Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-25
,rhe Dooned noIphIn.


In the brief summary of the report of
the board appointed to examine the
Dolphin, which appeared in last
weeks GAZETTE, through some blunder it
WIS stated that the board had seen
enough Of that unluchy boats perform
mnces to report unfavorably on her aceep-
tance without putting her to the strain
OF an ocean trial when the weather is
good OF course this should have
read ''when the weather is rough"
and we presume that most readers
mentally made the correction for
themselves. The report referred to, ac-
cording 10 the New York Suns abstract,
shows in detail how the vessel is defec-
tive. First, she has failed to go faster
than fifteen knots per hour in smooth
water and under very favorable circum-
stances; whereas the law required that
she should come up to this standard in
rough water, speed equivalent
TO seventeen or eighteen knots
in smooth water. Next, what
is described as "a small hamlet
known as Social Hall" upon her deck,
interferes with her firing shot either
fore or aft. These two peculiar features
signalize the Dolphin as a war ship which
can neither fight nor run away. The re.
port also points out that the steamer is
structurally defective ms ballast in the
bow on one trial trip caused binding
and heating of forward crank pin
while ballasting the stern on another tril
produced the same effect ON an aftel
crank-pin. The board is not disposed t
lay the whole blame for these defect
upon Mr.. Roach, as the naval advisor,
board devised the plans aud supervised
the work and should be held largely re
sponsible for the failures therein.
The New York Times of Thursda,
says, in its news columns, that it is not a
all certain that the Dolphin will b
rejected, but editorially inclines to til
opposite opinion and treats ex
Secretary Chandler and his advisor
board to some very caustic remarks. MI
Roach is represented as 'smilin
placidly" and discrediting the allege
adverse report of the examining board
which he thinks he would have beel
informed of had such report been made
The Tribune ignores the subject alt,
gether silence which, considering il
relations with Mr.. Roach, may be sil
niticant in several ways The Heya
trusts Secretary Whitney will lose Il
time in fixing the blame for ii
failure where it belonge and pun
ishing the guilty For bad wor
manship and failure to carry o.
his contract Mr.. Roach is respons
BILE; for defective plans, inspectic
which did not inspect, and waste of Il
public money upon an unseuwortl
vessel, the public will hold the advisor
board and Mr.. Chandler responsible
While the World after commenting Il
prudence and sagacity Of Secretary VIII
ney, says:
The late Secretary Chandler cast
anchor to wndward by allowing Mr.. Ron
to receive nearly the full contract price
the Dolphin before he retired from Off,
But II is evident that the vessel was built
the full confidence Of Mr. Bluine's electi
and Chambers reappointment. The u,
phin would have been Immediately Il
copied, paid for and sent into dock for
pairs. She would have been II placer in t
Brooklyn navy-yard for years,
or course, the government will refuse
accept the useless Dolphin, and will requ
the immediate refunding OF the mon
which was hurriedly paid to the contract
by the late secretary Of the navy. 1t will
hard on MIR. Roach If any Of this money h
been paid out as commission, for II is i
likely that he will be able to get any Of
back again.