The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-13
The Texas Unable to Carry Her
Own Weight in Dock.
MAY COST A FORTUNE TO REPAIR
Possibility That the Warship Nay Be
lrreparably Injured.
Twenty-one of the Bottom France and
Brackets Of the Great Iron Steamer
Buckled-Due to Faulty Construo-
ton, and English Plans Blamed.

Washington City. Nov. is.-The hattlesh'p
Texas has come 10 grief at the dry deck &C
New York, and has sustained injuries. tho
exact extent OF which Is not known at
present. The ship went into dry dock
week ago 20 he cleaned and painted and TO
remove an accumulation OF seaweed wt9cI
had grown in the pipe gratings leading
20 the circulating pumps. on the sth inst.
Capt Glass reported 10 the commandanL ot
the navy yard that on the regular weekly
examination of ihe vessel made that day
frames - and 10 in compartment Il were
found 20 be distorted, apparently from
straining Of the ship on the keel blocks.
No other evidence OF stra;ning appeared.
and an outside examination failed 70 show
any evidence Of damage.
BY direction Of commandani Sicard. Con-
structor Bowles made an examination him.
SELF and on the 9th be reported that thu
Texas was resting easily and supported
thoroughly IN all respects. Still. as =
measure Of precaution, SIX feet of warer
was let into the deck. 20 tighten the load
on the keel blocks, ON the llth inst fur
ther stra!ning Of the ship was reported. and
the dock was flooded 20 a depth OF eleven
feet. as FAR as the water could be adj
mitted without danger Of disturbing the po-
siton OF the Texas on the blocks Com-
mandant Scard called for a detailed sc-
count or The injuries sustained hy the
ship. and in return received from the con-
structor a report stating exactly and by
number the injured frames and where they
were located This report was transmitted
20 the navy department, with the state
ment by the commandant that no delay
ir the work then progressing on the ship
would ensue, and that the straining ap-
ptared due 10 the weight of the ship on
the keel blocks. The department was NOT
altogether satisfied. and has now called
for still further particulars, regarding tha
far saA a2 /
pears from these reports that twenty-one
OF the bottom frames and brackets or tho
Texas are buckled from quarter OF an
inch 10 an inch and a half. while the ce-
ment lining Of the double bottom Is cracked
in many places.
take 10 repair these frames and remove
the dents in the bottom cannot be told I'M
III a further examination Is made, and 10
do this II may be necessary TO remove all
the weights Of the ship in order TO draw
off the water safely. otherwise the strains
might again become excessive ana IRE
parable injury follow.
In the absence of full details. which
must in the end be gathered by special
board, the department officials are not dis
nosed to place the blame for the accident
upon Constructor Bowles, as he has tho
reputation OF being one of the best dockmen
i'm the navy INSTEAD. there 10 belief that
the Texas was too lightly built 10 stand
her own weight while in the dock. and IL
this should be the case IL would cost
large sum OF money and much time TO
straighten the hull. The vessel was built
on plans purchased from England. and IL
is said the department officials were OF tho
opinion from the first that they were de-
fectlve. in that too much strength had
been sacrificed In order to save weight ana
make the vessel float at the calculated ois-
placement.