The record-union., 1895-11-13
RumOrs of an Accident to the
Naval Vessel Confirmed.
MATTER OFFICIALLY REPORTED TO
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
She Has Cost the Government In Her
construction Over a Million DOL
lara More Than Congress Appro-
rrioted for the Purpose, and ct
She ia Reported to be Faulty
Vessel.

She Is Reported TO De fau''
Vessel.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12-The first
report on the accident to the TeAas
came to the Navy Department Satur-
day from Commodore Montgomery 81
card, Commandant of the New YORK
Navy-yard, who inclosed the following
from Captain Henry Glass, Commander
of the Texas:
Il would respectfully report that on
the regular weekly inspection OIL douple
bottoms in this ship, made this after
noon. frames 43 and 40 in compartments
r a were found to be distorted, appa-
rentIy from straining on the keel docks
No outward evidence of this condition
appears. and a general examination OIL
the ship made Immediately after she
was locked, failed to show any stralh-
Immediately on the above condition De
ing reported to me, l reported 1t anu
notified the Naval Constructor on lils
station
Commodore Sicards Endorsement on
this was to the effect that the Naval
Constructor, after examination, re-
Dorted that the Texas was IN many re-
spects resting and supported tnorouSnly
and safely but at Constructor BoWles
suggestion about six feet OF water was
let into the dock, though the NaEal Coil-
structor considered this merely as
precaution.
Yesterday another COMMUNICATION
came from Commodore Sicard, 1nclOS-
ing a detailed report on the condltloh Oh
every part of the keel, showing tnaI ce-
1nent was cracked in about twenty sec
lions; that four plates were buckled OF
inn a1-l q hOnf
an inch and a half, and that the joints
10 the main drain and Suctlon-plpeS
were strained. Commodore Slcard's re-
port follows: A.
The distortion to frames 43 and 40
was first reported to me on the Sth INST
at 6 D. m. An immediate examination
was made by the Naval Constructor,
who recommended the admission OF SIX
feet of water in the morning, which WAS
done The within report was re-
ceived by me at 80 yesterday morning
and was the result of an examination
made in the.morning. Further eXamlh-
alton made to-day shows no ch2hSe-
More water to fifteen draught has been
admitted to the dock to-day. and the
Naval Constructor has been directed 20
make a detailed report No delay 7l!I
result to the work now going on upon
the vessel.
These reports. it will be seen, fully
sustain the accuracy of the dispatches
which gave the first news Of the Texas
accident Extreme reticence mas 1eeh
observed at the Navy Department, as
well as at the Brooklyn Navy Yard re-
H.arding the accident. and also by I'll
Navy Department officials who nave
been concerned in the construction O.
The Texas. and who should therefore pc
in a position TO give an accurate state
ment of her defects. The VeSSeI mas
been singularly unfortunate for several
years in being made the subject Iof ad-
verse criticism. and numerous stories
have been printed about her uiis sea
Hgorthiness. her structural defects ana
her general availability for naval
uses.
Her plans. which were bought in Eng
land through the naval attache OF the
legation at London, gave trouble from
the first. The original plans were Were
drawn by William Johns. an EngHsn
draughtsnlan, but they were considered
unsatisfactory and were turned over TO
another naval constructor, who worked
cut the details, submitting several nun
dred sheets of drawings TO the Navy De
partment Naval boards considered
them and found all sorts OF faults with
them. Chief Constructor Wilson de-
cIared that they We're worthless, and
that no ship built after them could nOdt
Constructor Bowles, then at the Nor
folk NaVy-yard, thought otherwise, ana
Il
lions he could build a good ship on that
design. and he would be willing to stake
his. reputation as naval constructor on
the result Upon these assurances the
vessel was commenced. her keel being
laid June /. 1880 Frequently during
he,- construction changes We're made on
account OF the controversies continually
eti,.rad mn about her, and thus through
yarious DELAYS she was not competed
until August 18TH of this year. The
Act of CONGRESS August ;. 1886. author
izing her construction placed the statu-
tory limit of her cost at S2G0O,oGO, but
The PavnlaSter- Generals accounts show
that 1In to June 80. 1894 Cthese being the
latest fgures at hand) she had cost
S30463l4 81 In the year and half
since that time these figures have been
materially increased.
Among the other developments dur
ing her construction which increased
fhe ;npreesion that her hull was not
strong was the accident to ner boilers
when they were first filled. The weight
OF the water broke the saddles which
supported the boilers. 4 bed plate of
her auxiliary engines broke during the
dock frial at Norfolk, the accident be-
ing caused It was claimed by the eX-
cessive hexibility Of the hull.
The Texas when completed. turned
ont to be the only vessel OF the new
raw that had not exceeded her draft.
It is claimed that this is due 10 the fact
that much of her iron work was inten-
tionally made lighter in weight as well
as in strength. the sacrifice having been
made i'm order that she might float
higher. and in order to secure her COM
plction as far as possible within the
price fixed by Congress.A few weeks ago
It was found necessary to dock the ship
which had been continuously in the wa
ter since her armor, engines and
heavy weights were applied She was
then at Norfolk and Naval Constructor
a. W. Stahl declined TO assume the re-
spcnsibility OF attempting TO dock her
there stating that with the highest tide
at Norfolk there would be a leeway OF
only q few inches between the ships
hull and the sill OF the dock which, he
considered. too dangerous a margin for
safety. So the docking was ordered to
take place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
where Constructor Bowles would be in
charge.
The Navy Department has called on
Naval Constructor Bowles for detailed
account Of the matter. which is ex-
pected at the department tomorrow
COLORADO SPRINGS ROBBERY.
No Clew as to the Parties Who Held
Up Agent krout.
COLORADO SPRINGS (CoI). Nov. u
l,s+n p,5f,1oy he rI+,,,o-f afrort.- ~,