Newspapers / The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, … / Nov. 8, 1898, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
31.00 PER YEAR. OL. XXXI. NO. 89. WILMINGTON, N. C, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 1898. V 0 -A -A LOSS OF THE MARIA TERESA This Cruiser Goes Down in a Storm. THE HEROIG EFFORTS Ofner Commander and Crew to Save Her Caught In a Storm ofT the Ba hama Her Plate Open and Let la the Water Her Engine Hecome I'c lew Site ICapldly Fill Her Crew Stand bjr to the Lat TheJIeu Trans ferred to Her Conort Washington, November 5. The Ma ria Teresa was lost during a heavy Kale Tuesday night, thirty miles north of Watling island, in the Bahamas. She sank In 2,600 fathoms of water. All the crew were saved. A thrilling story of the loss of the cruiser is given in the official report "of lieutenant Commander Harris to the secretary of the navy, received by telegraph at the navy department late this afternoon. It is dated on board the wrecking steamer Merritt, fifty miles off Charleston, November 4th, and says: "I have the honor to make the fol lowing report of the loss of the In fanta Maria Teresa on November 1st. At 1 o'clock a. m. I found that it was blowing hard and went on the lower bridge. We had left Watling island light abeam at 10 o'clock, and up till midnight the weather was pleasant and all went well with the ship, al though we had trouble in keeping the pump in the forward fire room from being choked with coal. The wind continued to increase in force until perhaps 2 o'clock a. m., when it reached its height, although there were times all day when it blew as hard as ever. The direction was about northeast. The sea continued to rise until perhaps 6:00 o'clock a. m. There was a heavy sea all the following day. The pumps were reported every hour. Soon after I came on deck I relieved the second mate, Mr. Johnson, so that he could go below to fight the water. .About 3:30 o'clock the first mate, Cap tain Lecato, came up and he also went below to work. Captain Chittenden, who was on deck almost as soon as I, gave his attention to the pumps and especially to priming the centrifugal pump in the forward fire room. "There were many new leaks. When a heavy sea struck the sides the plates leaked at the butts and seams, show ing that after the fire they had re sumed their former appearance, but were not tight. There was at the mainmast an inch of thwartship vi bration and only half an inch of lon gitudinal vibration. "While making this examination about 4:30 o'clock a. m., Captain Chit tenden was thrown down and fell on the chain, hurting his side and back enough to temporarily disable him. He continued to give us valuable advice. "At 3 o'clock a. m. we made signal to the Vulcan and Merritt to go to windward, which they did as well as they could. Up tor l o'clock a. m. we were running the. starboard miin en gines and had steam on the to cen tral boilers and three of the short for ward boilers, but the trouble in the forward fire room causer the steam to run low, and we lighted fires under the starboard after boiled avid stopped the engine so as to run the steam up for the pumps. "The pump for keeping the water from the forward compartment was driven by a' belt and when the sea broke over the bows the belt became wet and slipped. As soon as the water was up to the floor place in the for ward fire room the rolling of the ship washed it into the coal bunkers and carried the coal out, choking the pump and carrying the floor plates about, which made it difficult and dangerous to work there. "About 8 o'clock I called for volun teers to hoist coal and water in the ash-hoist. Everybody responded and the work was t-ontinued as long as it seemed of any use. "About 3:30 a. m. it was reported that water was coming into one of the starboard forward coal bunkers and running into the firerooms. Where the -water came from we do not know. "About 2 o'clock the 11-inch gun in the after turret ran out and in twice. When it recoiled the second time something gave way and it settled to extreme elevation and remained ?ta iionary. We asked the Vulcan lo sig nal the Leonidas to stay close to us. and the latter hoisted the flag at the signal -yardarm, which was a signal -agreed upon to call the Leonidas to come within hail. She was steaming ahead ot us and making rather bad Aveather, it seems as if she feared to turn in tne heavy sea, but eventually 'he did cross ahead of the Merritt and -twice passed under the Teresa's stern, although at some distance. I think she picked up the life rafts which the "Vulcan thrtw over. "About 11 .SO o'clock we signaled th "Vulcan lo nk the Merritt if we could be turned safely to run for the lee of "Watling's island. To this Captain Wol ott replied -No." and as Captain Chittenden thought we would sink if we tried to turn, this idea was given tip. Both the Vulcan and the Merritt could with difficulty keep us head to -wind and the sea was running so high that the Vi.'lcarfs bitts started or the tow lines pa-ted. The ship would fall into' the troutrh of the sea. "At 1 o'clock' p- m. Cantain Chitten den asked to sUTnal the Vulcan to cast off the Merritt's tow lines and have the Merritt come alongside. I then as sumed the command, told the men what was to be done and assigned them stations. I told the .hief ensrineer to start the engine to aid the Vulcan in keening our head up. He did so, but could run but a short time with the steam we had. We signaled the Vul can: 'We are about to abandon shin. Try to keep us head to wind. I or dered Captain Lecato to take charge of the lee surf boat and when it was lowered to the rail ordered Captain Chittenden Into it. Against his repeat ed protests, he was placed in the boat with his son. This boat was unable to reach the lines we had astern, but the Merritt picked it up, and after tak ing Captain Chittendon aboard towed the beoat to our leequarter, and repeat ed this manouever, each trip forming a lee for the boats to come here and then .towing them back. She was splendidly handled. From 2 until 3 o'clock the work of transferring the crew continued. Captain Lecato made two more trips, when his arm being-, disabled, his place was taken by Mr. I Johnson, who also took two boatloads. "The life raft was gotten over and capsized, but was righted. It was put in charge of James Bashford, ordinary seaman, of the Illinois naval militia. He and his crew took six Cubans to the Merritt. The smaller surf boat stowed in board on the lee side was then gotten out, and. I put It in charge of Charles A. Dunne, quartermaster, first class. I gave hirn nearly all the good seamen left for a crew. It was launched very handsomely and made two trips. In all these trips we poured oil from the sponsons on both sides, and the Vulcan used oil to make it smooth where the embarking was done. I doubt if we could have worked without it. "The shfp labored more and more heavily. Before I left the bridge she rolled her sponsons under, which I should estimate to be 39 degrees, and her pitching was enough to show her rudder, propellers and perhaps twelve feet of her keel. She was about four feet by the head. She fell into the sea vfry heavily and shuddered as she rose. There was no water aft. The Vulcan did her best to keep our head up, steering to starboard and going to full speed while the sea beat the Teresa's head to port. "Throughout the day the Vulcan did everything possible. We were con stantly signaling. "With the exception of three men who got drung and gave much trouble, all the crew behaved well. Every man did his duty and my orders were in stantly obeyed by wreckers and men of the navy. "When the fires were low I called for volunteers and the donkey boilers were at once filled up. Twice I asked C. F. Smith and James F. Brien, chief ma chinists, to oil the steering engine and they did so and the engine ran till we left. When I took Dunne from the helm to lower the smaller surf boat his place was taken by William C. Mor hoff, machinist, second class, who steered the wreck until we left the bridge together, when he lashed the wheel amidships. Willard Crossett, bugler, was signalman and was as cool as possible. He made no mistakes and was very useful to me as a messen ger. About 4:30 o'clock he made sig- nai: iiang on to me wrecK uniu you are sure she is sinking, to which the Vulcan replied: 'We will hold on until she sinks or parts the tow line.' The last signal he made was: 'These two boats will take all.' After that I had to go aft to force the drunken men overboard and about 5 o'clock we were all off. The boats were hauled under the stem as near as it was safe, where the oil and lee of the ship made it smooth, and were held by one line, while another line, with a ladder at tached, floated the stern on this line. Two double bights where stopped on the right side to go over a man's shoulder. . The end was slacked from the ship aid when two men jumped, they were hauled into the boat. A very fine fellow named Olsen attended to this. When all had gone but he and I. he cut the line and we jumped to gether. "It "was perhaps 5:30 o'clock when we reached the Merritt. While she was getting in the surf boats the Vulcan slipped the hawser of the Infanta Ma ria. Teresa. I expect that the wreck dragging off to port brought all the strain on the port bridle and started the bits. When the boats were in, the Merritt, at my request, started to speak the Vulcan, but was unable to reach her, and she apparently did not hear our whistle. The Merritt then returned to find the wreck, but could not do so. The search continued until 1 o'Jock p. m. The following day 6he headed for Charleston. Very respectfullv. "IRA HARRIS. "Lieutenant Commander, U. S, N." Commenting on that feature of the report' stating that some of the men got drunk, naval officials expressed the opinion that these men were not seamen of the navy, but were sailors from the- wrecking crew No orders were issued by the navy- department up to the close of office hours as to the disposition of Lieuten ant Commander Harris and his crew, and Captain Crowninshield, of the bureau of navigation, said no orders would be formulated tonight. It is said at the navy department that provision was made by which the Teresa could have weathered any or dinary storir. Rough wooden decks J had been nailed over her upper works Her hull was then sheathed, and. heavy chains were wound around her so as to hold her together. Although fur from seaworthy, all that was ex pected was that the cruiser might be kept afloat until docked in this coun try. She had been stripped of all guns and valuables save the big turret 11 incb guns, before starting, so that it is Relieved there will be no loss on that account. It is the opinion of the navy department that the government has lost, besides the value of the ship herself, only the amount of the per diem of fSOO per day through the sink ing of the vessel, because the con tract appears to have require the de livery by the wrecking company of the vessel at the navy yard at Nor folk, Va. The first thing in order now is a court of inquiry, in fact the depart ment has no option in the case of a loss of a vessel under such conditions. This court is required to fix the re sponsibility for loss, to examine into the considerations which led Com mander Harris to choose the easterly course around Cape Mays! and east ward of the Bahamas, to that around Cape Antonio and to the Florida chan nel. It must determine also as near as it can whether the work of preparing the ship for the homeward voyage was properly executed and also whether A POLITICAL FRAUD Attempted by a Republican Registrar in Richmond County. REGISTRATION Rennhlfran Vftnr Privnt Trial ' . . .-.. ton A Red Letter Day for the Democrats at Rockingham Lau- rinburg Democrats to Close Business Houses and Devote the Day to the Cause of Democracy A Big Time at Whiteville --Wilmington Naval Reserves on Hand with One of their Howitzers. Rockingham, N. C, November 5. This was a red letter day for the white people of Richmond county. Four thousand people capie together to express their determination that they shall be free from negro dominations-over 1,000 mounted red shirts. Senator Tillman was brought on a special all the way from Monroe, and accomplished much good. James A. Lockhart, of Anson; and James T. Legrand, of Richmond, were among the prominent speakers. Everything is quiet and orderly, but determination was expressed in the countenance of all. Richmond is safe by a large majority. Laurinburg, N. C, November 5. .will be closed at 4 o'clock on Monday shirt to wear it until old North Carolina has been redeemed. Richmond county will give a good round majority. There is no way to prevent the whites of Richmond from having their own after Tuesday next. Republicans and the one or two remaining populists conceed this. Whiteville, N. C, November 5. Hon. C. B. Aycock spoke to 2,000 peo ple here today. One hundred red shirts paraded and filled the town with shouts of joy at the prospect of Columbus being redeemed from the rule and ruin of fusion. Many men who formerly were populists were in the parade and are now working zealously for the democratic ticket. The fusion forces are disorganized and scattered. Among all the vast assembly here today it was difficult to find any white man who would admit that he would support fusion. Many ladies listened with rapt attention to the masterly eloquence of Mr. Aycock. The six gunners of the Wilmington division of naval reserves were on hand with their cannon and livened up the people with its booming. The democrats are jubilant over their certainty of carrying Columbus and placing it once more in the democratic column, by a handsome majori ty next Tuesday. Maxton, N. C, November 5. When the precinct board met here today to consider challenges it was found that B. F. McLean, republican chairman of the board of registrars, was absent and the book could not be found. Upon statements made by W. A. Lowe, populist registrar, a warrant was is sued for McLean who was arrested upon arrival of the Wilmington train. He waived examination and was held in $200 bail. J. M. Burke, D. A. Pat terson and Angus Shaw and others becoming security. The precinct board organized today by electing W. S. McNair chairman, who demanded the custody of the registration book of McLean tonight, but was refused. The people are highly wrought up over the apparent conspiracy of the fusionists to commit fraud. the officers and crew were justified in abandoning her. Upon their conclu- j sions will depend whether or not a court-martial shall be held. Com- mander Harris is the only officer whom the department knows to have been attached to the Teresa, although he was doubtless supported by some warrant ouicers wiiuse uames weie uul ! reported to the department before the ship sailed. ARRIVAL OF THE CREW CHARLESTON. AT Charleston, S. C, November 5 The wrecking tug- L J. Merritt, arrived at quarantine here last night with 114 of ficers and crew of the cruiser Maria Teresa, which foundered in a severe storm thirty miles north of San Salva dor Tuesday, evening, on board. The tug was detained at quarantine laer night aid did not come up to the city until midday, her dock here When she tied up at all of the survivirs of the Teresa were given shore liberty. There were 114 of them, officers and men, and while many of them were half naked they were as happy and jolly a party as one could wish to see. There was an "enormous crowd gath ered at Central wbarf ivhen they landed and the people of the city did everything in their power ftr the ship wrecked marines. Lieutenant Commander I E. Har ris, U. S- N., at once made a full re--port to the department of the disas ter. The officers and men remained in the city throughout the cay. At 5 o'clock this afternoon the entire party started north. Tike men all ge to Nor folk, their original destination, where they will be reported by the Merritt, which will leave here tomorrow morn ing. Before leaving the wharf for the trafci this afternoon. Commander Har ris lined his men up and after having calle! the roll and found that all hancks were accounted for, he said: "Boy, if it had not been for the I. J. Alerrrtt and her gallant men, we would not be here today. I call for three cheers for the Merritt." The cheers were given with a wilL Then some one called for cheers for Commander Har ris and Captain Chittenden, and they were given heartily. Commander Har ris was the last man to leave thi Maria Teresa. Geofral Ytood'K Sanitary Report Washington. November 5. Following Santiago for today: "Fever cases, all I kinds. 619; total sick, 1,154; deaths 1 none." w . T v , BOOKS STOLEN. f Chnllenf- hv democrats at Max- " - All places of business in Laurinburg and every man will put on his red Florida All Right Politically Jacksonville, Fla., November 5. On j Tuesday Florida will elect two justices f th supreme court three members f , . i of the railroad commission, a state I treasurer, legislature, which will meet ( in April and name a successor to Sen- ator Pasco, and two congrssemen to succeed M. Sparkman in the First dis trict and R. W. Davis in the Second. Both are democrats and each has been nominated to succeed himself. Their only opponents are white repub licans of more than average intelli gence. They have made a more active canvass of the districts than has been made since the days of Horatio Bisbee. The gold demacrats have returned - to the democratc fold and populism has , gradually returned to the party from . , . , w men n Decame estranged, so mai state chairman of the democratic exe cutive committee predicts that each democratic congressman will be return ed by even a larger majority than in 1S96. In Florida the causes influencing the return of the populists and gold dem ocrats to the old party are in a less degree, than those obtaining in Nortli Carolina. Joseph E. Lee, the negro leader of the Florida republicans, has recently been elevated to the highest federal of fice in the state collector of internal revenue and this fact has not only alienated and made lukewarm the "lilly whites," but has as well had its influence in cementing the whites of Ihe state in closer unity. All of Flor ida's democratic state ticket will b? elected and almost every member of the state legislature and senate. Flor ida's educational qualifications the Australian ballot is an insurmountable barrier to misrule. Jntt What She Needed J'My appetite was very poor and I was m nervous I could not sleep. I was troubled with dyspepsia and was very weak. After I had taken a few bottles of Hood's Sarsapartlla I could eat any -thing I wished, could sleep well and was mtsch stronger." Mr. John J. Marshall. Werrington. North Carolina. Hood's Pills cure all liver ills. Easy to take, easy to operate; reliable, sure. ZdC. .......... IB RU Opinions of the Three Party Leaders. THE CLAIM OF YIGTORY llAdt by Eaeb One of Tliem Chairman Ilolton Pretends to Tbluk tbat I1U Party will Sweep Ereryihluz In Mzht Ilolton' Circular to Ills Pollbolder. Wake County to be Redeemed by the Democrat Name Strlrkeu from Heglfttratlou Rook by Justice Clark. Messenger Bureau Raleigh, N. C, November 5. Today the representatives of the three political parties were specially interviewel. Democratic State Chairman Simmons said: "I have the poll from most of the counties In the state. There is no longer any doubt that the democrats will carry the state by a large major ity, even larger than I expected. Both branches of the legislature will be 1 democratic, the house by an over- j whelming majority and the senate by a safe one. There will be the greatest i political revolution which has ever taken place in North Carolina. The white people have come together and made up their minds that negro office holding must cease in North Carolina. Their verdict will be unmistakable and will be xnat no party can ever again with impunity place negroes over white people. The great major ity of the white people will vote down negroism in North Carolina. It simply means that North Carolina white men propose and intend to make and ad minister the laws. We are going to elect four congressmen Kitchin in the Fifth, Bellamy in the Sixth, Kluttz in the Seventh and Crawford in the Ninth district. The chances are decidedly in favor of Small in the First. There is "good fighting chance for Thomas in the Third, Atwater in the Fourth and Lovell in the Eighth." Chairman Simmons further said: "I have information that the republicans have planned frauds and will make an attempt to practice them election day. They may as well understand, and we intend they shall understand that the white people of North Carolina will not permit themselves to be swindled out of this election. I have warned our people everywhere to be on their guard and all proper precautions have been taken and the man who attempts frauds on election day will find him self thwarted." There was a great democratic rally at Burlington today, at which 8,000 people from all parts of Alamance county are said to have been present. The nineteen cotton mills in that coun ty shut down for the day. Chairman Simmons was asked if the democrats would support Atwater in Jhe Fourth and replied: "Atwater bolted the populist convention in Chat ham county when it adopted resolu tions for fusion with republicans. As a member of the last legislature he voted against every bill to negroize cit ies and towns in eastern North Caro lina. He is making a splendid cam paign, denouncing republican-populist fusion and asking the populists to re fuse to vote the fusion ticket. He is advocating good, honest and economi cal government and white supremacy. The democratic congressional commit tee has advised that his candidacy be supported by democrats. I sincerely hope and believe that throughout the district he will receive the united sup port of the democrats. He is honest and sincere and represents a class of populists who have been flocking to the democratic party, and helping us to carry the state on the great issues which have been brought to the front." Manager Ayer oi the populist state committee said: "The situation is not changed. We have the Sixth district now, and don't care what happens there. Congress will decide that Dock ery is elected there. I don't know much about the Second. The demo crats have put up Fountain there and that I think means White's election without doubt. I think Caldwell in the Seventh has a chance to win by 1.200 to 1,500; but say it is a hard fight there. We have thirty-nine senators and sixty-five members of the house Mead sure, with fair chances for al most everything else in sight" Republican State Chairman Holton said: "I think the election will pass off quietly. The closest vote will be In the Seventh congressional .district, but that will go anti-democratic and elect Caldwell by 800 to 1,200." Chairman Holton yesterday sent to all the fusion registrars and judges of election a circular in which he says: "We are absolutely sure of seventy-six members in the house, with an even chance of twenty-five more. We have thirty-four senators certain, with an even chance of ten more. Our judicial ticket will be elected by between 30,000 and 33,000, possibly 40,000, with not a democratic congressman in the state. Now mark this prediction. See that everybody votes the cooperation ticket who desires to avoid being disfran chised. Report by wire violations of the law on election day." .This circular is headed: "Pollhold- Baking Powder Made from pure cream of tartar. Safeguards the food against alum Alum baking powders are the greatest mcnaccrs 1 to health oi the present day. aovftt. muq powqc CO., rw roc. era Must Know That They Put tho Ballot in the Proper Box." Chairman Holton says in it that section 17, of tho election law says' "the voter shall hand in his ballot to the judges, who shall carefully deposit the sarco in tho proper ballot box." Then tho chair man says: "If the ballot is folded tho judges have the right, and it is their duty, to make an inspection sufficient for them to know that there is but one ballot and that it is tho ballot for the box the voter is desiring to voto in. We want reported to republican headquarters all violations of the law.' There is "a posescrlpt which requests that "our judges and registrars have a copy of this." It was said at the executive office to day that it was not thought Governor Russell would go to Wilmington for the election. Everything is perfecty quiet hero and in fact everywhere In this immed iate section. Interest in the elec tion is very keen and the Raleigh dem ocrats are determined to make a fine record on election day by polling a heavy vote. There appears to be entiro confidence that they will carry this county. Estimates are made that Wake county will give as much as 1,000 democratic majority. Perhaps 250 to 300 will bo a safer figure. Three miles of track on the Capo Fear and Northern railway has boon laid, from Apex towards Holly Springs. Judge Clark has stricken from the registration book of the outside oast precinct of this township no fewer than eighty-eight names. Tho fusion reg istrars had refused to allow the book to be revised. PKTITION TO Til 12 1'HKM IH'.NX Hy a Negro Congregation lu Wm.IiIujc tou City to Interfere lu the North Car ollna 1'Hei-tlon Washington, D. C, November 5. The following address was presented to the president today by a commit tee: To the President of the United SUtro: Sir: At a meeting of citizens from many portions of the United States held under the auspices of tho Lyceum of the Second Baptist church, Wash ington, I). C, on Tuesday evening, tho 1st instant., a committee was appoint ed to present to you the situafion in the state of North Carolina, and to ask you to exercise your good ofllcetj to preserve the peace and to maintain constitutional government in all por tions of our common country. We do not come to you as politician seeking some partisan end, nor simply as colered men roused by the passiomt of the hour, but, sir, we come as econ omists, as students of history, and tho science of government as patriots zeal ous of our country's weal, as American citizens, to ask you, the chief ex u tive of this great nation ami commander-in-chief of the land and naval forces, to exercise all constitutional j power in you vested to protect e'.e.ry American citizen in the enjoyment of J his constitutional rights. The present situation in the stato of North Carolina is but an act in tho series of reign of terror inauguratod l in the year of 1 ST3, to wrest from the j legitimate electors the stale govern ment, in certain sections of the coun try and to nullify tho recent amend ment to the constitution of the United States, by resorting, first, to mob vio lence, and then to subterfuge in order to deprive citizens of their right to vote and hold office. The lawless reign was firgt inaugu rated in the state of Louisiana and etep by step it has worked its way eastward and northward, until It now borders on the state of Virginia, and will goon overshadow the national capital, and ere long tho late slave holder will call his slaves at the baeo of Bunker Hill. The thing has gone far enough. This nation Is now dealing with new problems in establishing governments In the island of the sea, and we do not want our usefulness impaired before the eyes of the nations of the world by the charge, even though It be but tolerably well founded, that we have only a quasi-constitutional govern ment in the United StaUs. The present situation is a grave one, and the atti tude of lawless men In the state of North Carolina will be far reaching in its effects unless it is conteracted by the strong arm of the government. JESSB LAWSON, R. W. THOMPSON. H. A. CLARK. THOMAS WARE. C. L. MARSHALL. " Coaiuilttetv
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 8, 1898, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75