New-York tribune., 1898-11-16
CANNOT SIZE THE MARIA TERESA.
CAPTAIN MCALLA REPORTS TO THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 1j.-Captaln McCala, after
examining the Maria Teresa. has ca blei to the
Navy Department that in his opinion it will be
impossible to save the ship His dispatch fol-
lows
Nassau. November Is, 1888.
Secretary Navy Washington. D C. .,. o..
arrival took charge OF Teresa. hoisted flag; After
careful exa nination Of stranded ship and situation
Department. approaching great Interest taken ny
Nation and Government in fate OF Teresa regret regret
exceedingly to express the opinion that IT Is hops-
less TO expect to rescue the ship. Craven. BLOW
stPSad in Tom sxeem To ivy feet With
head TO northward. With exception Of few feet
on rocky .eef covered with, coral sand; Inte:-
spersod with powders. half-mile south Bird Point
Line Of reef extends outside Of wreck both 10
norhward and southward. ship having been been driven driven
into slight indentaton in reef Surf from astern o,
shore then runs out slightly to point forward Of
and outside ship again to nor'hward Siha srn
to lee side. In fairly good weather II Woulu, o.
possible think r 1 Sm9n tug dra%g vi g,ss sen Close Ie
under stern Of Teresa in smooth soa TO make f&sr
wrcok king pumrs r. however. such vessel We're
caught inside Teresa by storm probabilities are
sur thus cuts off communication between SHIP
thor is verv little sca running. During heavy
seas the breakers would also be continuous out
Passed Sunday on wreck examining carefully
all compartments which were not flooded As WEI Wen
as ships rouldings. accompanied by Eraven
who had previously Inspected Teresa ana hn1S 1,i
don who perfectly familiar with snip. WI
donces show tha, after striking reef mahnast ~ds
military top lying outside bilge under port quartz
Seas had gone entirely over her that inner bottom ton,
a half to TWO feet. patch on bottom abreast Tor
ward tlrret had disappeared ar ports nad ,be 3esn
driven IN ana seas h'iu tntrIru thiouTn, 'a',H naH
and gun ports stdrbOard side, spardeck ana
% re ,. nr"nortion Of lumber in short pieces
lying or floating below berthdeck. TIDE rises ana
room bulllhcad Seas which break over star
board quarter and enter through ports keep water
hat in engiue-rooms and frorooms Pumps whici
we're crec,ed 10y wrecking company on forward ana
beams have been driven upward from eighteen to
twcnty-four inches. Both starboard and port en-.
to two feet. and separated aterally by from SIX
to eight nches, PeS' way 70 thaf h two sets Of
engines. boilers and their foundations form part
lateraliy and vertically Same effect would be pro-
duced in my opinion, If ship had settled on pm
sunday trade wind was very light. and there was
little difficulty in approaching wreck from Vulcan
but communication with shore would haye nay" 3een en
best describe condition OF ship geneTay by sts'Mhy M
expressing conviction that as rivets are ShearGd
by the constant working of ship. the telescopiic
process must continue. In considering P'aCn-
cabity Of rescuing Teresa. the fact must be con, con
layer Of sand on wndward sde OF an islanu 90 ~, -,
stautlv exposed To due to trade winds ana -
influence of many storms developing 70 eAst"HtN
or southward. Character Of bottom makes an
chor,ge on eastern coast Of island dangerous Geo
maeenifude to be cons tantly disntegrating ship;
During gales or with very heavy seas wreck i wouid
not Ice tenab for working parties. when "puu
he Obliged 10 leave ship before commitment tlon
should he cut off with ship anchored outside or Win
shore inside --..,
Board OF officers also examined and reported
Yesterday upon question Of resciing me I:resi; I:r;
This board confirms my report. should D'pdrtHl'iis
determine to attempt 10 float stranded snip, Wou,i
recommend that expedition be based on Cat lslahu
frnu shi
ulea sed to command any organization prepared -
work on wreck In addition 10 turret guns therc
are four 6-inch guns Teresa. taken rom one
Of the wrecked ships and rcmounted In Guah'a-
"'iili'' -N'''-'N'7 MCALI.A.