The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-16

| fortn being by this decision Cancelled
for eyer."-Exchange.
To SaIvs cervsra's Fleet.
Marine Journal: Although bbth the
navy and treasury departmehts In
Washington have stated that the
wrecks OF the Spanish vessels sunk in
the battle Of Santiago have no value
IL seems that there is a Norwegian
wFeeking concern known as the In
ternationai Bjergnings & Dykkersels-
kap which has offered the Cuban gov
eminent ten per cent of all salvage
pfont in return for permission to raise
these vessels. Besides being badly
damaged by shots from the Yankee
guns, there is no doubt these huIks
are rusted and corroded by the sea
water so as to make them valueIess.
even so far as scrap iron is concerned.
yet this Norwegian firm of wreckers
seems to be willing to stake at least
100000 on the venture.
These four cruisers were built at a
total cost of about 81, O0O, 900 and
were the Maria Teresa. Vtscava
Oquendo and Cristobal Colon. Three
other Spanish vessels were also sunk
IN that battle, namely. the unarmored
cruiser Reina Mercedes and the tor
pedo boats Furror and Pluton. The
MARIA Teresa was raised shortly after
the war closed by the Merritt Wreck
ing company, but while being lowed
70 TINS port was lost on Cat Island in
a severe storm. The Oouendo lies
beached seven miles west of Santiago
and is practically broken in two for
ward or the forward turret The Wis
caya lies eight miles farther down the
coast, and while her hull is believed tn
be intact. her bulkhead and deck
beams were practically destroyed
through internal explosions while I'M
der fire. The Cristobal Colon. which
the American gun fire. lis sub
merged in about $50 feet of water from
the steep and rocky shore. and only
Tor the corrosion of the sea water she
would doubtless be worth salving. but |
all efforts to raise her have proved nm |
aVailing. The Reina Mercedes was
'alsed and is now serving as an |
! to the training ship Con-
'tellation at Newport.
1t is known that the Colon carr;e5
ne money with which the Spanish
'fncers and crew were to be paid their
wages, but the safe in which this was
leposited was removed and TRANSPORT
% 10 the Norfolk navy yard by the
derritt & Chapman Company's steam |!
r Senior, and when opened was found
o contain S3,612.96 in Spanish money.
men was sold at public auction for
49, 80" anu IICuiIeu 10 miscellaneous
eceipts by the United States treas
rer. Other Spanish money and prop
rty recovered from these vessels
cached total value of $45,s07. All of
hese 1acts, which are on record in the
aVy department, may not be known
the Norwegian wreckers but if thew
re counting on these assets they are
oomed to disappointment in their {
roposed undertaking.
l.
locking Transatlantic Liners at Nicht,
New York Marine Journal: So far
facilities go in regard to bringing
'ansatIanttc passenger ships into this
arbor, there lie no reason why thew I
1ouio not dock in safety at any hour
the twenty-four In fact. the only :
ing about which there is friction in
lie matter of making this an aII-night /.
open port" Is the compensation FOR
iscom house inspectors OF passenRers'
aggage for the extra hours these men
ave to put In whenever a big liner
,cks ct night
Inc regular pay of custom house
spector Is from Z a. m. to 6 %. m.
10 his principal work is Supervising -
Id checking the delivery of dutfabIe =
rgo from the many vessels and rail
40 cars that enter this busy port =
lille the checking Of PASSENGERS bag ~
ge is minor consideration The -
ga that custom house inspectors are
~ on duty, doing nothing much Of
time, is erroneous. They put In e.