New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-18
JOHN ROACH INDICATED.
PROOF OF THE sTANCHNEss OF THE DOL.
PHIN

THE DISPATCH BOAT PERFECTLY SOUND AFTEp
TEN MONTHS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MALICE THAT DROVE The GREAT SHIP.
BUILDER TO RUIN AND DEATH.
San Froncisco, Oct lone Of the worst
specimens Of partisan malice shown during
President Clevesnds Administ alton was the con-
domination of the dispatch boat Dolphin, which drove
John Roach INTO bankruptcy, broke the honest ola
shlpbullder's heart and cut shoH his honorable and
useful career An official inquiry brought out proof
OF tho Injustice Of the charge that the Dolphin
structuray weak" but the most cow ncng evidence
that the commission which condemned tho boat
warped by political feeling IS furnished by In
spcct on of vessel the dry dock at Mare Island
Navy Yard There she lies, with the s'snch hull
in full view OF the house Of CommaLdant Belltnap q
Mare Island-tho man who acted as secretary Whit
neys pllable agent IN condemnIng the dispatch boat
STORY OF THE DOLPHIN.
1t may be well IN paragraph or two to recall tho
salient features OF the Dolphins history. She was
finished In November 1894, and in the following March
the Naval Advisory Board recommended her accept
ance by the Government, as she had fulfilled tho
tests required Tho Secretary Of the Navy
however, had other plans. Hc was told BY John
Roach's enemies that the vessel defective and bo
appointed a commission to Investigate her. Al us
head was Commodore George +. BeIknap, the same
who has since been rewarded for his services by
the snug position OF Commandment at Mare Isand
Navy Yard and who has signalzed his promotion By
discharging one-armed Union soldier who had held
post on since the close OF the Two trial trips Of
the Dolphin made. On each Beknap made q
favorable report by wire to Secretary whitney, but
these dispatches the Hight until later.
After receiving the second report Mr. Whitney wrote
to Commodore Bclknap, telling him what he waneL
The most significant sentence In the letter was ills:
81 want to know whether she is structuraly weak Or
tel.I d.rA
Belknap, taking his from this letter, report,I
that the Dolphin structurally weak" lackel tie
necessary speed Of twelve knots and exhibited dan
gerous vibration In heavy sea: her bow weak,
her steering apparatus defective, and her paint
ing, Joining and gliding faulty. In word she
was dead failure
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST ROACH.
Secretary whitney pgeonhCicd the two favorabls
dispatches Gent him by Commodore Bclknap just as
he subsequently suppressed the report Of Cap an
Richard w. Meade who commanded the Dolphin.
Captain Meade reported that though he tested her IN
heavy gale ana allowed her fall into the trough
Of the sea, neither myself the officers of tho
sci observed any structural weakness I'm the hull
Captain Meade also praised her machinery and hcr
sea- going qualities. But the thIid dispatch OF Cons
modore Beknap Secretary Whitney promptly sent 10
Attorney General Garland, with a request for legal
opinion, and that eminent telephone expert decided
work.
Every one IS familiar with what followed. Tbs
declaration that the contract invalid drove Roach
into bankruptcy as he had three the Stocks
Then followed the extraordinary spectacle OF the prac
teal cOniscaton OF great Industry by partisan mall
Ice. Tho Dolphin finally accepted Novenh-
Der 8, 1885, although material changes had been
made in her. Her acceptance was vindication oe
Roach but 1t failed to bis wound, and he died
on January 10, 1887.
TEN MONTHS CRUISE.
For two years little was done with the Dolphin hut
last fall she started a cruise around Cape Horn.
After passing the Straits of Magellan and touching at
Valparaiso and Callao. she sailed for Honolulu. and
thence for San Francisco few weeks ago she sent
to Mare Island Navy Yard and placed on the float
Ing dock, whore she lies As usual with vessels that
have been in the South she heavily covered
with barnacles, but when they were removed AL tho
experts wero surprised TO find her in such fine
dton. They carefully examined the hull and bottom.
but there was not a plate displaced nor q rivet
loosoned nor timber strained out of gear
some caulkng necessary deck. where the In
tense heat had parted the seams, and painting
was required, but the stanchness of the Dolphin may
be judged from the fact that after ten months at
the expenses of docking and repairing will be
500; At the head Of the experts who examined her
steel used in the cruiser Charleston and he said in
the presence of several naval officers, that she is tho
etdDcnest boat to-day In any navy OF tbs
world The officers, who have had the best oppur
tunity TO detect any weakness I'm her construction all
rorroborate this opinion OF Lieutenant Gilmore one
Of them remarked The Dolphin. as you for
Yourself IS scarcely more than a yacht with only
thrtywo feet of beam. but she has been ten months
afoat actual cruiser duty has covered 40 900 miles
through the Straits Of Magellan We have had rough
weather. but she proved seaworthy and came out all
right"
Other officers criticised OF the minor arrange
mens, but none could be found TO back up Commodore
Belmap's charges. They all found her insufferably
hot in the tropics, but this is the common complaint
Of iron vessels. All praised the economy OF space
shown by the builder and the excellence OF the
and placed Commandant Belknap in a most unenviabls
position.
COMMANDANT BELKNAP'S RETICENCE.
Tho Dolphin must be gTicvous eyesore TO tho
commandant. lie can't look out on the bay without
seeing her cleaning hull. He has been politely IN
vited by Captain G. T. F. Wilde TO come on the
Dolphn's deck and point out her structural weakness
but he has not yet put foot the that has been
yrimly dubbed John Roach's coffin, Ii IS even
doubtful whether Secretary Whitney when he receives
the official report Of the inspection Of the Dolphln
viii care to make public the proof OF his great IN
Justice 10 man whom the Government should have
rewarded instead of bounding DEATH
UNABLE TO ARRANGE 4 MATCH