The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-15

dent. went over at once carrying a chart
of northern LuZon and the cablegram from
Watson.
For the safety of the officers and crew
not The slightest apprehension exists The
Helena must already have reached the
island. which is about a days run from
Iingayen, and with the Oregon, which
followed closely, must have removed the
charleston's crew several days ago.
As soon as possible court of inquiry
will be called to fix the responsibility for
the vrecking OF the ship. This will fol-
low. irrespective of any action of the Navy
DEPARTMENT, and will be ordered by Ad-
miral Watson. Should it appear that the
wreck was caused by the negligence OF
any of the Charlestons officers a court
martial will follow the inquiry; but, in view
of the exceedingly dangerous character Of
the north coast of Luzon and the lack OF
necessary aids 20 navigation, 1t is not be-
lieveG to be probable that any of the off,
GERS will be found severely censurable.
Following is a correct list of officers on
board the Charleston: Captain George w.
Pisman, Lieutenant Commander John A.
Norris. Lieutenant Commander William n.
Little (engineer), Leutenants John A.
Dougherty, Louis S. Van Duser, John d.
Mcdonald and De Witt Blamer. Ensigns
Ivan c. Wettingel and James b. Henry,
jr., Cadets John a. Schofield and Charles
b. Hatch, Surgeon Charles 7. Hibbett, As
sistant Surgeon Edward V. Armstrong. Pay
master Ziba w. Reynolds, First Lieutenant
of Marines General George c. Thorpe
The Charleston was the first vessel to
come to the reinforcement of Admiral
Dewey after the battle of Manila bay. On
her way to Manila she touched at Guam
and took possession of the island in the
name of the United States. The Charleston
is one OF the older vessels of the new navy.
She is included in the group of vessels fol-
lowing the completion of the cruisers Chi
cago, Boston, Atlanta and Dolphin, built
in 1852 and 1888 which were the pioneers of
the present navy. The Charleston was built
by the Union iron works, at San Fran
cisco, her keel being laid in the year 1887
The contract price of her hull and machin-
cry was 81 OF 800 She was launched in July
1883, and placed in commission for the
first time in December, 1889.
The photographic office, Navy Depart
ment, gives the following exact data con-
corning the locality of the wreck: The
Guinapak rocks are located In longitude
122 degrees minutes east, latitude IS de-
grees and $3.50 north. They lie seven miles
due east of the large islands of Kamiguin,
one Of the Babuit group, off the north
coast of Luzon. The Guinapak rocks are
distinctly shown on the naval chart which
| is supplied to vessels in the Philippines,
| but the coral reef on which the Charles
| ton struck three miles north northwest of
| the rocks, is not shown on the chart. The
| dangerous condition Of this coast has been
| recently pointed out by Rear Admiral Brad
| ford, chief of the Equipment Bureau, in his
| report 10 Secretary Long. He said: "The
| bureau is in receipt of great number of
| photographic reports from captains of ships
concerning the entire unreliability Of the
| best existing charts of the late Spanish
possessions now controlled by the United
| States. In the Philippine islands the service
| Of pilots is constantly necessary for this
reason and they do not always prove re-
| liable"
| The old Spanish maps continue to be used
by our naval vessels until the Navy De-
| partment can make its own charts. This
| work is very extensive and necessarily slow.
Only 100000 is now available for the work
in all of the former Spanish possessions
| The Bennington has been doing this work
| In the Philippines and has a complete
photographic outfit On board, but it will
be some time before the American surveys
and data will be available.