Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-09
THE "BARACOA" RAISED.
A sunIsen Spanish Vessel Reclaimed
nv American Soldiers.

Post Headquarters,
Gibara, Cuba, April IL, 1889.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
I read with great interest an article
in your issue OF March 81, 1883, from your
washington correspondent. stating that
"a new boat had been added to the navy
through the efforts OF the Navy Depart
ment." This article is unfair ana inaccu-
rate i'm many respects. l do not WISH 70
deprive the navy Of any OF IT'S weli-earheu
appreciation from the people OF the Uhitel
States. but | do think great injustice
has been done 10 the men who actually
raised the Baracoa. L was In command
of the detachment Of the Second United
states Volunteer Infantry Colonel Hoods
ImmuneO that raised this boat, and while
7 do NOT ask any credit Tor myself,
think that Justice be done the enlisted
men.
The facts of the case are as follows:
ON December H. 1898, while Stationed with
nv command at Gibara, Cuba, L received
orders 10 select twenty-five men, proceed
with them 10 Mayari river, and there
raise a sunken Spanish gunDoat. On the
18th of December all arrangements had
been made. so, with my men ana Sixty
DAYS rations, we sailed at T. VI. on
small sloop belonging to the Quartermas-
ter's Department, the Maguiel. AFTER
rough passage OF six days, during Whlc"
I've we're tossed about In wind and rain,
rho can broken, and the sail torn in
shreds drenched to the skin by the IN
Vulnerable waves that swept over Us, we
arrived M our destination on the night
~ December 10Th. At least half or our
provisions were destroyed by salt water.
For tools we had 4 coils OF rope,
chisels axes. hammers. anvil, nles,
eoo nonnds of nails. 1900 feet OF l-inch
boards. l forge, and a few other odds
and ends picked up around camp. On ar
rival AT Mayari river L found that Colonei
Hood had secured the use or two lighters
which were turned over 10 me. We pitch-
ca our camp on the bank Of the river
opposite the sunken vessel All that was
visible OF the Raracoa was about two
feet Of her funnel and FIVE or six feet OF
her masts.
our first work was to place the lighters
IN posltion-one on each side of the Bara-
Goa. They were held in position by some
heavy spars which We secured from an
other sunken Spanish gunboat az the
mouth Of the river.
After a weeks hard labor We succeeded
I'm getting three strands OF 6-inch line
under her bow. This was diincult TASK
as the water was twenty-six Feet deep
and we had no diving apparatus with US
The lighters were filled with water at low
tide and the cables were then tightened'
and as the tide rose the lighters were
pumped out. This pumping had to be
done with pumps Of our own construction.
A wire cable was secured. and atter TINS
had been placed under her the work pro-
crossed much more rapidly. AT last the
deck was above water; our next object
was to find and close her sea waves, al'si
this had been done We pumped her out
she had been under water from July %.
,sss 70 February 2. 1899 and her machinery
was in rusty and unserViceaoie
condition. All Of the machinery was
taken apart and cleaned before being
replaced.
On March 10. 1893, she sailed under her
own steam for Santiago de Cuba. Her
crew were selected from my detachment.
with the exception % Ensign Lyle. OF the
| Treasury Department. who was In COM
mand I was WORKING on this boat from