Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-20
WRECK OF the ASHUELOT
RECALLED BY THE DEATH OF
LIEUT.. PICKRELL.
Story Of the Loss Of the American
Side-Wheel Warship OF Chinese
Coast in 1883.

From the New York Evening Post
The death In Wildwood, Powhatan coun-
ty, Va, of Lieut.. James McCaw Pickrell,
retired, recalled the wreck of the steam
ship Ashuelot to number Of the older
naval officers. He was born on August
3, 1857, and entered the Naval Academy
October /, 1874, as a cadet engineer. He
was graduated June 10, 1879; was pro-
NOTED to assistant engineer in 1881. After
serving at various places, he was on duty
on the Ashuelot in 1883. February Is
In that year the vessel was wrecked off
the coast OF China, and out Of III sailors
and Is marbles. II enlisted men were
lost. Commander Horace E. Mullan was
in command, and besides Lieut.. Pickrell
these officers were also on board: Lieut..
Commander A. ]. Iverson. Lieut.. A. B.
Wyckoff. Master F. s. Hotchkin Naval
Cadets w. T. Webster, Robert Stewart,
Passed Assistant Engineers James Emit
wistle and r. r. Leitch, Passed Assistant
Surgeon 8. H. Dickson and Paymaster E.
NJ. WhitehOuse.
Strikes, Fills, Sinks.
The Ashuelot was double-end paddle
wheel iron steamship of 1855 tons, built
in 1858 at Boston. She was sent to the
Asiatic after the close of the civil war.
Thirty nationalities were represented in
the crew, and, with the exception of the
marines, most Of the men were shipped
on the Asiatic station. The Ashuelot left
Annoy on the afternoon of February II.
At O'Clock the weather became foggy
and the engines were slackened. It had
been the Intention to change the vessels
course the next morning, and at 4 am.
Lieut.. Wyckof, the navigator, went on
deck for that purpose. While he was in
the chartroom consulting with Com
mander Mullan land was discovered on the
starboard bow. The engines were stopped.
but too late to clear an outlying rock,
and the ship struck An attempt was
made to save the vessel. but she was
found to be filling rapidly. and she was
abandoned. She sank in twelve minutes
from the time the order was given to
abandon ship. The boats were kept to-
gether until daylight and landed on East
Lamock Island, where a lighthouse was
stationed.
The Court-Martial.
Lieut.. Wyckof and Paymaster White
house were sent to Swallow to secure
transportation of the crew, and a Chinese
revenue cutter was placed at their Gispo-
sal. Officers and men lost all their per-
sonal effects. All the books and accounts
in the paymaster's department were lost.
Naval Cadet Webster was the last officer
to leave the ship, following Commander
Mullan into the gig. Assistant Engineer
Pickrell jumped from the gangway Just
a moment before. Credit was given to
Mr.. Pickreli for the way in which he
stuck to his station. Commander Null
Ian was tried by court-martial for the
loss Of the vessel. He was found guilty
and dismissed. Lieut.. Wyckoff was tried
for neglect of duty, but was fully ac-
quilted by the court. Entwistle and
Leitch were found guilty of neglect Of
duty in not seeing their men up from
below before leaving the ship themselves.
Entwistle was sentenced to be suspended
from duty for one year. Leitch was repri-
manded. One fireman. who had stuck to
his post on the Ashuelot, was called be-
fore the court. He was asked when and
how he left the ship. and he replied: 81
did not leave her at all; she left me-"
Only one of the officers who were on
the vessel is now on the navy's active
list. He is Medical Director Samuel H.
Dickson. on duty in Washington. Lieut..
Wyckoff Is on the retired list, but is on
active duty In the branch hydrographic
Office at Port Townsend. Wash. Naval
Cadet Stewart Is also on the retired list.
with the rank of assistant engineer. En-
twistle is rear admiral on the retired
list. He was on the Olympia at the
battle OF Manila bay, and was advanced
in grade for eminent and conspicuous
conduct in that battle. Naval Cadet Web
ster resigned in 1885 and the others are
dead.