Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-12
ARMoR rLA1E FnAuns.
Lieutenant Aciscrmnn Gives some
valuable Testimony.


BY Associated Press.
Washington, June 1.-THE arnor
plate investigating committee intends
TO make new move toward locating
the weak spots on the warships. II
is expected that the navy department
will be asked to take on certain plates
OF the guhOoat Machias and subject
them to tosts. The Machias is now
In the Brooklyn navy yard. where
she has been cut In two for the pur-
pore of lengthenins Her condition is
such that 1t is believed certain de-
fective plates can be traced by specific
numbers, and whom located can be UNI
shipped and subjected to test. Lieu
tenant Alderman was again before the
committee today. He gave the history
OF some OF the plates with view
to locating their present whereabouts.
He also gave additional evidence on the
methods Of work Of government lnspec-
tion at the Carnegie works. The Witness
said the Carnegie company knew In
advance what plates would be selected
from groups for tests. The Irregular
cold water baths secretly given to
plates. as disclosed by some OF the
informers, would make the plate struc-
turally weak. and subject. to be cracked
by shot The evidence OF the in
formers located such a plate on the
coming tower u the New York Chair
man Cummings read from the evidence
of one of the informers, Kountz, to
. 4, L..
ernment stamps from Lieutenant VIII
ner. who was in charge OF the stamp,
Kountz In this testimony went on to
give numerous hearsay reports as to
Winners habits. It was stated that the
lieutenant played cards and drank dur
ing the evening at hotel near the
works. A young woman employed ut
the hotel had told the informer OF
helping the officer to his room on one
occasion.
As to the armor OF the Terror Lieu
tenant Alderman said he had visited
the ship and had located two plates
containing the defects disclosed by the
informers. The plates contained small
holes which had been secretly plugged
up. The condition Of the plates was
kept from the public in order that the
investigation might proceed and that
possible injustice to ~ company
might be avoided Lieutenant Ackor-
man located n number Of plugged
plates on the Monterey. Another
plugged plate was located on either
the Cincinnati or Monterey. An
other defective plate was said to be on
the Machias Lieutenant Ackerman
represented n statement which was re-
garded by the committee as very i'm
portant ms II gave various ships Of the
navy on which the defective armors
plates are located with the exact To-
cation Of each plate. on these plates
the defects are OF various kinds and
degrees of seriousness. Lieutenant
Alderman said the Investigations dis
closed no serious defects in
bolts. lie believed the super
intcndent OF the works was
responsible for the Irregularities and
while this superintendent was too
shrewd to give orders for such irreg-
ular work. his entire Influence brought
It about. This closed Lieutenant Acker-
mans evidence which had proceeded
for two days. The committee regarded
II as the most valuable yet given. The
next Meeting Will be on Monday whe1
the Alderman evidence will be gore
over in executive session.