Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-15
AMERICAN CRUISER AGROUND
Charleston Lies Well Out of the Water with
Hui! Badly Stove.
HELENA STARTS OUT AFTER THE CREW
strikes on n Hidden Reef with Deep
water Every Side
Typhoon Compels Its
Abandonment.

MANILA, Nov. As p. m.-Further de-
tails regarding the grounding OF the United
States cruiser Charleston show that 1t STRUCK
an uncharted coral reef ten miles east OF
Kamigun island. The stern was almost
submerged and the bow almost out of water
! A heavy sea was en- and the cruiser began
rolling violently. The watertight doors were
quickly closed, but were stove in under the
! engine compartment, the largest OF the ship
! After the first efforts to right 1t the Off
! GERS feared 1t might slide off because OF the
heavy and therefore abandoned the at
| tempt to save 1t. They hurried TO the
launches and boats and rowed away, pre-
| pared to fight for landing, with two Colt
| guns, 1874 rifles and ten days rations. Some
| OF the officers and men were dressed only in
| pajamas and underclothing. 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.
A party returned two days later, but found
1t impossible to save anything. The first
landing was made on a little island with a
F.! front of barrel rocks. Next day the boats
| again took to the water and proceeded to
Kamgun island. where landing was made
1
necessary. So far from this being the case,
however, the Charlestons men found half
savage people, who regarded them with curl
osity rather than hostility.
On the third day the storm had greatly
subsidized and Lieutenant John d. Mcdonald,
with Boatswain Dominck Glynn and six
men, started for the Gulf of Lingayen in a
thirty-foot sailing launch, hoping to find an
American man -of-war. The men were four
days afoat, keeping under shelter of the hos
tile shore for two days on account of the
high seas, being most of the time in a soak
ing rain. Finally, flying the Union Jack
down, clad in their undercothing and
drenched to the skin, the officer and his
companions overlook the transport Aztec,
which carried them to the battleship Ore
gon. The gunboat Helena was due to arrive
at Kamigun 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 1t
had joined General Wheatcn's expedition.
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 indiffer-
emily charted. The Charleston lies practi-
saving it nor the contents of the cruiser.
WASHINGTON, Nov A.-Admiral Wat
son cables to the Navy department the fol-
lowing official report of the wreck of the
cruiser Charleston:
MANILA, Nov. 13.-Charleston wrecked
on uncharted coral reef three miles north
northwest Of Guinapak rocks. north coast
Luzon, $50 morning of November 2. Every
body safely landed on Kamigun island
armed with rifles and two Colts Natives
friendly. Mcdonald made Lingayen gulf in
sailing launch. When he left there had
been no opportunity for examination Of con-
dition Of wrecking operations. North mon
soon and heavy sea prevailing. Reports
ship struck easily; then thumed (probaby
'thumpedD, violently. Fire room COM
pletely flooded. first watertight doors closed
promptly. Ship lies settled aft water one
foot from name. Well out of water for !
ward; apparently very steep bank; ten days
provisions and rations landed Helena dis |
patched from Lingayen by Oregon to Kami
gun; due today WATSON
Discrepancy of Dates.
There is discrepancy in the date Of the
wreck of the Charleston as given in Ad-
miral Watson's message and in the press
dispatches. 1t is probable that the 7th inst.
is correct and Admiral Watson's dis |
patch was confused in transmission
There was some surprise expressed that |
so long time elapsed since the wreck be- |
fore news of the fact reached the Navy de- |
partment. 1t appears, however. that this !
delay was unavoidable. owing to the isolated
position of the wreck Kamigun island is |
a small island lying about north of Appari. |
which is the most northerly port on the |
island of Luzon. 1t is distant about 250 |
miles from Lingayen gulf. where are sta
toned the nearest of the war ships of Wat |
sons fleet.
When Acting Secretary Allen reached the |
Navy department this morning he COM |
municated with the White House, and then |
by direction of the president went over at |
once carrying a chart of northern .Luzon |
and the cablegram from Watson. Admiral |
Watson appears to have acted at once upon |
receipt of news, for he informed the Navy |
department that he had cabed across to |
Hong Kong to secure the help Of expert
enced wreckers to proceed at once to the
scene of the accident. The Navy depart
ment has already a constructor on the
ground in the person of Lieutenant Hobson.
who may be called on to assume charge of
the wrecking operations.
careful reading Of the cablegram from