New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-28
HER KEEL UNSUPPORTED.
THE COLUMBIA OVERRIDING THE BLOCKS
1o7 FEET
JUST HOW THE BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES
CRUISER WAS STRAINED ~ DRYDocK AT
SOUTHAMPTON - TIE COURT OF IN
CURRY opEHs-cAPTAIN SUMNER DE-
CIAREs THE VESSEL WAS
STRUCTURALLY WEAK.


sTRUcTURALLY WEAK
Tn. Naval Court OF Inquiry appointed to invest'-
pate the damage sustained by the cruiser CoIum-
-. To- arvdocL At SOUTHAMPTON, England, on July
convened at Brooklyn Navy YARD yesterday
afternoon Rear Admiral John O. walker pre-
.ne, Tn. other members OF the Court are Cap
tain Albert KAutz. Of the receiving snip "aoas"'
and Capta,n Frederick Rodgers. captain OF 'he
RrookIyn yard Lieutenant Herbert L. Draper Oh
49, W.,,na Corns is Judge Advocate. The Navy
D.nar,ment wants to know whether the cruiser
I. structuray weak. Is asserted py |ap'a"'
sumner or whether the damage was due 10 III
proper docking and lack OF supervision ny INC o''
c.rs OF the ship, is maintained ny the eoi-
structors department. , x,-.u.-
.. "a o.c,ock CAPTAIN Sumner declined the assist
.nce ~ counsel and cross-examined all the WIZ
r.sses Yesterday himself The hrst witness wac
Lieutenant C commander Charles W. hi'o'"e' =,
executive officer OF the Columbia. nc '. ,
,ha, he knew the Columbia was peihs ." a''.u
while in the Southampton drydoch anu
va on r.ported 10 his commanding omcer. IL seems
-. ~. cruiser rested on keel blocks that "e'e
~, nronerly placed and that lo' feet OF 'he io'
rd na,t Of the vessel overhung ana was ho' sup
ported at all. x. =, IN. Columbia
tho next witness. testified that on jury nc .,
sent by Captain Sumner 10 'ne uo~"'
information about the dock -. ,A
-, or ordered to call the attention OF inc
oornarv TO the peculiar construction Oh INC No"''
h,s and find out whether they mao INC p'ope' "'
alliances for docking herr was asked
"Tbev had the docking plans OF the snip
"tav. vou any reason TO believe tha' VIC "ee
h,ocks were not properly placed In the aoeN'
az bsve" said the witness. The snip was s"o'e'
up forward ,norcht tho
Aar,ra, Walker asked II the witness though' the
straining came from the docK'hg'
..To the best OF my knowledge. yes
..no vou think the Columbia was docked prop
erly?'
NO sir" the reply o,.,
Lieutenant William J.. Burdick. OF the Coiumoa'
was then sworn. 49,. ,,,
Odd the ship suffer any injury due to me me- uock-
inSSg A'EYes The forward end OF the snip WAS
not supported at all .,.,o s,,.,nngo A
O-What was done 10 obviate strainns lar ,ho
Props were put under the bhsss anu "''''' wv
DO YOU consider that sufficient to relieve inc ne
strain? A.-No: she would have to be hoa'eo 10
relieve her entirely 1900, omo., any reason
why The shin could not have been noated al Inc
next high tide? A.--Not that know Of.
carpenter X NJ. A. Mahoney. being sworn said
ina, the cause OF the damage to the columbia was
The improper location and shape OF me Keel
blocks He said he had reported that she Was
irproperlv shorei. lie said he knew me snip was
be ny IN ilired all the time she was IN me nock
you communicated th'' op '''o" W '"' '"'N"'''o
officer. DID you not?
Wat method was adopted to relieve the strain
ing over the keel blocks"
the 90 court then adjourned until 10 o'clock this
morning.