The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-11-18
The Cruiser Drove On an Uncharted
Coral Reef on the North
Coast of LuZon.
The OFFICERS AND CREW ARE ALL SAFE.
Admiral Watson Has Notified the
Navy Department of the Disaster,
Stating that He Has Sent to Hong
Kong for Wreckers t. Make SAL
wage.

sides. She worked her machinery fol
two days and nights in trying to get
ailoat, but a 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
Lieut.. Mcdonald and a number of sail.
ors put off in n small boat and reached
the Callao, which brought them to Ma.
ria.
The gunboat Helena has been dis.
patched to bring away the crew.
Lieut.. Mcdonald describes the
Charleston, when he last saw her. as
hard and fast aground. with her bot.
tom badly stove and well out of water.
Further Details.
Further details regarding the
grounding of the United States cruis-
er Charleston show that she struck an
uncharted coral reef ten miles east of
kamiguin island. Her stern was al
most submerged. and the bow almost
cut of water. n heavy sea was on and
the cruiser began rolling violently.
The watertight doors were quickly
closed. but were stove in under the en-
CINE compartment, the largest of the
ship.
Abandoned Attempts to Save Her.
After the first efforts to right her,
the officers feared she might slide of
because of the heavy sea. and therefore
abandoned the attempt to save her.
They hurried to the launches and boats
and rowed away, prepared to fight fer
a landing, with two Colt guns. 134rifles
and ten days rations. Some of the
officers and men were dressed only in
paiamaS and their underclothing. The
breech blocks of the cannon were re-
moved before the boats put off.
Two hours after the Charleston
struck all had gotten away. The re-
port that the crew remained two DAYS
on the vessel is inaccurate. y party
returned two days later, but found it
impossible to save anything.
Half Savage, but Friendly People.
The first landing was made on IL lit
tie island. with Il FROM 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 firing would be
necessary. So far from this being
the case. however. the Charleston's
men found a h~alf-sayage people, who
regarded them with curiosity rather
than hostility.
In Search of Succor.
On the third day the storm hao
greatly subsidized, and Lieut.. John u.
Mcdonald. with Boatswain Damick
Glynn and six men, started for the
Gulf OF L%ingayen. in a 3O-foot sailing
launch, hoping 10 find an American
war ship. but were entirely ignorant
Of Gen. Wheaton's expedition.
Overlook the Transport Aztec.
Lieut.. Mcdonald was four day.
afioat. keeping under shelter of the
hostile shore for two days on account
of the high seas, being most of the
time in Il soaking rain. Finally, fiv-
ing the Union Jack down. clad in their
uii'AIlNiotiiliiS lIiu titii0iitt tO INC
skin, the officer and his companions
overlook the transport Aztec. which
carried them TO the battle ship Ore
gCn.
Was Returning from " Cruise.
The boat Helena was due to arrive
at Kamaguin island Monday. The
Charleston was returning from Il five
weeks cruise along the eastern coast
of LuIon. and Admiral Watson was be :
ginning to he uneasy. lie supposed. |
however, that she had joined Gen
Wheaton's expedition.
Accident Was Unavoidable.
In naval circles the accident is on
sidered quite unavoidable. The only
wonder is that there are not more such
in Philippine waters. which
are mCst indifferently charted.
The Charleston lies practically in
the open sea. and there is no hope of
her or the valuable %parapher.
and contents of the cruiser.