Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-16
TERESA A TOTAL WRECK.
Capt. McCalIa Reports that She Prob.
ably Cannot Be Saved.
Is 1cIescoped, Bottom Broken and Lying in
Very Exposed Position.

Washington, NOV. l5.-The navy depart
| ment, late today, received the following
cablegram:
Nassau, N. r.. Nov. Is.
Secretary OF the Navy Washington:
Arrived with Potomac and Vulcan AZ
the scene of the wreck, On arrival took
charge of the Teresa and hoisted nag.
After careful examination of the strand
ed ship and situation and careful con-
sideration Of the instructions from the
department, appreciating the great inter-
est taken by the nation and government
in the Teresa, ] regret exceedingly to ex-
press the opinion that it Is hopeless 10
expect to rescue the ship. Craven, Blow,
Hobson and Crittenden confirm my
opinion.
1.-THE wreck Is stranded in from 16 to
Il feet, with head to northward. With
the exception Of few feet astern and
forward, where cut away, the ships rests
on a rocky reeI, covered with coral sand
interspersed with boulders, half mile
south of Bird Point. The line of reef ex-
tends outside of the wreck, both to the
noI'thward and southwark. the ship hav
ing been driven into a slight indentation
in the reef. The surf from astern and
outside of the ship continues between
Inc ship and shore, then runs out slightly
to point forward of and outside the
ship again to the northWard A small
passage is thus left for small boats 10
pass under the stern to the lee side.
In fairly good weather il would be pos
sible, | think, for small tug. drawing
y
skiilful seamen TO pass close under the
stern of the Teresa, in smooth sea, 10
make fast to the lee side, for the purpose
of supplying power for the wrecking
pumps. II, however. such vessel were
caught inside the Teresa by storm. IL
probably would be swanped by the seas
ur thrown on the reef. The surf thus
cuts off communication between the snip
and shore, except certain stages OF
tide or when there is very little sea run
ming. During heavy seas the breakers
al. isa 1ttfC ell the
ship; ss ~ -
ing carefully all the compartments which
were not flooded, as well as the ships
surroundings, accompanied by Craven.
who had previously inspected the Teresa,
and Criltenden, who was perfectly farl-
liar WIKI the ship. Evidences show that
after striking. the reef the nlainmast WAS
driven up aud broken off snort below the
spar deck. the military top lying outside
the blge under the port side. The seas
had gone entirely over her, and the inner
bottom generally had been driven up
ward from IL TO ieet. The patch on the
bottom abreast, forward the Iurret, had
disappeared; the air ports had been
through them and The gun ports on the
starboard side; the spar deck and deck
house had 'Deen crushed in by the seas
after The snip struck.
"A large proportion Of the lumber was
IN short pieces lying or floating below
the berth deck. The tide rises and fails
abaft fhe engine room bulkhead. The
seas which now break over the starboarG
quarter and enter through the ports keep
the water in that part of the ship or i
feet above the line of that in the engine
rooms and fire rooms. The pumps which
were erected by the wreckings company
on the forward and after ammunition
hoists and secured to the berth deck
beams have been driven upward from Is
to n inches. Both the starboard and port
engines have been forced upward from
t..- fra
9 to inches.
THE hest way TO illustrate the general
condition OF the wreck is to say that the
two sets of engines, boilers and 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, in my opinion. if the
ship had settled on pinnacle of rock.
On Sunday, the 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 more difficult in a boat at one
stage of tide. Can best describe the con-
dition of the ship generally by stating
that she is already telescoped and my
views are shown by expressing the con-
viction that. as the rivets are sheared by
the constant working of the ship, the
telescope process must continue. ill.,
In considering the practicability o.
rescuing the Teresa, the fact must be
considered that she lies upon coral reef
with but. a thin layer of sand, on the
exposed to the 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 anchorage off the eastern coast OF
the island dangerous. and the geographic
cal position permits a force of more or
less magnitude to be constantly disin-
tegrating the ship. During gales with
very heavy seas the wreck would not be
tenable for working parties, which would
ne obliged to leave the ship before COM
munication should be cut on with the
ship anchored outside or with the shore
| inside.
'srhe board of inquiry also examined
and reported, yesterday upon the ques-
ton of rescung the Teresa. This board
confirms my report that should the de-
partment determine TO attempt to. float
the stranded ship. would recommend that
the expedition be based on Cat Island.
not from a ship outside the reef, and
should be very pleased to command any
organization prepared to work on the
wreck. In addition to the turret guns
there are four 6-inch guns on the Teresa
taken from one of the wrecked ships and
remounted in Guantanamo Awaiting de-
velopments for further orders.
tSigned "McCALLA,"