The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-13
AN ACCIDENT TO TnE TEXAS
ALLEGED CAUSE OF iHE TROUBLE
This Government Unused to Docking
Heavy Vessels and the Meaning ofshe
Accident Cannot be Definitely stated.
Detailed Report Expected To-Day.

WASHINGTON. Nov. II The nrst &C.
cident to the I,A-s came to the Navy
Depaftm S..tst tas from coismouvis
montgomery Il1-fe, ~oininanlant OF the
Ne" YORK has - e.a, VINO thetoseH tss
foliowiny nom >aS,@ln henry Glass. cVar
mander Of taC ItAas.
Il would respectfully report that ON
the ftSuiar wecnly inspection OF the Dot
IONS IA tnls s-sip, lnade TINS atternoohs
frames - and =, IN compartment Is. y.
were found to be distorted, apparently
from stidining on the keel DlocNs.
mo outward evidence OF this condtioc
appears, ana general exainlnauon of
the snip, made Immediately after sne wac
docked. failed To show any strain.
Immediately on the conditions being
reported TO me ! reported II ana notinco
the naval constructor on this station"
Commodore Sicards endotsement on
this was TO the effect that the naval cou.
structor. after examination. reported that
the Texas was In all RESPECTS resting and
supported thoroughly and safely, tut ~
Constructor Bowies suggestion apout six
feet of water was let INTO the dock.
though the naval constructor considered
this merely as a precaution.
Yesterday another commission came
from Commodore Sicard, showing thAt
four plates were buckled or bent inward
from about half inch to an inch and
haif. and that the joints TO the mam
drain and suction pipes were strained.
Commodore Sicards = report foiiows
Omitted States Navy-iaId,
New York, Soy. 10th.
"The distortion OF frames IS and II were
reported on the Sth at Up. Nj. An I'M
mediate examination wds naue ~ she
naval constructor. who recommended the
admission Of SIX feet OF water III inc
morning. which was done
The within report was received BY me
at 500 T.. NJ. yesterday, ana was the re-
suit of an examination made In the morn
ing. Further examination to-day SHOWS
no change.
I..., tx,,sf s.I "a IA
the naval constructor has been directed
| TO make a detailed report.
mo delay will result 70. the work now
| going on upon the vessel
cAU,r on THE TROUBLE.
| The Texas when completed turned out tc
! be the only vessel of the navy that mac
| not exceeded her designated draft Ihs
| IL is ccntended by naval officers, II que
| TO the fact that much OF htr IRON wo,n
| was Intentionally made lighter In wettns
] ~ we'll as I'm strength the saffihce uas
ing been made in order that she m'knt
| tioat higher and in order to secure ner
| completion as far as possible within t"e
| price fixed by Congress.
! few weeks ago IL w3s round hsccssa,
to dock the ship which had been eonun'
| uouslv I'm the water since her afino,'
| engines and heavy weights wsie spp'
! she was then al Norfolk and Naval CON
| structor A. w. Stahl. declined to ass.,
| the responsibility OF after ptins 10 JON
| her there. stating that with the h'gn' -
| nosslhle tide at Norfolk, there would ~
| q leeway of only a few inches al nns'
| between the ships hull and the sill OF uf
| doch which he considered too dangerous
| a margin OF safety. -.
| niacei AT the Brooklyn navy-yafd, "hef'
ronstructot Bowies would be in chars
TIE Navy Department has caiieh
| Naval Constructor Bowles Tor = us'"
| account Of the matter which u ZIP,
| ed at The Department tomorrow. tnh
this report Is received. officials oi w
| pepartment don't care 10 cypress mem
,,ts afterncon that the United states wa
so unused TO docking heavy hattieship'
that the real meaning OF the acciden.
the Texas could not be dehniteiy statci
| European Governments. ne saiI; Wi, W.,
| nrohably used 10 snch matters. ana ccui'
| ascertain Immediately comparative seri
"usness az trfviality OF happenings o.
| this sort