The suburban citizen., 1900-09-08

ABdlhSN IOhblul0 OtSAsl0f
Washington Especially. - The Navy
Department has just received by mail
the official report of Captain Wilde, OF
the battleship Oregon, Of the circum-
stances attending the grounding Of
that ship in the Gulf of Pechili last
June, and her successful salvage.
The Oregon has now been completely
repaired and arrived at Woosung
where she is to form one Of the inter
1ational fleet to guard the transport
service during the existence of the
Chinese troubles.
Captain Wilde's report, in part, is as
follows:
United States Ship Oregon, nrst
rate Gulf of Pechili July A. 1900
[ have the honor to report that the
United States ship Oregon, under my
command, grounded upon an unchart-
ed ledge in Pechili Gulf at sos p. M,
June 2S, 1900. The ledge has three and
0ne-half fathoms over it's highest part.
It's position is located by sextant angles
upon an accompanying chart. The
,hart shows at this place II to 18 faith
,ms. Previous to the grounding Of the
ship | have to state that | received
your general orders from Hongkong,
rom the commander-in-chief to pro-
iced to Taku as soon as ready. This
order was dated June %, and was re-
,eived the same afternoon.
lowing to the density Of fog l re-
NAMED on the bridge night and day
since the 2Sth; all hands, in fact, were
constantly on the alert. The whistle
vas being constantly sounded,
Il continued on, sounding constant
Y, until las p, m. on the 28th, when
began deepening water from il to Is
'athoms, which | had been getting
light along to II fathoms. This indl-
lated something wrong, and getting no
response to blasts of whistle l an
ohored In II fathoms of water. Fog
very dense. Two whaleboats sounded
around ship, but found no distractions,
About As minutes after anchoring the
log suddenly lifted and Howki light
house was plainly seen, bearing No. IL
w. distant three and one-third miles.
rhe chart showing clear water, l got
lnder way at once and headed for
dowh light. Fog shut down again
very dense before | got my anchor, but
knowing my position and orders being
Urgent, and suspecting no danger,
started ahead with starboard helm,
when the vessel brought up with three
distinct thumps. Not until then did
he lightkeepers fire guns; they then
ired two guns, according to rule. All
vatertight doors were instantly closed.
Engines were instantly stopped, but
not reversed, as l feared she might
sink If backed into deep water.
1 foh UFfu anW
to Chefu on passing French gunboat
Surprise, to charter steamers to take
ammunition coal and stores, as ship
would have to be llghtened to get rock
out of side of ship or out of bottom,
Two steamers arrived from Chefu on
June 30, which had been chartered by
Commander Rodgers, United States
steamship Nashville. Got two 10 CEN
trifugal pumps from wreckers. With
out them water would not be con-
trolled, as ships steam pumps could
not do so because of the breaking of
main drainpipe by rock coming
through side On July 1, at 1l57 a.
m., ship floated and swung to anchor,
which had been laid out astern with
10-inch hawser. Hawser parted, and
in order to avoid sinking chartered
steamer could not avoid going aground
a second time. Ship rests between two
large boulders forward. Diver can see
under keel She shows no signs of
strains as far as butts or streaks'
starting / shall continue to tighten
by taking out more coal and ammuni-
ton. Am confident can get ship Off
Kure drydock, Inland Sea- is the near
est, and Japanese Naval Department
has offered it's use. Very respectfully,
"F. +. WILDE,
Captain United States Navy, COM