The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-15
CHARLESTON A TOTAL WRECK.
NO HOPE OF SAVING THIS VALUA-
BILE CRUISER.

Struck on an Uncharted Reef Near
kamiguin IsInndl-Omcers es-
capped in Their Pajamas-Expecte6
to Fight, But Found the Natives
FriendIy-They Removed the
BreechblOcISs-AccIdent Consider
ed Unavoidable.
Manila, Nov. 1.-The United States
cruiser Charleston ran aground near
Nlgan, on hidden reef, with thirty-five
fathoms of water on both sides.
She worked her machinery for two days
and nights trying to get afoat, but a ty-
phoon arising, the crew were compelled to
take 10 their boats and seek refuge on
small island five miles away.
The natives are friendly.
Lieut.. Mcdonald and a number of sail
ors put off in a small boat and reached the
Callao, which brought them to Manila.
The gunboat Helena has been dispatched
to bring away the crew.
Lieut.. Mcdonald describes the Charles
ton when he last saw her as hard and fast
aground with her bottom badly stove, and
well out of the water
Reef Was Uncharted.
Further details regarding the grounding
of the United States cruiser Charleston
show that she struck an uncharted coral
reef ten miles east of Kamiguin Island.
Her stern was almost submerged, and the
bow almost out of water. A heavy sea
was on. and the cruiser began rolling vio-
lently. The water-tight doors were quick
ly closed, but were stove in under the
engine compartment, the largest of the
ship.
After the first efforts to right her, the
officers feared she might slide off because
of the heavy sea, and, therefore, aban-
doned the attempt to save her They hur-
ried to the launch and boats and rowed
away, prepared to fight for a landing,
with two Colt guns, 1S4 rifles and ten days
rations.
Some of the officers and men were dress
ed only in pajamas and their undercloth-
ing. The breech blocks of the cannon
were removed before the boats put off.
Two hours after the Charleston struck
all had gotten away. The report that the
crew remained two days on the vessel is
inaccurate. party returned two days
later, but found 1t impossible to save any
thing.
Found Natives Friendly.
The first landing was made on a little
island with a front of barren rocks Next
day the boats again took to the water
and proceeded to Kamiguin Island where
landing was made in the expectation
that fighting would be necessary. So far
from this being the case however, the
Charlestons men found a half-savage
people who regarded them with curiosity
rather than hostility.
On the third day the storm had greatly
subsided and Lieut.. John d. Mcdonald,
with Boatswain Dominick Glynn and six
men started for the Gulf of Lingayen in a
lhirty-foot sailing launch, hoping 10 find
an American warship, but entirely igno-
rant of Gen. Wheaton's expedition.
Lieut.. Mcdonald was four days afoat
keeping under shelter of the hostile shore
for two days on account of the high seas,
being most Of the time in a soaking rain.
Finally flying the Union Jack down, clad
in their underclo hing and dranched to he
skin. the officer and his companions over
took the transport Aztec, which carried
them to the battleship Oregon.
No Hope of Saving Her.
The gunboat Helena was due to arrive
at Kamiguin Island yesterday. The
Charleston was returning from a five
weeks cruise along the eastern coast of
Luzon and Admiral Watson was beginning
to be uneasy. He supposed. however,
that she had Joined Gen. Wheatons OK
pedtion.
In naval circles the accident is consid-
cred quite unavoidable. The only wonder
is that there are not more such disasters
in Philippine waters, which are most in
differently charted.
The Charleston lies practically In the
open sea, and there is no hope of saving
her or the valuable paraphernaha and
contents of the cruiser.