The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-15
CRUISER CHARLESTON
LIES IMPALED ON AN
UNCHARTED REEF
From Manila Comes Word That There
Is No Chance Of Saving the YES
sell Washington officials
Yet Have Hope.
Yet Have Hope.

dispatches. It is probable that the 7th
inst IS correct and that Admiral Wat
sons dispatch was confused in transmits
sion. There was some surprise expressed
that so long a time elapsed since the
wreck before news of the fact reached
the Navy Department 1t appears. how
ever, that this delay was inevitable, ow-
ing to the isolated position of the wreck.
kaniSuin Island is a small isle lying
about north Of Appari, which is the most
northerly port on the island of Luzon. 1t
is distant about $50 miles from Lingayen
Gulf. where are stationed the nearest Of
the warships of Watsons fleet.
When acting Secretary Allen reached
the department this morning he cOmmu-
nicated with the White House, and then,
by direction of the President, went over
at once, carrying chart of Northern
Luzon and the cablegram.
Admiral Watson appears to have acted
at once upon receipt of the news, for he
informed the Navy Department that he
had cabled across to Hongkong TO secure
the help of experienced wreckers to pro-
ceed at once TO the scene of the wreck.
The Navy Department has already con-
structor on the ground in the person Of
Lieutenant Hobson, who may be called
/ upon to assume charge of the wrecking
/ operations.
\ careful reading of the cablegram from
Admiral Watson convinces the officials
that there is a fair chance OF saving the
Charleston. They say that the name Of
the ship is painted about three or four
feet below the rail. This is an indication
that the main deck is above water which
would make the work of pumping out the
hull much easier. If she is settled down
aft as reported. there is less danger Of
injuring the bottom further by pounding.
Much depends, however. on the weather,
/ as the wreck lies on the full sweep OF the
monsoous which prevail at this season.
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 day 5 run from
I Iingayen, and with the Oregon. which
followed closely, must have removed the
Charleston's crew several days ago.
As soon as possible a court OF inquiry
Will he called 10 TX the responsibility for
the wrecking of the ship. This Will follow
irreSpective Of any action of the Navy
Department, and Will be ordered by Ad-
miral Watson Should il appear that the
wreck was caused by the negligence Of
any Of the Charleston's officers a court
martial viii follow the inquiry. But in
view Of the exceedingly dangerous char
acter of the north coast of Luzcn and
the lack Of necessary aids to navigation
it is not believed to be probable that any
Of the officers Will be found severely cen
surable.
The photographic office. Navy Depart
ment gives the following data concerning
the locality Of the wreck: The GuinapaiS
rocks lie seven miles due east of the large
island of Kaniguin, one of the Babuiat
group. of the north coast of Luzon. The
Guinapak rocks are distinctly shown on
the naval chart. which is supplied to YES
sells in the Philippines. but the coral reef
on which the Charleston struck, three
miles northwest west of the rocks, is not
shown on the chart. The dangerous con-
dition of this coast has been recently
pointed out by Rear Admiral Bradford
chief Of he equipment bureau. In his re-
port to Secretary Long he said:
THE bureau is in receipt OF a great
number Of photographic reports from
captains f ships concerning the entire
unreliability of the best existing charts
Of the late Spanish possessions now con-
troIIed by the United States. In the
Philippine Islands the service of pilots is
constantly necessary for this reason and
they do not always prove reliable
The old Spanish maps continue to be
used by our naval vessels until
the Navy Department can make its
own charts. This work is very
extensive and necessarily slow. Only
100000 is now available for the work in
all Of those former Spanish possessions.
The Bennington has been doing this work
in the Philippines and has a complete
photographic outfit on board but 1t VIII
be some time before the American sur
veys and data will be available.