New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-13
THE TEXAS BADLY DAMAGED
STRAINED IN DRYDOCK AT THE BROOK
LYN NAVY YARD.
ZIG BATrLE.sHIP SIMILAR To


washington. Nov. 12-Reports have been re-
.sived here that the battle-ship Texas has been
hadlv damaged at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
spd the timber dock in which she lies has been
oortlv flooded 10 prevent further disaster. The
i. accident though similar to that which oc-
\ c,rred TO the Columbia at Southampton. Eng
,opa is said to be of a more serious character
y is said that the bottom OF the vessel for
some distance amidships has been bent IN.
cracking The cement lining on the inner Skin
and that several ribs or frames ere buckleo'
The fun extent of the damage is not knowh'
but the perpleXing problem at present Is no"
,o save the ship. as il would be hazardous -
nump out the dock without removing her guns
and all extra weights.
The Texas was put into the drydocK a "eeh
sqo to-day in order to clear her supnerseu
..,aipers which were choked with seaweed ana
mud from her long stay a. Norfok' ana -
c,ean the barnacles I. ON her bottom. 1t was
found that her propeller blades were paoN
bent. and it was necessary TO order her spare
blades from Norfolk which was promptly done
nv the time the water was all pumped out
those in charge discovered that the ship was
steadilv settling and tho keel was showing
evidences OF collapse SO the order was gwen
10 flood the dock as deep as the pIopeHri
shafts in order that The water might paru@iS
support the ship. This was done, but an eS-
animation of the interior of the vessel showed
that she was still settling, and the dock was
further flooded. An official report was sent
to the Navy Department, where the matter Is
now under consideration.
REPORTS FROM COMMODORE slCARD.
The first report on the accident to the Texas
came to the Navy Department on SATURDAY
from Commodore Montgomery Scard' com
mandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard VINO III
closed the following from Captain Henry Glass
commander of the Texas
would respectfully report that on the reeular
weekly Inspection OF double bottoms IN me SNIP
made this afternoon. frames Nos - ana 80 III r Colr
partmesn5 sT6no H stragnng on the keel blocks No out
ward evidence of this CONDITION appeais qnu e1,
sfnera!b She as docEeG failed 70 strain
Immediately on the above cSnon S 1sya constrc
tor this station
Commodore Sicards Endorsement OF thls was
70 the effect that the naval instructor after eX-
animation reported that the Texas was IN All
respects resting and supported thoroughly ana
safely. but at Constructor Bowles's suggestion
about six feet Of water was let into the dock'
though the naval constructor considered TINS
merely precaution
Yesterday another communication came lio"i
Commodore Scard inclosng detailed report on
the condition Of every part of the Keel showing
that the cement was cracked in about twenty
sections. that -FOUR plates were buckled or oeht
inward from about half inch TO an inch and
half and that the Joints to the main drain and
emotion mines were strained Commodore Sicards
report follows:
u. s Navy Yard. New-York. Nov. 10; 1885,
The distortion of frames 4S and As was first re-
MEDIATE examination was made by the naval con
structor who rsGohiIlel.uisa nb,,b Us lone The
within report received by me at $50 p I'm m;
Yesterday, and was the result OF an eXani'na9 Nan ,d
6rsnght has been admitted to the dock to-day, and
the naval constructor has been directed 70 mar
detailed report No @ delay vii VII resu" 10 'ne "o'N
going on upon the vessel
AN UNLUCKY SHIP
Extreme reticence has been observed at the
Navy Department as well as at the brooklyn
NAVY Yard regarding the accident and also by
all Navy Department officials who nave oeeh
concerned in the construction of the Texas. and
who should, therefore be in position to give an
accurate statement Of her defects. The vessel
has been singularly unfortunate for several years
IN being made the subject OF adverse criticism,
and numerous stories have been printed about
her unsea worthiness her structural defects ana
her general unavailabity for naval uses her
plans which were bought in England through
the naval attache OF tie legation IN I1ohuoI.
we're drawn by William Johns. an Eneish
draughtsmen. but they were consVered uhsaus
factory and were turned over 10 ahother hdNa'
constructor who worked out the cetdlls' Sup-
rnitfine several hundred sheets Of drawings TO
the Navy Department. Naval boards consGereu
them and found all sorts OF fault WIN 'nS,i, ,
Chief Constructor Wilson declared that ihcy
we're worthless; that no ship built aiter thtii
could float. Coz structor Bowles, theh at w
Torfolk Navy Yard. thought otherwise, ana 9e-
clared that with some slight mcdiicatlons ne
could build good ship on that design anu
would be willing 10 stake MS reputation do
naval constructor on the result. ~ 10,
keel heinQ laid June !, 1889. Changes were ire.
ouentlv made account of tne coh'I1' ~.
ron.innarv stirred .p about her. ana mus,
tbro,,gh various delays she was not commissioner
until August IS this year the act OF Cons ,ts I%o
Of August g. 1856. authorizing her 80 .do ood
fxed the statutory limit OF her cost d' S-'o. ~,
bn,t tbn npaymaster-Generals accounts snow W '''a1
m ~ June 30 1894 she had cost s5O45@i4 %. al
the YEAR and half since that time 'hese "s su''7
have been materially increased
SOME PREVIOUS MIsHAPs
Among the other developments when lhc'eaSeu
the ,r7nr1ssion that her hull was rot s"one ""'
the accident 10 her boilers when they were No.
fDeJ the weight Of the water breaking .ne e".I'N
which supported the boilers peo pi"'e 90
,u,,,,ar,. engines broke on the dock trai at Mt
fols ne accident being caused ~ was '"'0 -
the excessive fiexihility OF the nun. ,. IN be
IT, r,exas when completed turned ous ~ 1T ~
.TesoeG e o her designed draft This it is contende1
BY naval officers is due to the rae. ,n't pher in
her iron work was Intentionally naue "s. "sacriAre
, neL ,oh "uin l 90 less In strength, the sacrlnce
karins been made in order that she msh m far r0a as
higher and to secure her ,ed copsc;on by comgrcss
,a. raeus ago II was found necessary ~ ~
dner ~ .htn witch had been contlhuoussis s -, 80
the water since her armor ensinfS sSen r'' at Nor
toH shs sSd ~eIs Nsval Constructor A. W. stahi us-
'"s The rssps1iSiES ssTn that Of % sS the
gsevt possOe 81 ONLY few inches between the he
shps hun and the side of the aqeia qefS OF safety
Considered too dangerous U.s. mo- io take place at
SO the docking was Orue!S" ronstructOr