,
the inner bottom entirely had been driven
upwards from one and a half to two feet,
a patch of the bottom abreast the forward
turret had disappeared, the air ports had
been driven in and the seas had entered
through them and the gun ports on the
starboard side and the spar deck and deck
house had been crushed in by the seas after
ship struck, A large proportion of the lum-
ber, in short pieces, is lying or floating be-
low the berth deck. The tide rises and falls
in the ship below the protective deck, abaft
the engine room bulkhead The seas which
now break over the starboard quarter and
enter through the ports keep the water in
that part 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 companies on the forward and
after ammunition hoists and secured to the
berth deck beams have been driven upward
from eighteen to twenty-four inches. Both
starboard and port engines have been forced
upward from one and half to two feet and
separated laterally 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 and their foun-
dations form part Of the reef itself, around
which the rest of the ship works laterally
and vertically The same effect would be
produced, in my opinion, if the ship had
settled on a pinnacle of rock. On Sunday
the trade wind was very light, and there
was little difficulty III approaching the
wreck from the Vulcan, but communication
with the shore would have been very diff
ficult in boat at one stage of the tide. /
can best describe the condition of the ship
generally by stating that she is already tel
escoped, and my views, by expressing the
conviction that as the rivets are sheared by
the constant working of the ship the tele-
scopic process must continue. In consider
ing the practicability of rescuing the Te-
resa, the fact must be considered that she
lies upon coral reef with but thin layer
of sand. on the windward side of an island
constantly exposed to seas due to the trade
winds and to the influence of many storms
developing to the eastward or southwark.
The character OF the bottom makes an an
chorage off the eastern coast of the island
dangerous. Geographical position permits
force of more or less magnitude to be con-
stantly disintegrating the ship. During
gales or with very heavy seas the wreck
would not be tenable for working parties
which would be obliged to leave the ship
before communication was cut off with
ship anchored outside or with the shore in
side.
The board or officers also examined and
reported yesterday on the question of res
cuing the Teresa. This board confirms my
report. Should the department determine
to attempt to float the stranded ship. 1
would recommend that the expedition be
based on Cat island, not from ships outside
the reef, and should be very pleased TO COM
mand any organization prepared TO work on
the wreck. In addition to the turret guns
there are four six-inch guns on the Teresa,