The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-20


Il refuge.
Last summer the Wheeling steamed
into Cariguran Sound and found at
its head well-protected and large
bay with deep water. The Nheellng's
examination of this new find was
cursory only. as she had other duties
to attend to at the time: but her re-
ports of its existence so interested
ADMIRAL Watson that he. later, de-
tailed the Charleston 10 proceed
thither and make Il careful survey OF
the place. This the Charleston did
and il was while the ill-fated vessel
was returning from this trip that she
ran ON the rocks near Camaguin is
land and was lost. The survey OF
Casiguran Bay. prepared by her Off
GERS. was not saved. SO we were St''l
without details as TO CaSiguran. Be
fore sailing for home ADMIRAL Wat
son wanted this information, so,
about three weeks ago. the Baltimore
was sent around LuZon with inStruc~
tons to examine and report upon the
newly discovered harbor. She found
the sound to be about nine miles
long. from Cape TelelfOnSe. on the
seaside. into the narrow passage lead
ing to the inner Bay. This sound IS
from six to two miles broad and has
very deep water its entire length. Its
general direction is northweSterly
from the coast line. The passage in
TO the inner Bay is 1000 yards wide,
with deep water up to the shores n
ship like the Baltimore could tie up
at the shore and reach land with Il
gangpank. The inner Bay is three
and two-tenths miles long and two
and half miles wide. Its general
depth is fifteen fathoms and the an
chorage is all that coulu be desired.
The surrounding hills protect the
vessel anchored in this Bay from any
winds that blow. and when one is
atioat upon its waters the bay has
the appearance of land-locked lake.
And the best of the Spanish charts
gave not the slightest intimatiOn that
such Bay existed. The Spaniards,
it is asserted. were very poor chart
makers. There is an island in Lin
gayen Gulf which is down in the
charts of the Spaniards in a position
a mile and Il quarter from its rightful
place.
Casiguran Bay and Gulf were care
fully examined by officers of the Bal
1imore. For sin days they were at.
working from the boats and the
tpan-launches and under the hot,
tropical sun 1t was learned that the
West side of the Bay showed a small
shoaI and that there is reef, visible
in the daytime. ut the Cape Telel-
fonso. or Northern entrance to the
sound. Otherwise there is deep wa
ter everywhere in the Bay and Gulf.
The Baltimore held some little
communication with the natives on
shore while inside the Bay. One day a
canoe, or raft, was seen approaching
from the land 1t came along very
slowly because the men who pro-
PEELED it stopped every three strokes
Of their paddles TO wave Il white flag.
When they finally got on board they
begged hard for Il garrison TO protect
them from the depredations OF the
alleged bands of insurgents operat-
ing in that vicinity. 1t was explain
ed to them that the Baltimore was
not there to establish garrisons and
the natives went sadly back to their
village.
Another day a launch from the
Baltimore was running down the
Southern side of Casiguran Sound,
taking the depth of the water and stu
dying the shore. 1t had gotten pretty
near the historic town of Baler when
the engines broke down and boat and
crew were at the mercy of the waves,
which broke hard on the rocks to lee
ward. Every effort was making to
repair the damage to the machinery
and get under way again before the
launch should be blown up on the
rocks. when the crew noticed a large
crowd of haIf-nalled natives. armed
with bows and arrows and bolos. con-
centrating on that part of the shore
where the wind was rapidly driving
the helpless craft. The launch had
one ne-pounder. six rifles and Il
Mallser pistol as armament and as the
savages on shore showed every sign
of eXpectant hostility these arms were
placed in readiness for action. But.
when the little steamer was within Il
thousand yards of the beach her ma
chinerv was repaired aad she turned
and steamed gaily away from the dis
appointed men on shore.
Insomuch as Luzon will undoubted-
" be most valuable as naval sta
ton. and that good harbors on the
island add materially to its value in
this respect. the recent discovery and
sounding Of Casiguran Sound and
Gulf is of particular interest. Our
biggest vessels could enter and an
chor in this Bay without the slight
est difficulty.