New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-02
THE DOLPHIN CASE.
VIEWS OF THE NAVAL ADVISORY BOARD.

ths afternoon made public the criticisms OF the naval
Advisory Board upon report of the Dolphin Board
OF Examiners together with the reply OF the latter
regard the delay in giving out the criticisms the
Secretary said to-day that the Naval Advisory Board
declined to unite with him In asking for the trials tha
he appointed tho Examining Board and initiated the
examinations; that naval customs and proprcty re-
qured to send criticisms to them for their reply
before making them public that the reply was received
only yesterday and he thercupon yesterday ordered
both documents to be given press to-day He also
yesterday addressed Admiral simpson the following
letter.: ...... IT,, ., ,ooz
the Naval Advisory Board OF July ~ covering crit
Dolphin with the request that the same should be given
same be printed and send you twenty copies
for such you may choose to make OF thetn anu
cana But express my surprise that your board should
have certified the vessel to me Tor n reDo to
""'' 'A''''" ". C. WmrNEY secretary of tho Navy.
To Rear Admiral f. SIMPSON, L. S. n, Iresdem % me
| Aarai Advisory Board.
| The "statement" submitted by the Naval Advisory
Board makes forty printed equal 10 apou.
ten ordinary newspaper coumns), and the re)ohder oi
the Board OF Examiners Is about onciourth rs io'e'
The Advisory begin their statement by quoting IN
extenso the criticisms OF the examiners Oh Tue suc
| tnrai strength of the Dolphin. They say:
The above statements clearly bring agans the Dol
phin the most serious charge Of structural weakness
due faulty design and aggravated by deceive III
| man alleged
charge consists of ~ vibrations OF the structure "no
under fun speed (2 heating OF Two crankphs on wv wv
distinctly attributed to lack of structural strength YET
in closing their report they state that they regret Una.
| short of q trial for some une,
rough water can W. d sroposs to show That
the Dolphin is strong. staneh vessel ana inc nnono
pph conl, not he derived from an examination OF the
facts. Asthe absolute size of the vessel enters ho
question kind 1t is allowable to recall tue ne,
sjons OF the Dophin-24O length between perpen
dcuars 80 feet BEAM 1913 feet depth and looo IONS
displacement In examining tho strength 0, eo ,p,,h
structure inquiry naturally AS TO the %
OF the and the fastenings The strneHre o e
Dolphin Is composed OF the best quality OF nu ST. r
and careful aud elaborate series OF tests on anc
whole OF the frames anG es ana paes s SNOW onarc nc
and an average ductty in eight inche; OF - per se
IRE depends are also and probably the most
T purpose "'''0''" anu ''1'
After long and elaborate technical description OF tho
details OF the OF the Dolphin and comparison
OF her scsptngs with those prescribed by Lloyds rules
the Board insist that in all essential matters the require
ments OF these rules the scantngs are exceeded
The Board then the question whether the vessel
il sufficiently strong to withstand the strains to which
| 1t may be subjected. After quoting from various
authorities on such subjects and again describing with
technical minuteness certain details Of construction
they say:
We do not contend that the above Investigations
concus that the Dolphin could not have
shown signs of weakness maj dney 40 so~ In ,h
srvrrrs strains vessels crcum
stances namely those inevitable unequal d.iribu-
ton OF weight and bnoyancy. II the Dolphin showed
any signs weakness. II must have been local facrs
out by the examiners when are thouSht 10
he weak as in tho bow and stern compartments. but
% are Of Inc vessel were snch as 10 ind
cate lack OF structural stinCes% Hero Is apparently
distinction between stiffness and srength, and that
| tine floor. under the engine room WIRE observed 10
spring severely there is local weakness 1t would
there are greater than elsewhere; however. special
| HAD nd
taken inevitable vibration and yield o. the structure
for local weakness and oar calculations anu observa
| tons on the vessel bear out iris opinion
Referring to the Dophins vibrations the Board made
the following quotation from the last volume OF " The
transactions VI Institution OF Naval Architecture
| All steamers without exception shake to
| giDes are in motion. THIS pheno,nenon ,,i Is
OF no attention paid to H. aId when ships Win com
paratvey powerful engines show an ,,, ,r i
phen is SIMPLY accounted Tor 10y saying me snip
the notice OF who paid much attention TO
these vibrations that not uucomnony weakly construct
amount OF shaking and conversely that comparatively
strongly built ships subjected TO exceptionally VIC
| lent vibration
| Proceeding from this the Board say
Tn the Dolphin vibrations observed in the hull.
either deck below. OF two apparently distinct sy-.
TENS which assigned to separate causes inc nst
vertical plane and corresponded To Tue motion
observed ~ me enslne frni1g rms sysI OF '1Ia
balanced forces produced by the acceeration OF the
4
| piston, pistop-rod and connecting rods. The
second system OF vibrations ale not so apparent ercet
at the extremes OF the vessel and take place IN hor
| zontsi plane They are due apparently To the inter
itten action Of the due to the unequal pressure
retardation OF the water the surface by the SKIN
friction OF the vessel In orier 10 give Gear idea OF
| where they were most marked: glass OF wafer was
Screw The glass wss three and bali Inches ia diam
the top and was not held bnt 20 res,
upon the deck. Al the time the engines were making
| Val
fectly smooth. that the vessel had no perceptiDlc
fed with water until the water touched the edge Of
rule placed across q diameter 1t would there remain so
for any length OF time without spiling arop l1l'
simple experiment made on the ini"i OF May -.
Was VERY moderate Even when the were sud
denly put full speed astern and The rndde put nh over
sp about I-32 OF inch of The top OF the glass
| Having now discussed the subject OF strength
thorouehly from examination OF the strncture ana
from the circumstances of the trial. we will conclude By
stating that searching examination OF tbe nun OF te
vessel while In dry dock 10 repair some slight injuries
incurred while aground on some ROCKS III the East RIVER
me- sIieatest evidence Of weakness any parts
fasteninss; the alignment OF the engines remains per
persons detect straning can be observed We now con-
slider that we have snow 80 n af az vee the opbo
Is exceptionally strong strucnraiIy arc lhaI II s no.
reasonable accept the fact of the heating OF crank
min 10 which engines. aud particularly new ones, are
at times liable, evidence OF weakness OF any cnarac
| ter; that vibrations are very moderate. unavoidable
easily explained aud regarded as evidence for
| or against the strength OF the ship.
Replying 10 the criticism OF the examiners reaVe 10
the strength of bow of the vessel the Board say:
We are OF opinion that the strengthening OF tho bow
OF the Dophns ample not only to resist the pressure OF
mpusyc force OF the water In plnging INTO head sea-
hui also provide additional strength ana SUCH arrange
nents az would admit Of ranniDg without excessive
| danger TO the vessel
As TO the suggestion OF the examiners that the bow
plating may pant" chat Is move in and out under the
pressure OF the SEAL Board say they have not the
| slightest fear OF IT, and add
We regard the additional strnge suggested to be put
in bci the spar and berth decks at height OF four