The sun., 1893-07-17
TRAINING SHIP SEAMANSHIP.
COMMANDER LYONS ACCUSED OF BAD
JUDGMENT.

ne Msy Bc Trnnsterred from the Monor.
Rnhein-Dia He suErr Roy to Drown
when He Might Have Bsen Rescueds
The naval court OF inquiry. composed Of
Capt. Montgomery Sicard OF the Miantonomoh.
Capt. William II. BridGman OF tho Baltimore
and Commander Frank wldes Of the York.
town. detailed to investigate the charges OF
incompctency against Commander TimothyA-
Lyons OF the training ship Monongahcla. now
at tho Navy Yard. has concluded its tnvestiga-
tions and forwarded tho result to the Secretary
OF the Navy. Tho charges were brought about
mainly by collision with II Norwegian
bark in the hnrbor OF Funcha Madeira
1t IL rumored. however that there were other
instances OF inability to handle the ship In
the harbor Of st. Thomas, West Indies. last
Aprll, the Monongahcla, II is said. was SO
cumsly manTuvrcd by her commander in
attempting to make Fort that tho Hnrbor
Master had to warn him that tho harbor could
not be made unless more sail was put on the
ship. as it was impossible to weather certain
point at the entrance OF tho harhor with the
amount OF sail then on the ship. The Harbor
Master was greatly surprised, 1t is said. at
what he called the COMMANDERS lack OF sea
manshir. When the Monongahca left the
harbor Commander Lyons asked the Harbor
Master to move two steamers from their moor
iHkb OINpT tfiil tne HlGNI pass out,
Again. 1t is said that in the harbor Of Bridge
town. Barbndoes tho Monongahela became
IN too 20 sa wnter and s ShS no, wss
topsnils in breeze before weighing anchor.
In consenucnce. the anchor, was dragged be:
lore 1t vas RweCh. which threatened to send
her into several OF the neighborins craft. Tn
account of the breczc. sternway was developed
passed dfsaEreeably close to several m ore ves-
sels Ss rinnnl,y i is added when the MononGa
Other anchor, she ShpeIeu around almost into
large iron ship lying near her nroaIsidc on.
on Soy % yons n amsa m Ih' tran"E ship
he rel relieved y; i Commander sands. one Of the hest
From what can he learned the Commander was
indisposed to snil into the river Tngus at
river during the dnv ho would put about and
steer away Mt night returning to his former
course on tho following day. At tho mouth OF
North Cachopo Shoal and tho south Cnchopo
shoal. In attempting to make the river. the
the North uachopo and Commander Lyons
tho1ghtlessiy gave the order to rut the helm
the Mnnongahela directly upon the middle OF
the shoal had not Lieut.. W, "; kimball. the
media ely giving the order " Hard a-port" %
Tho sea was running very, high. and had the
ship gone, on the shoal she would not have
held together ten minutes.
ed for ,Funshai. Madeira. where tile collision
entering the rort the Commander apparently
decided not to anchor. hut changed his mind
when about TO cross the bow Of n Norwegian
bark anchored Just Oft the town. There was a |
stifl breeze blowing, and Commander Lyons let
go with one anchor and stood across the
bhrk'n how as far a. pnssb lc while wearing
another anchor was cast of. and the ship ,
swung around with great force. coIliding
with the Norwegian The stern OF the Monon.
snI be ne fore por5 s1aG nna as
with q run. The Monon eaheIa left her re- gig W in
s% ets on the Ss Sa, es 1nd her liz
MononGah hela to about doutlg that amount.
Gom:pandcr q lyons inquired by means OF
had been injured. The Board reported that
$1,000 would cover all repairs: In the col
lision the anchor chains Of both ships became
engaged u British steam collier for $50 to dis. |
engage the ships He paid tho collier cS5. n
bonus OF 60 OF Goyernment money. The col |
naThor Wh: ~, ..,. u..,u.,. ,-o A.. w..
Indian cruise. d. }. Quinn. lG-yrRr-old third
He fell from the port mzzen chnins while en-
gagged in washing some Of his clothing by |
having them attached to line and trailing
help. and two life-preservcrs were thrown him.
Lie buoys could not Le dropped for him. as
they had been lost in the collision with the |
Norwegian bark. The life epreservers fell with
in few feet of the boy and he no tolrbt VIA; |
able to catch one. as he knew how to swim. |
Commander LYONS forbade the lifcboat to lie
lowered. and before daylight the ship stood |
away from thc drowning boy who was never !
heard OF afarward.
This was investigated Mt Newport. and Com
mander Lyons was found guilty of grave or.
ror in judgment. He will probably be relieved
OF his command to-day. and the MononGahela |
will proceed ut once to Newport