Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-15

come to the reinforcement OF Admiral Dewey
after the battle. OF Manila bay, On its way
| TO Manila It touched at Guam and took pos
session of the island in the name OF the
United States. ...,
The Charleston Is one of the older vessels
of the new navy. II is included in the group
Of vessels following the completion OF the
cruisers Chicago. Boston, Atlanta and Dol
phin, built in 1889 and 1888, which were the
pioneers OF the present navy. The Charles
ton was built at the Union Iron works of
San Francisco, the keel being laid in 1887.
The contract price was s1,0l7500 1t was
launched in July, 1883, and placed in com
mission for the first time in December, 1889.
The ordnance bureau OF the nuvy has been
busy for some time past making extensive
alterations in the battery of the Charleston
aud had these been completed the ship would
have been brought thoroughly up to date.
Location of the Wreck.
The hydrograph Office Navy department,
give the following exact data regarding
the location OF the wreck:
The Gunapak rocks are located in longi
tude 122 degrees, minutes east; latitude.
Is degree, 81 80 north. They lie seven miles
due east of the large island of Kamlgun, 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 is not
shown on the chart. The dangerous condl-
tion of this coast has been recently pointed
out by Rear Admiral Bradford chief of the
equipment bureau, in his report to Secretary
Long. He said:
THE bureau is in receipt of great num-
bpr of hydroprarbip FROM MT aip ne
of ships concerning the entire unreliability
of the best existing charts of the late Span
ish possessions now controlled by the United
States. In the Philippine islands the service
OF pilots Is constantly necessary for this rea-
son and they do not always prove reliable"
The old Spanish maps continue to be used
by our naval vessels until the Navy depart
ment 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 complete photographic
outfit on board, but 1t will be some time be-
fore the American surveys and data will be
available.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14-Admiral Dewey,
who with his bride is stopping at the Wal
dorf- Astoria hotel, was today shown a CODY
Oh the ulSpatch announcing the loss OF the |
Charleston. The admiral said: 81 am
sorry, very sorry. The Charleston was |
good Ship but II it had to be lost, / am |
glad at least, that none of it's gallant Off |
GERS and crew shared it's fate. am always |
interested in the welfare of the men and !
ships in our navy, and doubly so in these |
that have teen under my command
1t Is a treacherous coast where the |
Charleston met its doom-one of the most |
treacherous on the whole island of Luzop."
Cabinet Talks of Charleston Wreck.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14-The cabinet
meeting today was uneventfuI Secretary
Long was the only absentee The wreck
OF the Charleston was discussed and the
general situation in the Philippines was
gone over, but to no particular purpose
Secretary Gage continued tho discussion of
the money situation in New York and went
over the ground which he will cover in
his annual report. The report is confirmed
that the secretary has no idea of buying
government bonds at this time, except in
some unlooked-for contingency. The ques-
tion Of a civil governor for Cuba was not
brought up. zt.4. -,.