New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-29
thousands of houses and killing hundreds Of
natives Whole towns were wiped out.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CRUISER.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CRUISER.
Washington, Nov. 2S-No official confirmation
of the loss of the Yosemite had been received by
either the Naval or War officials up to a late
hour tonight
The presumption here is the news of the dis
aster was brought to Manila by the War De-
partment TRANSPORT Sherman. which is due at
that place about this time According to
arrangement with the naval officers a War De-
partment transport calls monthly at Guam to
deliver mail matter intended for the people
there and as the Sherman left San Francisco
about November l. with the expectation Of
stopping at Guam, she probably learned OF the
wreck on her way over, and reported II on ner
arrival at Manila
The Yosemite was first commissioned on April
Is. 1898. She had been station ship at the Isl,
and of Guam since the days Of the spanish
war. She 16-knot converted cruiser, or
61T9 tons displacement and was provided with
a main battery of ten 5-inch rapid tre guns ana
a secondary battery of six G-pounders and Two
Colt rifles Her measurements were 59I
feet in length by AS feet extreme breadth. She
had a mean draught of 20 feet l inch.
Just before the outbreak of the Spanish
American War the vessel was purchased by the
Navy Department fitted as an auxiliary cruiser,
and rendered effective service as one or the
patrol fleet, being manned in part by the Mlcni-
~ is said that Ter anchorage at Guam w5z off
the harbor of San Luis d'Apra. and that owing
10 her draught. she was obliged TO lie six miles
off shore. The harbor is a particularly dan
gerous one owing to the existence of rocky
shoal in the middle and a particularly crooked
, channel.
According to the Naval Register the Yosemite
was manned by IS officers and 26I men, but in
her capacity as station ship not all of these
were required and undoubtedly part of them
were ashore engaged in duties at the naval sta
ton. This probably would he true of her COM
mander. Seaton Schroeder who also is Governor
Of Guam and who probably left the active com
mand of the ship TO the ranking .eutenan,, M
Augustus \. Mayer. The other officers ac-
credited to the ship by the register are: Lieu
tenants w r. Stafford Albert Moritz and b B.
Berer Ensigns 4. w Pressey H. l. Collins
A \. Mitchell and F. T. Evans. Assistant sur
geon f. NJ Furlong, Assistant Paymaster p w
Delano. Chaplain L. P Rennolds and eight war
rant officers.
Captain Charles T Hutchins Of the cruiser Buff
falo. sister ship of the Yosemite. was seen by a
Tribune reporter last evening at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. Captain Hutchins was anxious 70
know fuller details of the accident to the Yosemite
He said that he left Manila August 21 and that
the Yosemite left Guam the day after AT that
time there about 30 men on the Yosemite,
and she under the command Of Lieutenant
Augustus n. Mayer. Lieutenant Mayer Is from
Iowa. and has been in the service since ) une n
1876. His present commission dates from FEBRUARY
"a 1887
reporter last evening. He said that captain FRANK
lin Hanford had been sent Manila to take charge
Of the Yosemite but he doubted if he had had time
To get there vet.
the Morgan Line in the Spanish American War
and were fitted up auxiliary cruisers. The only
difference between them is that the Yosemite mas
an iron hull and the Buffalo steel one.