The Critic and record., 1891-04-09
now eALENA WAS GROUNDED.
The Nina's Crew object to Commando
Bicknoll's Report.

Bicknoll's Report.
Lieutenant. Commander Bicknell has
read his report of the disaster to the Ga
lena and Nina before the court OF inquiry
ut the Brooklyn Navv-Yard. Gathered
about the room were the officers aud
crews of the two vessels. The report was
as follows:
'dAY HEAD MAnrTHs ,',,.Ii, XiEEyAgpi ggS,
"7o the Secretary IF the Nary
"SlR. While ] was commanding the
United States steamship Galcna, making
passage from New York to Portsmouth,
N. H., i'm tow of the United States tug
Nina, by order OF Rear-Admiral Braine,
both vessels went ashore at 1915 p. m,
March l3, owing to a dense fog, heavy sea
and stiff breeze from south southwest, on
the beach, three.quarters Of a mile south
Of Gay Head, Vineyard Haven. As the
sea and wind were on shore, and as
the sea was breaking over both ves-
sells, efforts were made by me chiefly to-
ward the saving of life. The weather had
been thick from Eatin's Point lighthouse,
but, the fog having lifted good depart
ure was taken. When four miles north
east of North Block Island lighthouse the
barometer (at p. M. reading 20,53) ceased
falling and the wind changed to south
ward and westward.
These circumstances encourage me to
SO ON, expecting clearer weather for an
entrance to Vineyard Sound. Some time
after the lifting of the fog it became
denser than before; yet, from my posi-
ton, at this time, / deemed il as safe to
run for an anchorage in Vineyard Sound
as to run for Newport or any other har-
Dor safe from southerly winds. AZ 0:2j |
first heard fog signal from Vineyard
lipl hn ufn
rs the sound came against fresh wind, I
judged we were nearer than proved to be
the case. ! caught momentary flash of
the Gay Head light on the starbOard, not
long enough to get bearing.
AT 1910 stopped the tug to change
the course to n Il. N, to run to Tarpau-
lin Cove to anchor until we cleared. The
lead had been kept going, and during this
stop an up and down cast of sixteen faith
course breakers were sighted on port
bow. Helm was ported and attention of
tug called to same. The tug being 80
close 10 shore and steering so badly from
lead of tow line ii was impossible to
swing around. The Ga6na struck bows
on and swung parallel TO the beach,
heading S. T., Gay Head light bearing ~.
"I think the casualty occurred because
the course ordered by me was not steerei
ilA lhN NhHs All lltillNo Mtlt EDbitll WI
deck, signals burned and tug whistle
blown. After several unsuccessful at
tempts, our line was floated ashore Just as
a rocket line was fired across the ship by
natives using an apparatus furnished by
the Massachusetts Humane Society. Hnt
men were called on the poop deck to be
clear of falling spars. Available boat,
were cleared away, one only being lowered
because deemed it better to remain ON
board till daybreak than to attempt u
land in that sea. The men were landed
by breechcs buoy, travelling on line from
the fOre-truss, in order designated by me.
This operation took from 3 a. m. till day
break. Ensign Field and myself rename
till G:30, when cut the line and we swung
ashore.n
The rest of Lieutenant Bicknell's re
port detailed the arrangements made I,
feed and shelter his men and 10 save a,
much as possible from the wreck. Wher
he finished reading, the officers and crew.
OF the vessels were sworn, and each mlu
was asked by Judge-Advocate Usher it ht
made any objection to the report or hao
anything TO lay at the charge of any otli
Ger or man in regard to the grounding oi
the vessels. Ensign Field who was sec
ond in command Of the Galena, replie,
that he had charges TO make, but did no
object to the report. Tugmaster Smith
Mate Wilson, Samuel Martinsen, Pete
Nelson, p. NJ. Eaglen and Moran of th'
Nina crew objected to the rep rt. They
.ill be examined by the Court.