The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-02
A Sorry Lot of ships.

WASHINGTON, April l.-While the YES
sells ordered to Samoa to-day are fair yes
sells OF their kind, yet they are by no means
equal 10 the three vessels which were
wrecked and are OF an antique type. COM
pared with the vessels OF the German East
African fleet which have been ordered TO
Samoa. The old Richmond Is the largest
vessel that will 20 down. She was built
In Norfolk In 1858 and is OF 1900 tons bur
den, 225 feet long. 42jG feet broad and IL
feet draft Her speed In set down as w
knots when In trim, but she IL doubtless
foul and consequently much reduced In
speed by her stay In South Atlantic waters
She is commanded by Capt A. V. Reed,
with Lieut. Commander Louis Kingsley
and Lieutenants w. ii. Everett, j. Y. &.
Conn, r. II. Terosby, J. Nj. Robinson and
| j. o. Nicholson. Her complement Ia
twenty nine officers and 37l men. The
| battery Is headed by twelve ten-inch
smooth b0res. one eightinch muzzle load
ing rifle and one sixty pound breech-load-
ing rifle, two twenty-pound breech-loaders,
| and some smaller secondary guns.
The Alert is n 1000 ton vessel, built by
| John Roach In 1875. She carries twenty
one officers and 100 men. She Is rated at
ten knots, Is 1876 feet long by thirty-two
carries battery OF one eleyen-inch and
nlne-inch smooth bores, one sixty-pOund
rifle and four small guns In the secondary
battery. Her officers are: Commander
James ID. Graham. lieutenants, John Gar
| win. Y. 4. Green. j. 4. Moore, j. Parker,
| G. ID. Bostice and w. G.. lIannim.
| The Adams Ia rated Mt 1876 tons. She
WAS built In 1875 at Boston by Donald
Mckay. Her length is ls5 feet by thirty
five feet beam and 1913 draft. She is set
down as 9,3 knots, with a battery OF four
nine.inch smooth bores, one eight-inch
muzzle loading rifle, one sixty pound muz
zle,loading rifles and i've guns In the sec
ondary battery.
The detail for the Adams was almost
completed this afternoon. She will be un-
der the direction OF Commander Edwin |.
Woodward. There Will be no new orders
In regard 10 Samoan affairs given the com
mander Of the vessels. Admiral Kimberly
| will remain In Apia and will continue in
| command OF the squadron. The admiral
has considerable discretion vested In him
and may 90 a considerable extent exercise
his own Judgment In regard To what shall
be done. Should anything occur 10 rem
der new Instructions advisable they can be
prepared and sent 10 Samoa long before
| war vessels could get there
While no doubt is entertained here that
Admiral Kimberly did everything possible
10 avoid the dreadful disaster at Samoa, the
receipt Of detailed report Ia awaited with
interest. When that Is received II will be
decided whether II will be necessary Ia
make any further investigation. Col. w.
| on the subject: "'Ihe usual course followed
In a case Of this kind, Is: Admiral Kim
berry will make report 10 the secretary,
giving In detail all the facts
In connection with the loss OF
the ships and men In the
squadron OF which he had command.
That report In the natural order Of things
| mil k..r rafar IN ma "a rnN AZ
ment, II seems 10 me there WAS any negli-
gence displayed or the admiral failed u
take all proper precautions, | shall recon
mend tO the secretary court OF inquiry bt
| held. The functions ~ court Of inquiry
are very similar ~ those OF grand jury
| IT, after thorough investigation the cOurl
! | is convinced the admiral was rerniss or die
not display the seamanship which ought u
| have been expected Of him under the cir
> cumstaDces; the court would recOmmen,
Z the secretary Of navy that he be tried by
. court martial aud should have 10 prefe
. the charge. don't believe any court will
: be convened"
e The secretary OF the navy has cabled I,
T., | Samoa that the men OF the wrecked nAya
4 vessels sent home are 10 come 10 San Fran
. cisco.
!. Renewed instructions have been sent q
I San Francisco 10 hurry forward the pre-
: paratl0n Of the Charleston and every et
9 fort will be- made 10 get her guns and car
| riages transported at the earliest possible
moment. The guns are ready at the prov
{ ing grounds at Annapolis and the carriage
/ are about ready at the Washington nayl
= yard.
The navy department Is making a liyel
effort 10 secure an adequate representatlo
at Samoa. Orders were sent today I
5 have the Richmond. Alert and Adams sen
4 % Apia at the earliest practical moment
The Alert Is at Honolulu and can reac