Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 38, 19 February 1894 Edition 02 — DAVY JONES WINS! [ARTICLE]

DAVY JONES WINS!

The Historic Kearsarge Wrecked. New York. Feb. 8.—fhe follo\ving iiī cab!eil by the 11 orhl s Panama corre.spondeut: The United States war ship Kearsarge was wrecked last Thursday ou Roncador reef, 300 miles north of Colon. Lieutenaut Frederick R. Brainard arrived at Colon last night with news of the wreck. Lieutenant Brainard says that at 6:45 o’eloek on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 3d, wh;le the Kearsarge was on her way from Port-au Piinee, Hayti, to Bluefields, Nicaragua, the lookout raised the cry of “Breakers ahead, M and wiihia a few minutes the veasel went on the reef with great force. She was proceeding nnder sail at the time and had, comparative!v speaking, no steam up. There was a terrific sea on, nnd the ship heeled to such an alarming exteut tliat it was feared she would capsize. In order to ease herand to help her back on an even keel the great gun of Alabama fame was jettisoued, or, in other words, heaved overboard. This had no j etfect in the direction of causing the ip to stand up. Tlie uext m«s'e to from go ing doar over end was to cut away the masts, it being : evident that it would be irnpossi- ; ble to furl the sails in season to relieve the en.»rmous pressure of the wind that was bearing down on the canvas with such weight. lt was a question of ouly » few minutes b,*fore the ship would capsize. So nicely was the ehop ping timed that the three masts went crushing b\ T . the bo.«rd at the same instant, and as soon as j the rigging was cleared awav the j ship in a measnre righted, but only to be dashed further upon the reef, where she pounded and grouud herself horrildy ; When the Ke rsarge went over «fter striking the reef she w.-nt so far that the banked fires in the furnaces were throwu out. and, scattering about in ail directions, set fire to the ship, so that, in additi >n to l>eing exposed to the savago waves and the merciless recf, the vcssel was in danger of l>eing burned and blown up. ■ Urg (1 by the desperation of the situation, everybody on board : that eouhl be spared frora on deck manfu ly attacked the mes I and after a short, sharp fight. i succeeded in extingoisbing the | V>iaze before it reached the maga 1 I zine. As soon ■ s the offioers and crew were lauded eamp was est«blish ed on tbe islet of Roncador and enough food to last a month was picked np, but no fresh water, was procnrable. Lieutenant Brainard vol:mtee ed to select a crew aud start for the island of ; Ohl Providence, ninety miles southwest of the scene of the wreck. He left on the morning uf tbe 4th iust. aud reached Old Frovidence, embarking tbence on a schooner for Colon, 230 miles sonth. He arrived at Oolon last |night Lieut. Brainard reported tbat at the time he left Roucador the Kearsarge was going to , pieces. He reported that the | Kears ige’s company could not reach 01d Providence and that . they were in need of immediate assistance. Co cador reef is abont 200 j miles ftooi the Mosquito Coast. Central Auienea. It is wel\

! — known to mariuers as a d;irgerous impediment to navigation, ; nd is surrounded by swift and dangeroos tides. Some time ago the officers of the Nicaragua Caual , Corapany were wrecked on the same reef. It is conjectured the Kearsarge went «ground on tbe reef at night aud fouudered. The Keursarge, by the Iast report, sailed from H.vti to Bluefields, Nicangua, to look after American iuterests 5n eonnection with the trouble V>etween Nicaragua and Honduras The officers on board were: Admiral O F. Stantou; eommanding ofllcer, F. Heyerman; Lienteuants, C. A. Ford, C. N. Lyman, S. T. Walling; junior Lieutenants, J. Hood. F. H. Brainard; ens>gns, N. H. Gates, T McGruder; naval c<»dets. L. S. Thompson, T. L. Stitt, T. B. Borden, J. B. MoOonuiek, W. Ball, D. A. Mallon; past surgeou G. B. Lnmsden; as-ist.nt sur geon, N. W. B »rnum; paymaster, J. A Ring; chief engiueer, B. C Cowiug; First Lienteuant of Marines, L. L. A. Iugate. The crew was coraposed of 200 sailors and marines. On Feb. 9,Lieutenant Br.»inard telegraphed at follows; CoLOX, Feb. 9th. | To the Secretary of the Xauy: ! Am sailing on the City of Para ! today. Will returu here with all hands. Braixaud. THE FIGHT. The Kearsb-fPA was built at Ivittery, Maiuo, in 1859. Her lengtb was 199 feet, beara 33feet, draught of water 15.9 feet. She had a displacement of 1550 tons and attained a speed of 11 knots an hour the capacity of her eoal buukers vas 165 tons. Her b..ttery eonsists of two eight-inch muzzle loading rifles (converted). four nine ineh smooth bores and oue sixty pounder. It was ou the 19th of June, > 1864, that the Kearsurge eame into prominence V>y defeating the Confe«lerate craiser Alahama at j Cherbourg, France. Both vessels were protected by ehain cables hung along their sidos. Captain John A. Winslow commanded . tbe Kearsarge, while tbe Alabama was nnder the eliarg ? of Com- 1 I mander Semmes. France heiug a ueutr»l power, : the battle bad t be fought ontside tiie three mile liuiit. , The fight, oue of the bitterest jon record, was witnessed by enormous cicwds of peoplo fr m the pier-bea»ls at Cherbourg and | the snrrounding heights. In Iess than three hours the Alahama j was battered into pieces and sank i t»> the bottom of the VJritish I ehaunel. |