The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-14
DOCK MEN BUNGLED
STEAMSHIP COLUMBIA WILL HAVE
TO BE OVERHAULED.

Speed Trial Likely to be Abandoned for the
Present--Bis Guns of the New Monitor
Amphitrite Tested successfully--Move-
| meuts of Other United States Vessels
spofford NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. no
Longer Directly Recognizes United
| States Courts In the Matter of Taking
Testimony--washinsto News.
Washington, July 13.-The navy de-
partment was informed several days
| ago OF the mishap TO the Columbia
while in dry dock q; Southampton. as
dispatches, but for some reason his seen
| hit 10 keep the information from the
| public. Captain Sumner sent two
cablegrams on the subject. The first
| reported that the vessel had been
strained, and the second. after the ex-
| animation had been made. stated that
| no serious injury had been sustained
| by the vessel. He expects TO start
| homeward today, having almost COM
pleted coaling, which was rather a
| tedious task.
| Notwithstanding the captains state
| ment that no serious injury has been
| sustained by the Columbia, the officials
here, basing their views on the full de-
tails contained in the press dispatches,
are inclined 10 fear that Captain sum-
| ner has underestimate the real dam
| age.
1t Is inconceivable to them that such
| vessel could lie under heavy strain in
a dry dock without receiving substan-
tial injury and the fact that the heavy
stanchionS supporting the protected
deck were bent, is evidence that she
must have been terribly strained. II
her bottom plates are buckled and bent
| as reported. il will interfere greatly
with the speed trial which was looked
forward 10 with so much interest by
naval officers and which was to begin
today. However, Ii is said that the
damage is not irreparable and when
the ship returns to New York she prob
ably will be at once placed in dock and
again examined by the constructors. II
1t is found that she is badly warped she
Will be sent to Cramps to be straight
ened, which will involve the removal OF
many OF her plates and frames and con-
sumo much time. The accident is
ascribed at the navy department to the
fact that the dock people at Southamp-
ton are not used TO handling naval
vessels.
n
complete set of plans for the guidance
OF dock hands in placing the blocks un-
der her. and the accident is said to be
undoubtedly attributable to the failure
OF the workmen to follow these plans
closely.
AMPHITRITE GUNS TESTED.
The double turreted monitor Amphi-
trite has just returned to Hampton
Roads after a trial Of her great guns
at sea. She was sent out with instruc-
tons TO fire the big ten-inch guns d.
rectly across her decks with full serv-
ice charges. the purpose being to settle
a doubt as to whether this could be
done safely and without injury TO the
deck from the blast of the guns. A tele-
gram sent TO the navy department by
the commander OF the vessel today con-
tanned the gratifying information that
this had been done with satisfactory
results, hence there Is no longer any
doubt as to the efficiency of this battery
as now placed.
The United States steamship Atlanta
has sailed from Santiago de Cuba for
Key West. where she will pursue her
work of looking after filibustering ex-
petitions and probably relieve the Ra-
leigh Of that task on the Florida coast.
The Raleigh will come in a short time
and make ready to take part in the
naval manoeuvers in the North Allan
tic. The San Francisco has Joined the
Marblehead at Stockholm.
WESTERN MILITARY POSTS.
The secretary of the interior has
called upon the war department for in
formation in regard TO the Fort Marcy
abandoned military reservation in New
Mexico. The land office wishes to know
the condition OF the buildings, the title
10 the reservation and the status Of the
custodian in charge. The secretary al
so asks 10 be informed whether there
are any improvements on the military
reservations at the narrows of Puget
Sound, Washington. that ought TO be
appraised and sold. These reservations
were transferred TO the interior depart
ment by the president last October.
SPOFFORD INVESTIGATION.
II is not unlikely that the investiga-
ton into the accounts of Librarian
Spofrord will result in a reorganiza-
ton OF the congressional library force
by which there will be a government
officer Independent Of the librarian ap-
pointed to look after the financial af- |
Iairs or the library. leaving Mr.. Spot |
ford free to attend 10 thelibrary work |
proper. NJ. Spoffod will recommend 10 |
congress the establishment Of bureau |
for the registratio Of copyrights.
FOREIGN CONNECTIONS
The German government has object
GU 10 lue taxing OF testimony or Ter 4
man subjects in Germany by commits
sions issued by the courts OF the Uni
ted States, federal or state, and here
after the only method in which testimo-
ny can be taken In that country for |
use in our courts will be by means az |
letters rOgatory addressed 70 some
German judge who will take the testi-
nony. The restriction does not. II is
understood. apply 10 United States con-
suls who administer oaths in their Off
ciai capacity. such as are necessary
to the filing Of applications by Germans
Tor an American patent. or 10 the certi-
,lcation or goods exported 10 the United
states. Gus ambassador. Mr.. Runyon,
has communicated these facts 10 the |
state department together with copy |
OF the proclamation on the subject
which he has addressed 10 the United
states consular officers In Germany.
Word has been received here that
the select committee OF the British
house OF commons on weights and mea-
surss has reported a recommendation
mat the metric system be made per-
al once in Great Britain and
after two years.
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