The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-15
Her Big Guns and other War-Making
Machines Doomed to Rest in
'.Dayy JOnes's" Realm.
ESCAPE OF OFFICERS AND MEN
LANDED ON A SMALL ISLAND INHAB-
TIED BY sEMI-sAvAGEs,
Who Were More Curious than Hostile
-GunbOat Helena Dispatched to
the Relief of the Crew.

MANILA, Nov. IA, 1925 p. m.-The United
States cruiser Charleston ran aground near
Vigan on hidden reef, with thirty-five
fathoms of water on both sides. She
worked her machinery for two days and
nights in trying to get afloat, but typhoon
arising the crew were compelled to take
to their boats and seek refuge on a small
island five miles away. The natives are
friendly. Lieutenant Mcdonald and a num-
ber of sailors put off in small boat and
reached the Callao. which brought them
to Manila. The gunboat Helena has been
dispatched to bring away the crew. Lieu
tenant Mcdonald describes the Charleston
when he last saw her hard and fast
aground, with her bottom badly stove and
we'll out OF the water.
p. m.-Further details show that the
Charleston struck an uncharted coral
reef ten miles east of Kamiguin islands.
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
~ closed, but were stove in under the
gine 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 then abandoned the at
tempt to save her. They hurried to the
launch and boats and rowed away, pre-
pared to fight for landing with two colt
guns 134 rifles and ten days ratlons. Some
Of the officers and men were dressed only
in pyjamas and their underclothing. The
breech blocks of the cannon were removed
before the boats put off. Two hours after
the Charleston struck all had got away.
The report that the crew remained two days
on the vessel is inaccurate. A party re-
turned two days later. but found it impossi-
bic to save anything.
The first landing was made on a little
| island, with front of barren rocks. Next
| day the boats again took to the water and
| proceeded to Kamiguin island, where a
| landing was made in the expectation that
| fighting would be necessary. So far from
| this being the case, however, the Charles
| tons men found half savage people, who
regarded them with curiosity rather than
hostility. On the third day the storm had
| greatly subsidized and Lieutenant John D..
! Mcdonald, with Boatswain Dominick Glynn
and six men, started for the Gulf of Linga-
yen in thirty-foot sailing launch, hoping
to find American warship. but entire
| ly ignorant of General Wheatons expedi-
| ton. Lieutenant Mcdonald was four days
dHOdl, hStpitlS SueltSr Oh 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 underclothing and drenched to
| the skin, the officer and his companions
overlook the transport Aztec, which carried
| them to the battfeship Oregon. The gun
| boat Helena was due to arrive at Kami-
| guin island yesterday.
| The Charleston was returning from five
| weeks cruise along the eastern coast of
| Luzon and Admiral Watson was beginning
| to be uneasy. He supposed, however, that
she had Joined General Wheaton's expedi-
| ton.
In naval circles the accident is considered
| 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 practically in the open
sea and there is no hope of saving her or
the valuable paraphernalia and contents OF
| the PrTiSar