Huntsville gazette., 1889-11-30
FlOACH'S VINDICATION.
Tho D6lphin Pronounced . Success by Z
Board of Naval Experts.


Board of Naval Experts.
The United States ship-of-war Dol
phin has recently returned from a cruise
of nearly four years around the globe,
and an inspection shows her to be in al
most perfect condition. This is the YES
sci of which Attorney General Garland
said:
The contract to build the Dolphin which was
made by ex-Secretary of the Navy William E.
Chandler with John Roach, was Intentionally
drawn so as to render it feasible to force
upon the United States a ship wanting the
prime quality OF speed, and fundamentally diff
ferent from what Congress had authorized
This was equivalent to a charge of
fraud against both Chandler and Roach.
The vessel was contracted for during
President Arthur's administration and
completed after Cleveland came into Of
fee. During her trial trip she broke a
shaft. This accident caused the failure
of the trip, and was the signal for open
ing general broadside of abuse of John
Roach, which ended in driving him into
bankruptcy and finally into his grave.
He was Republican and a protection
ist and therefore fair game for a Demo-
cratic free-trade administration. But,
notwithstanding the Dolphin was pro-
nounced failure, the Government ac-
cepted her, after imposing fine of $780,
0O0 on Mr.. Roach for natural and un-
avoidable accident, and inaugurating a
persecution which cease only with his
death. Since her return from her long
cruise the Dolphin has been examined
by board of naval experts, of which
Admiral Jouett was chairman. The
board found her in splendid condition.
In an unofficial statement Admiral
Jouett says:
Never in my experience as a naval officer
have known a ship-of-war TO make such an ad-
mirable record as has the Dolphin Three
years and nine months has she been on tour
of the globe. After submitting to more severe
tests, in my belief, than any ship that ever
sailed, she has returned in as excellent trim as
when she started on her voyage. She has been
under steam for 1900 hours. She has travelled
5000 knots the longest distance, believe, that
any vessel ever travelled in single voyage. At
times she developed speed of sixteen AND sew
enteen knots. From England she came at the
rate of fourteen knots. She has been subjected
to the heat Of the torrid the changeable wealth
er of the temperate and the piercing atmos-
phere of the frigid zones. Her engines have
been put to a more crucial test than ever have
been before those of any ship that sails the sea.
She comes back fit to make another tour of the
world at ten days notice. There is not strain,
there is not blemish or weak spot of any
kind in her from bow to stern. Almost invaria-
BLY, after man-ofwar has endured a long voy-
age pits are to be found in her steel. The most
rigid examination has failed to discover any
thing Of the kind in the Dolphin. For vessel
of her size she surpasses any that the world
has ever produced. If ever the memory of a
builder was vindicated, that of John Roach is.
This is the testimony of naval Off
Ger who has served before the mast and
in other positions more than thirty
years. The Dolphin was John Roach S
pet. He superintended her construction
personally, and knew her like a book
from stem to stern. Because of broken
shaft his enemies declared her fraud,
his contract was taken away from him
and he himself was bounded to his
death. The Dolphin, returned from her
trip around the globe, is splendid
vindication of his memory and ocular
proof of the unpatriotic partisanship
and vindictiveness of the last Admins
tration. This country needs just such
men as John Roach. In almost any
country of Europe he would have been
er.nobled for his services to the Govern
ment. Here he was practically MUIR
dered. ed.-Indianapolis journal.