The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-16
A HOPELESS WRECK.
There Appears to Be No Chance to
Save the Maria Teresa.

Washington, Nov. 15.-The navy depart
ment has received the following cable
gram:
Nassau, Nov. 15.-Secretary Of the Navy
Washington: Arrived Potomac Vulcan,
scene of wreck. On arrival took charge
of Teresa, hoisted flag. After careful ex-
animation of stranded ship and careful
consideration of instructions of depart
ment. approaching great interest taken
by nation and government in fate of Ter
eSa, regret exceedingly to express the
oplLLoH sil q II - III ~ 80 -
rescue OF the snip. craven, BIoWz doD-
son, Crittenden confirm my opinion Wreck
is stranded in from Is to n feet with head
70 northWard- with exception OF a rev
feet aSteru and forward where cut away,
sand. interspersed with boulders, half mile
south Bird point. Line of reef extends
southwark, ship having been driven into
slight indention of reef. Surf from astern
and outside of ship continues between snip
and shore, then runs out slightly to point
forward of and outside of ship and again
small boats to pass under stern to lee side
In fairly good weather it would be posi-
of water, if in hands of skillful Seaman
to pass close under stern of Teresa. in
55145DS R9LSre13esr s11eb Vessel vVere
caught inside Teresa. By storm, probabiii-
ties are she would be swamped by sea or
naa1nication between ship and shore except
at certain stages Of tide or when there is
Verv little sea running During heavy seas
side the ship
Passed Sunday on wreck examining care
fully all compartments which were not
flooded, IS we'll as ship surroundings, ac-
companied by Craven, who had previously
inspected the Teresa, and Crfttenden, who
was perfectly familiar with the ship. Evil
dences show that after striking reef main
mast was driven up and broken off short
below spar deck, military top lying out
side bilge under port quarter Seas had
gone entirely over her, that inner bottom
entirely had been driven upward from IL
TO feet patch on bottom abreast forward
turret had disappeared, air ports had been
driven in and seas had entered through
spar deck and deck house had been crush
ed in by seas after ship struck. Large
proportion of the lumber in short pieces
lying or floating below berth deck. Tide
rises and falls in ship below protective
which now break over starbOard quarter
and enter through ports keep water in
That part OF the snip nVe or SIX rect above
line of engine rooms and fire rooms.
Pumps which were erected by Wreck1ng
company on forward ana astern anInunl-
ton hOists and secured to berth deck
beams have been driven upward from Is
70 q lnenes. BotR staFpoard ana port
engines have been forced upward from
laIter by from SIX 70 eignI lncnes.
Best way to illustrate general condition
engines, boilers and their foundations
form a part of reef itself, around which
rest of ships works laterally and vertically.
Same effect would have been produced,
in my opinion, if ship had settled on pin
Very light and there Was little difficH1ty
in approaching. wreck, but communication
boats at one stage of the tide. Can best
describe condition of ship generally by
stating that she is already te1escoped, and
my views, by expressing conviction that
as rivets are sheared by the constant
working of the ship telescope process
must continue. In considering practical
bility of rescuing Teresa the fact must be
considered that she lies upon coral reef
but with thin layer of sand, on windward
side Of an island, constantly exposed to
of many storms developing to eastward
or southwark. CharactG of bottom makes
anchorage or eastern coast of island dan
gerous. Geographical position permits
force OF more or less magnitude to be con-
stantly disintegrating ship. During gales
or with very heavy seas wreck would not
be tenable for working parties, which
would be obliged to leave ship before COM