The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-11-11
THE MARIA TERESA IS LOST
RECLAIMED SPANISH VESSEL VOW
Al BOTTOM OF OCEAN.
WRECKED BY A FURIOUS STORM
Waa Being lowed to Norfolk Navy Yard
From caba-Ihe Crew, Consisting
81 ia, Were saved.

The ocean tug Merritt put into
Charleston. s. c., Saturday morning
for supplies. She reported tho loss Of
the cruiser Maria Teresa, raised by
Constructor Hobson recently on San
Salvador, Bahamas, November !, In
the midst Of furious storm.
The cruiser left Caimauora, Cuba,
on the morning Of October 30, in tow
for Norfolk. She had already passed
Cape Maysi and started northeast
aroun he Bahamas A furious storm,
warning Of which had already been
sent out, overlook her and in her con-
dition she was unable to weather the
gale. The strain opened rents in her
hull which had been patched TO enable
her to make the journey and she be-
gan to fill rapidly.
The Merritt took off Captain Harris
aud the crew from the sinking ship
and she soon went down. No lives
we're lost as far as known. There were
IA Of the Teresa's crew, officers and
men, landed in Charleston, and
while many Of them were hali-naked
they were as happy and jolly party
rs one could wish to see. There was
an enormous crowd gathered at the
Central wharf when they landed, and
the people of the city did everything
in their power for the shipwrecked
mariners.
Commander l. T.. Harris, United
States navy, at once made full report
to the department of the disaster. The
officers and men remained in Charles
ton throughout the day. At o'clock
Saturday afternoon the entire party
started north.
It is said at the navy department
that provision was made by which the
Teresa could have weathered any or
binary storm. A rough wooden deck
had been nailed over her upper works.
Her hull was then sheathed, and heavy
chains we're wound around her 50 as to
hold her together. Although far from
seaworthy, all that was expected was
that the cruiser might be kept aAoat
until locked in this country. She had
been stripped Of all guns aud valuables
save the big turret eleven-inch guns
before starting, so that it is believed
there will be no loss on that account
1t is the opinion Of the navy de-
partment that the government has
lost, besides the value OF the ship her
self, only the amount of the per diem
Of $500 per day through the sinking
Of the vessel, because the contract
appears to have required the delivery
by the wrecking company of the vessel
ut the navy yard at Norfolk, Va.
The wrecking of the ship, owing TO
the engineering difficulties presented,
occupied a good deal of time, so that
while the vessel was raised on Septem-
Der ODD, and the work was prosecuted
with vigor, it was notuntil October 30tE
that she was able to start away from
Caimanera under her own steam bound
for Norfolk She was accompanied
on the start by the repair ship Vulcan
a the collier Leonidas and the cruiser
Cincinnati, but the latter left the othel
ships at Cape Maysi.
During the progress of raising the
ship a great deal of valuable matter
was recovered by the wreckers. Just
what this amounts to is not positively
known, but it included expensiv,
guns, torpedoes and much matter o
value The opinion is expressed tha
with what material was raised from
the Teresa and the other ships which
have been operated upon so far, the
navy department. will be able to REIN
burse itself fully for the outlay o
$500 per diem to the contractors.
The loss Of the ship was bitter dis
appointment to the people in Norfolk
where extensive arrangements haC
been made to bring excursions from al
points to the nay yards there to look a
the famoas ship and where the recon
struetion Of the vessel would have af
forded at least year and half
work to a large body Of mechanics ant
laborers.