Evening star., 1898-11-22
LOOTED BY THE NATIVES
Maria Teresa a Hopeless Wreck on Cat
Island.
Her Flag Saved by Consul McLafn nj
Decentralization About
Salvage.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
NASSAU, n. P. November 1.-THE cable
grams sent up TO date have given an out
line of the case of the Spanish cruiser
Maria Teresa, which went ashore In a
heavy gale at Bird Point, Cat Island on the
afternoon of November 3. By this first op-
-portunity by mail details are forwarded
AT last advices the Maria Teresa was still
ashore, with little proba bility of being got
ten off The gale that sent her ashore was
SO heavy that she was driven far I'D the
reefs, and rests now as solid as a rock in
Twelve feet of water, the water inside of
her rising and falling with the tide; she is
supposed to be bilged. A very heavy surf
is pouring in on the reefs, rendering it diff
cult 10 board her. The ships pet, a fine
laree cat remains on board, and nobody
can catch him. The ships flag which was
flying when she stranded, a well-worn
American ensign, has been brought to Mas
sau, and Consul McLain insists on keeping
1t at the consulate as a souvenir of the
spanish WarShip, which SO pathetically
sought a final resting place on the very
shores where Columbus first landed
The British steamer Antilia returned
from the wreck on Sunday and reported
that 1t was impossible for her to accom-
pllsh anything. The surf was so heavy that
sne could not get within a quarter of a mile
ehc ieiesd, tHouSn drawing but nine
ieet. Two gentle men on board managed to
ieach the Teresa in boat, but the surf
was SO strong they could not return TO the
2ntlla and finally reached the shore
Where they were left to return to Nassau
by schooner.
The ship mas been badly looted by the
negro natives of the vicinity an ignorant
community, who generally believe that ali
wrecks are present sent them by the
Lord, and to be gratefully accented and
utliE:ed accordingly. Everything movable
mas been taken away, and even the tenn
pofafy pine deck, put on at Guantanamo
TOT the passage north, has been cut to
pieces, broken up and carried off by in
hapltants to be utilized in building cabins
ana IN repairing old ones. Much of the
prlss work and copper has been hacked
OF and secreteC, in the bush to be realized
upon hereafter. The provisions were eae-
eriy seized the reckless natives, who are
IKE ducks IN swimming, taking all sorts O.:
risks In their quest for plunder.
certain portions of the ships stores such
as heavy hawsers. ropes, tins of machine
oy local official and forwarded to Mas
sau by small schooners. This official. Ii is
but falr to say, did all he could to prevent
the lootlng: but did not succeed to apv
great extent. Immediately upon the arrivaI
or these articles at Nassau they were taken
possession OF by the marshal of the vice
admiralty court, on the ground that the
ship and contents were dereIict and so he
longed to the colonial authorities The
American consul Mr. McLa.n notified the
marshal that he considered the articles
saved to be the property of the United
states government, and that he should az
the proper time request that thew be re-
leased and handed over to MIN. The cues
tlon of ownership, thus raised is not likely
to be settled at once.