The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-06

the Vulcan. we are about TO aDanuOn
ship; try to keep us head to wind L
ordered Captain Lecato to take charge
OF the lee surf boat and when 1T was
lowered to the rail, ordered Captain
Chittenden into it, Against his repeat
ed protests he was placed i'll the boat
with his son. This boat was unable to
reach the lines we had astern, but the
Merritt picked it up. and after taking
Captain Chittenden aboard, towed the
boat to our lee quarter and repeated
this manoeuvre each trip. forming Ice
for the boats to come here and then
towing them back. She was splendidly
handled. From 2 until the work of
transferring the crew continued. Cap
tain Lecato made two more trips, when
his arm, being disabled, his place was
taken by Mr.. Johnson. who also took
two boat loads. The life raft was got
ten over and capsiZed. but was righted.
1t was put in charge of James Bashford,
ordinary seaman of the Illinois naval
militia. He and his crew took six Gu
bans to the Merritt. The smaller surf
boat slowed inboard on the lee side was
then gotten out, and / put it in charge of
Charles A. Dunno. quartermaSter first
class. / gave him nearly all the good
seamen left for crew. 1t was launch
ed very handsomely and made two trips.
In all thes trips we poured oil from the
sponsors on both sides, and the Vulcan
also used oil TO make it smooth where
the embarking was done. | doubt If
we could have worked without it. The
ship labored mere and more heavily.
Before l left the bridge she rolled her
sponsors under, which / should estimate
to be thirty degrees, and her
pitching was enough to show
her rudder, propellers and per-
haps II feet of her keel. She was about
four feet by the head. She fell into the
sea very heavily and shuddered as she
rose. There was no water aft. The
Vulcan did her best to keep our head
up. steering to starboard and going at
full speed while the sea beat the Teresa's
head to port.
ORDERS WELL OBEYED.
'srhroughout the day the Vulcan did ev-
erything possible. We were constantly
signalling. With the exception of three
men who got drunk and gave much trou-
bic, all the crew behaved well. Every
man did his duty, and my orders were
instantly obeyed by wreckers and men
|of the navy. When the fires were low,
I called for volunteers, and the donkey
boilers were at once filled up. Twice l
asked C. F. Smith and James F. Brien,
chief machinists, to oil the steering en-
CINE, and they did so, and the engine ran
till we left. When / took Dunno from
the helm to lower the smaller surf boat,
his, place was taken by William G. Nor
hoff, machinist second class, who steered
the wreck until we left the bridge togeth-
er, when he dashed the wheel amidships.
Willard Crossett, bugler, was signal man,
and was as cool as possible. He made
no mistakes. and was very useful to me
as messenger. About 4.30 he made sig
nal Hang on to the wreck until you are
sure she is sinking to which tho Vul-
can replied: We will hold on until she
sinks or parts the tow line The last
signal he made was, These two boats
will take ALL After that had to 20 aft
to force the drunken men overheard, and
about five we were all off.
THE MERRITIvS VAIN SEARCH.
The boats were hauled under the stem
as near as it was safe, where the oil and
lee of the ship made it smooth, and were
nelu Dy one lluc Wulic ilhC, Win
q ladder attached, foated the stern on
this line Two double bights were stop
ped on the right side to 60 over mans
shoulder The end was Stacked from the
ship, and when two men jumped, they
were hauled into the boat. A very fine
fellow, named Olsen attended to this.
When all had gone but he and /, he cut
the line and we jumped together. 1t was
perhaps $50 when we reached the Mer
rift. While she was getting in the surf
boats the Vulcan slipped the hawser of
the Infanta Maria Teresa. l expect that
the wreck dragging off to port brought all
the strain on the port bride and started
the bits. When the boats were in the
Merritt at my request started to speak
the Vulcan, but was unable to reach her,
and she apparently did not hear our whis-
tie The Merritt then returned to find
the wreck, but could not do 50. The
search continued until one p. NJ. the fol-
lowing day, when she headed for Charles
ton.
Very respectfully,
IRA HARRIS,
"Lieutenant Commander, Il. S. n"
COMMENT ON DRUNKEN MEN.
Commenting on that feature Of the re.
port stating that some Of the men got
drunk, naval officials expressed the
opinion that these men were not seamen
of the navy, but were sailors from the
wrapkinp crow