Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-14
SAID TO HAVE BEEN STRAINED
By Docking at Southampton Preparatory 10
 Her Race Against Time.
THE PROMPT AeTIoNoF CAPTAIN SUMNER
May Have Saved the $3,ooo,ooo Beauty. Secretary Herbert Sets yexed Cues ton at Rest by Placti-
 cal Test.

Washing ton, July 13.--Secretary Her bert has a cablegram from Captain Sum- ner, commanding the Columbia at South ampton, stating that the vessel in dry dock appeared to be straining and that hesordered water admitted. Upon float ing the vessel all evidences of strain dis appeared and the vessel is apparently un- injured.
 When the purport of Secretary Her bert's cablegram from Captain Sumner became known about the navy depart ment, as it rapidly did, the gravity of the matter became exaggerated and rumors were circulated that the famous cruiser had been maliciousy injured in the docks and n surreptitious attempt had been made to ruin her Officers who are fa- miliar with docking big ships and who are thoroughly informed as to the strength of the cruiser declare that un- equal settling on the supporting blocks of such q heavy vessel is common. and though attended with some danger is re- ally and frequently avoided by exactly the precaution. observed by Captain Sum ner-that of filling the dock and fio1ang the ship. The Columbia weighs over 7000 tons, confined in breadth of 5S feet and distributed over length of 4l2 feet. 1t has been repeatedly demonstrated that a ship is never subject to such a great strain in dock as on a stormy sea- in the latter case where the waves are long ship being sometimes supported only at the extreme ends.
 The Columbia was placed in the dock under Secretary Herhert's orders to clean her hull for the race against time across the ocean. It will be easy to determine whether she has been permanently strained by running her engine and see ing if their alignment has been affected. The Columbia has already cost the gov ernment $3,000,000.
 Referring to sensational alleged cable dispatches of the Chicago Associated Press, dated Southampton, July 12, to the effect that the United States ship Colum- ba had sustained serious injuries in the dry dock, the secretary of the navy au- thoriZes the statement that his dispatch of July from Captain Sumner stated that the docking was not well done; that the ship was being strained and that he tSumner) would therefore leave the dock, but Captain Sumner said the damages were not serious.
 On July II Captain Sumner telegraphed his opinion that all was right and that the ship was coaling.
 The department. relying upon the judg- ment and statements of Captain Sum ner, has not changed it's original order for the Columbit to come here at full speed, ndtufai urauSnt. Nelther she nor the New York has yet sailed.
 Secetary Herbert received report this morning of the tests of the Amphitrite, that vessel havnig returned to Fortress Monroe from trip at sea last night. She had been ordered to go out and fire her big 10-inch rifles directly fore and aft over her decks to see if any damage would be done to the vessel The re- port from the inspection board shows that nothing was injured, and thereby settles one of the most vexed disputes among naval officers about this class of ships, many high officers having declared that no one could live under the fore and aft decks when the big guns were fired from the turrets straight ahead or astern. It was not deemed desirable to make a practical test of this kind upon any hu- man being. but four healthy sheep were shipped from Norfolk and tied up in such a manner that the full force of the concussion would reach them. lnasmuch as they are still live muttons,' and have apparently suffered no inconvenience the demonstration of the inaccuracy of theories advanced is regarded as com plete. Secretary Herbert is warmly praised for insisting on practical tests to demonstrate disputed theories. and there will hereafter be no fear of firing the guns of any of the new ships in any direction over the decks.