The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-16
TERESA CAN'T BE SAVED.

!
Commander McCalla Cables That 1t Is
Hopeless To Expect 1t.
Ship Rests on Rocky Reef Covered With
| Coral sand-McCalia Willing To Try If
! Government Says So.
Washington, November 15.-The navy
department late today received the follow
ling cablegram:
Nassau, November 10.
Secretary Navy, Washing ton:
iAS Arrived Potomac Vulcan. Scene
wreck. On arrival took charge of Teresa,
boisted flag. After careful examination
OF stranded ship and situation and care
| full consideration of instr notions from
department. apprsciating great interest
taken by nation and government in fate
OF Teresa regret exceedingly to express
the opinion that it is hopeless to expect to
rescue the ship. Craven, Blow, Hobson,
Crittenden confirm my opinion. Wreck
| is stranded in from 10 to 81 feet, with
head to northward. With exception of
few feet astern and forward, where cut
|
with coral sand, interspersed with
boulders, half q mile south Bird Point.
Line of reef extends outside of wreck
| both to northwArd and southwark, ship
| having been driven into slight indenta-
tion in reef. Surf from astern and OUT
| SIDE OF ship continues between ship and
| shore, then runs out slightly to point for
| ward of and outside snip again north
| ward. Small passage thus left for small
| boats to pass under stern to lee side. In
fairly good weather it would be possible
think for small tug drawing ten feet
water. in hands very skillful seamen to
pass close under stern of Teresa in smooth
sea to make fast to lee side for purpose of
supplying power for wrecking pumps. If,
however, such vessel were caught inside
Teresa by storm, probably would be
swamped by seas or thrown on reef. Surf
thus cuts of communication between
ship and shore except at certain stages of
tide or when there is very little sea run
ming.
During heavy seas the breakers would
also be continuous outside ship. Passed
Sunday on wreck, examining carefully
all compartments which were not flooded,
as well as ships surroundings, accom-
panied by Craven. who had previously in
speoted Teresa. and Crittenden, who was
perfectly familiar with ship. Evidences
show that after striking reef mainm8st
was driven up and broken off short below
spar deck, military top lying outside
bilge under port quarter. Seas had gone
entirely over her, inner bottom generally
had been driven upwards from IL to
two feet. patch on bottom abreast forward
turret had disappeared, air ports had been
driven in and seas had entered through
them and gun ports on starboard side.
spar deck and deck house had been
crushed in by seas after ship struck.
Large proportion of the lumber in short
pieces lying or floating below berth, deck.
T. de rises and falls in ship below protec-
tive deck. abafu engine room bulkhead.
Seas which now break over starboard
quarter ana in through ports keep water
in that part of ship five or six feet above
line of that IN engine rooms and fire
rooms. Pumps which were erected by
wrecking company on forward and after
ammunition hoists and secured to berth
deck beams have been driven upward
from IS to "a inches. Both starboard and
port engines have been forced upward
from ] Ia to two feet and separated
laterally by from six to eight inches.
Best way to illustrate general condition
of wreck is to say that the two sets of
engines, boilers and their foundations
from part of reef itself, around which rest
Of ship works lsterally and vertically.
Same effect world be produced in my
opinion, if ship had settled on pinnacle
of rock.
Sunday trade " ind was very light and
there WAS little difficulty in approaching
wreck from Vulcan, but communication
with shore would have been difficult in
boat at any stage OF tide Can best de-
scribe condition OF ship generally by stat
ing that she is already telescoped and my
views by expressing conviction that as
rivets are sheared by the constant work
ing OF ship, the telescopes process must
continue. In considering practicabiIity
of rescuing Teresa, the fact must be con-
sid cred that she lies upon coral reef, with
but thin layer of sand, on windward side
of an island constantly exposed to seas
due to trade winds and to influence of
many storms developing to eastward or
southwark. Character of bottom makes
anchorage off eastern coast of island
dangerous. Geographical position permits
force of more or less magnitude to be con-
stantly disintegrating ship. During gales
with very heavy seas wreck would not be
tenable for working parties, which would
be obliged to leave ship before communi
cation should be cut of with ship
anchored outside or with shore inside.
Board of officers also examined and re-
ported yesterday upon question OF rescuing
Teresa. This board confirms my report.
Should department determine to attempt
to float stranded ship would recommend
that expedition be based on Cat island
not from ship outside reef, and should be
very pleased to command any organiza-
ton prepared to work on wreck. In
addition to turret guns there are four six
inch guns on Teresa taken from one of
the wrecked ships and remounted in
Guantanamo. Awaiting Developments
further orders.
tSigned) M'CALLA.
ANOTHER DISCOURAGING REPORT