The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-15
Fate OF THE CHARLESTON
Story of the Vessels Disaster as
Told by the Survivors.
The Reception of the News of the
Denth of Vice President Hobart
some Religious Problems - The
Growth of the Protestant Congrc-
eations-EnElisb-SP Society.


Charleston disaster. which. fortunately,
included all who were on board, officers
and crew. over three hundred, have been
brought back TO Manila from the little ISL
and of Camaguin by the United States
gunboat Helena. They are now safely
lodged at Cayite. pending the investiga-
tion which inevitably follows the loss of
over sl,500.0O0 to the Government, and
that was what the Charleston and her
armament represented. In this case it Will
be not more than a formality, for nobody
who is conversant with the circumstances
can see how Captain Pigman should re-
ceiye any censure a brief account of the
as follows:
On October the Charleston left Manila
for a cruise along the coast TO the othe.
side OF the island Of Luzon. Just previous
to this date was the bombardment of the
insurrectos in Subig Bay, north of the
bay of Manila. During the month which
intervened between her departure from
Manila and the accident in which she
came to her end the ship made a success
full cruise around the northern coast
stopping on her way to report at the Gulf
of Langayan-and TO the south on the
eastern coast of the island, where the
Americans hold nothing. OF the north
eastern coast is the group of small islands
of which Camaguin is the largest, and it
was Captain Pigman's intention to take
the course between this group and the
shore on the return trip. On the north
western point of the island of Luzon they
ran into a heavy wind. which carried
them somewhat out of their course during
the night, so that on the following morn
=ing-November 2-the captain decided TO
take his ship through the islands where
the chart gave him clear course, instead
of nearing to the southwark 10 carry out
his original intention.
The ship was headed between two small
and rocky islands, the first of the group,
and had passed half way through the chan
mel when the cry of Rough water ahead"
rang out. The next instant she was on
n reef, and from the unmistakable sounds
below her case was hopeless. The rasping
and scraplng of her broken keel over the
rocks was deafening and ominous. The
ship began to fill. and some of her boilers
we're jumping up and down. There was
momentary danger of an explosion. II was
a matter of life and death. for nobody could
tell with any degree of certainty how long
the doomed hull would remain above water
The boats were hastily swung off the
davits. but as the same tackle had TO be
used for each side, great deal OF valuable
time was lost. The ship struck at O'Clock
in the morning. so that many OF those on
board were not quite prepared TO appear
in any capacity. and in their haste TO get
on deck the wardrobes which they carried
on their backs were a scanty outfit for
the next two weeks.
Crowded in small Boats.
II 1t had not been for fortunate cir
cumstance there would be no survivors
TO tell how it all happened. The sea was
calm enough to take the boats in compare
tive safety-and they were Obliged to 20
fifteen miles. In her collision with the
steamship Diamante in Subig Bay the
Charleston had lost one OF her boats, and
this had not been replaced. On this ar
count the men were more crowded than
would otherwise have been the case. There
was no room for them in the boats for
Captain Pigman ordered a large supply
OF arms on board; indeed. this was an
essential precaution. In addition to the
arms, ten days rations were slowed away
and then the boats and launches were
showed off. At the time of putting off
from the wreck, ii was hoped by those who
were leaving good share of their worldly
possessions behind them that they might
be able to return and carry some of them
away before the Charleston finally broke
up and disappeared. But the calm weather
which had given them prolonged lease
OF life did not continue and 1t was i'm
possible 10 get TO the ships side again
They proceeded first TO a small island |
which was entirely desolate, and here the
poor shipwrecked mariners built them
selves some little shacks and played at
Robson Crusoe for while, but they didn't
like il a bit. There were no delightful
hair-breadth adventures TO keep the blood 1
circulating In their veins, no goats 10 fur
nish them with a complement TO their |
scanty wardrobe, no footsteps in the sand, |
and no man Friday TO give them amuse-
nent. They were wet most of the time and /
hungry, for they were on half rations, and I
still persisted in healthy appetites. II was
with more or less JOY that they re-embark- I
ed in their small feet and sought another |
refuge. This was the island of Camaguin, /
the largest Of the group and fairly COM |
Portable place on which to live. About fifty |
natives make this bit of land their home, 1
and al first there was the exciting uncer- |
iainty as TO whether Aguinaldo had set his |
brand on this particular party. Such a
contingency as the wreck of a man of war
on the coast not having been foreseen the
inhabitants had been left in peace and were
ready TO treat the newcomers well. The
castaways took good care TO start the most
friendly sort OF negotiations. SO the good
people opened their hearts and their homes
TO the hungry crew, and they dried them
selves and managed to get something more
10 eat, for there was lot of cattle on
Csmaguin and other native food supplies.
The Ship n Total Loss.
In this time the party which had been |
despatched south TO carry the news of the
disaster and 10 bring relief had reached |
the end of its journey, and the Helena was
despatched at once TO the scene of the
wreck. No insurrectos had come over in
small boats from the mainland and the
party was intact and quite ready TO en-
bark for more civilized parts An exami-
nation Of the scene Of the catastrophe dis
covered the fact that the good ship Charles
ton had disappeared forever from view.
She had broken in half, and the two
pieces had slipped down into the deeper
water fore and aft. The officers some
times think of their well-stored state
rooms and the pretty gifts which they
had been picking up here and there TO
send home for Christmas. 10 say nothing
Of their personal effects and their collec-
lions of Moro arms and other curiosities
which no money can replace But of
course. this is nothing beside Uncle Same
8. 500 600.
The first knowledge that most residents
Of Manila received OF the death Of Vice
President Hobart was communicated by
he salute Of heavy guns early on the morn
Ing of November 25 The American flags
throughout the islands as far as the cable
would reach were at half mast, and at noon