The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-15

officers 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 cas-
Ter. If she is settled down aft as re-
ported, 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
monsoons which prevail at this season.
For the safety of the officers and
crew not the slightest apprehension ex-
ists The Helena must already have
reached the island, which is about
days run from Lingayen 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 be called to fix the responsibility
for the wrecking of the ship. This will
follow, irrespective of any action of
the Navy Department, and will be or
dered by Admiral Watson Should it
appear that the wreck was caused by
the negligence of any of the Charles
tons officers, court-martial will fol-
low the inquiry, but in view of the ex-
ceedingly dangerous character of the
north coast of Luzon, and the lack of
necessary aids to navigation, it is not
believed to be probable that any of the
officers will be found severely censura-
BILE.
The following is a correct list of off.
GERS on board the Charleston. Captain
George w. Pigman, Lieutenant Com
mander John A. Norris, Lieutenant
Commander William NJ Little tengin-
eer), Lieutenant John A. Dougherty
Lieutenant S. Van Dusen, Lieutenant
John 4. Mcdonald, Lieutenant Dewitt
Blamer, Ensign I. G. Wettengel En-
sign James B. Henry, Jr., Naval Cadet
John A. Schotield, Naval Cadet Charles
=. Hatch, Surgeon Charles Thibbet.,
Assistant Surgeon Edward v Arm
strong, Paymaster z. w. Reynolds,
First Lieutenant of Marines George c.
Thorpe.
The photographic Office, Navy De-
partment, gives the following data con-
corning the locality of the wreck:
The Guinapak rocks lie seven miles
due east of the large island of KAN
aguin, one of the Babuiat 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 Charleston struck three
miles northwest-west of the rocks is
not shown on the chart. The dangerous
condition of this coast has been recent
~ pointed out by Rear Admiral Brad
NJ inf ~
In his report to Secretary Long he said:
The bureau is in receipt of a 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 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 the
former Spanish possessions The Ben
nington 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
ADMIRAL DEWEY SPEAKS OF THE
VESSELS LOSS.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14-Admiral
Dewey, who, with his bride, is Stopping
at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, was to-
day shown copy of the dispatch an
nouncing the loss of the Charleston.
The Admiral said:
Il am sorry, very sorry. The Char
lesion was a good ship, but if she had
to be lost, am glad at least that none
of her gallant officers and crew shared
her fate. l am always interested in
the welfare of the men and ships in our
navy, and doubly so in those that have
been under my command. 1t is
treacherous coast where the Charleston
met her doom-one of the most treach-
erous on the whole island of Luzon"