The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-07
SUMMERS COURT MARTIAL
Constructor Francis 7. BowIes
Placed on the Stand.
The Injuries Sustained by the Colum-
bia Were Due, Said the Witness, to
Onskiltul Docking. The Ves-
sci Was no, Properly Pro.
vided With Stanchions.
Bv Southern Assoc,nteI proa,.

New York, September G.-Tho
courtmartlnl Of Cnpt. Goo. w. Sum.
mer, of tho United States cruiser
Columbia, for alleged neglect of duty
aud Incompetence IN drydocking tho
cruiser at southampton. England, WAS
resumed mt the Brooklyn Navy. yard at
10 o'clock this morning.
Capt. Sumner entered The room
some time before the hour set Tor tho
opening Of tho day t proceedings The
prosecution finished Its testimony yes.
terdny and tho doience wns opened by
Capt. Summer who testified in his own
behalf. HIS testimony added nothing
to the evidence which has already
been placed on record.
Lieutenant Oumunnder Mark, who
defended Capt. Sumner, continued the
dcieuce this morning by calling Naval
Constructor Francis Il. Bowles OF tho
nsvy-ynrd to tho stand. Constructor
Bowles testified TINT he hnd drydocked
the Columbin alter her return from
southampton, and had examined tho
injured ehe hnd received.
''Were these Injuries serious?" asked
Advocate Draper.
The Injuries were not serious" re
Piled Constructor Bowles.
The injuries were local in nature
aud not structural.
- noticed, on examination, that tho
edges OF the steel plates were slightly
denicu, ana That the rivcrts IN some
points were looscned, thus opening
the iiro room were slightly bent, too.
Lieutenant Mark then asked:
'lu your opinion, wBs the Columbia
nrOntriN att
"No, admitted MIR. Bowlcs "she
was not.
Did the docking plans of the Col.
umbIa which were shown to the master
of the Southampton dock indicutc
where the keel blocks and other sup
ports should hc placcd?'
ut was practically Impossible TO dc
cide whero to place the supports from
the plans, replied Constructor Bowles.
Tho witness wns then cross examined
by the prosecution.
what. IN your judgment, was the
Cause ot inlurieS TO the Columbin?"
The Injuries were caused by un
skilliul docking"
Lad you been in charge of the dry
doch at southampton on tins occnsiOn, 3"
Qneried Advocate Draper, "would vou
consider youreelt responsible for the
injuries received by the unskIllful dry.
Guckipg?"
Il should consider myself respousi.
bic, sad Constructor Bowlee.
a question WAS then put by the court
ns to whether the injuries to tho Co.
lumbia would not have been so grea; if
Cnpt. Sumner had at once Hooded the
dry.dock on discovering that she wus
Lot resting properly.
Mr.. Bowles replied that his expo.
rience lea him to believe that such
course would not have prevented fur
ther injury.
Lieut.. Mark then road statement
prepared by Capt. Sumner
Capt. Sumner said, in substance, thut
be would tie the first to acknowledge
any wrong he had been guilty of, and
that he admitted that he WAS partially
reprehensible for the first charge, cul-
pable iDeiliciency in the performance
oi his duty. lie wished to state III his
own defense, however, tbut when he
uocked the Columbin ut southampton
lac was acting under urgent orders
from Washington. Tho authorities
were familiar with the dock ut South
ampton whom they directed him TO use
1t. There was no law, he SAID, specify
ihsS hbub ~ ShptuIH uUly WIS uUuBF
these circumstances, and his duty was,
therefore. matter OF Judgment.
lie therefore pleaded that tho dam
age to the Columbln was the resnlt OF
an error OF judgment mud did not rise
TO tue gravity OF tho charge.
AS 10 the second charge of suffering
a vessel to bc hazGrded In violation OF
naval rules, Capt. Sumner again pleaded
not guilty. lie consulted bis officers
ut the time, lie said, and acted accord
ing TO their best Judgment. lie be-
lieved that subsequent iacts proved
that the course pursued was the wisest
one under the circumstances
The third charge was for neglect of
dnty. The prosecution held thut Capt.
summer should not have paid for the
docking OF the Columbia without con.
sulting The authorities at Washington.
At The conclusion OF the reading of
this stntoment court adjourned until
10 O'Clock TO morrow.
Il.