Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
THE CRUISER COLUMBIA.
On Being DocISed ut Southampton
She Is Strained.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., July l3.-Secre-
tary Herbert has received a cablegram
from Captain Sumner. commanding the
Columbia, at Southampton. stating that
the vessel in dry dock appeared to be
straining. and he ordered water admitted
Upon floating the vessel all evidences OF
strain disappeared. and the vessel Is
apparently uninjured.
When the purport OF Secretary Herberts
cablegram from Captain Sumner became
known about the Navy Department, as
II rapidly did, the gravity Of the matter
became exaggerated, and ruinors We're
circulated that the famous cruiser hal
been maliciously injured in dock, ana
that surreDtitious attempt had been
made 10 ruin her. Officers who are ia
miliar with the docking OF ships and
who are thoroughly informed as to the
strength OF the cruiser declare that I'M
equal setting Of the supporting blocks
OF such a heavy vessel is common, and,
though attended with some danger, is
readily and frequently avoided by exactly
the precaution observed by Captain Sum-
ner-that OF filling the dock and floating
the ship.
The Columbia weighs over 1000 tons.
combined in a breadth OF So and distri-
buted over length OF 4l2 feet. IL has
been repeatedly demonstrated that ship
IL never subjected to such great strain
In dock as in Il stormy sea; In the latter
case, where the waves are long. a ship
being sometimes supported only at the
extreme ends.
THE COLUMBIA'S RACE.
The Columbia was placed in dock under
lar. oil h4r
hull for the race against time across the
ocean. II will be easy to determine
whether she has been permanently
strained by running her engines and see
ing II their alignment has been affected.
The Columbia has already cost the gov
errment over 100000.
Iater-Referrng tonight to the sensa-
tional alleged cable dispatch Of the Chi
cago Associated Press, dated Southamp-
ton. July 18th, TO the effect that the
Columbia had sustained serious injuries
i'm dry dock, the Secretary or the Navy
authorizes the statement that his cable
from Captain Sumner stated that the
docking was not well done that the ship
was being strained. and that he, therefore.
would leave the dock. but he said the
damage was not serious
on July 18th Captain Sumner tele-
grabbed his opinion that all was right.
and that the ship was coaling. The de-
partment. relying upon the judgment and
statement OF Captain Sumner, has not
changed its original order for the Column
bia TO come home at full speed. natural
draught. Neither she nor the New York
has yet sailed. g.
THE AMPHITRITE.
Secretary Herbert received a report this
morning of the test OF the Amphitrite.
that vessel having returned TO Fort Mon
roe from a trip at sea last night. She
had been ordered to go out and fire her
1O-inch guns to see II any damage would
be done to the vessel. The report from
the INSPECTION Board shows that nothing
was injured, and thereby settles beyond
1Ispute the question among naval officers
about this class OF ships, many high Off
cers having declared that no one could
live on the fore and aft decks when the
hio guns were fred from the turrets
streight ahead or a-stern. IL was not
deemed desirable 10 make this kind OF
test on any human beings. but four
healthy sheep were shipped from Norfolk
and tied uD In such manner that the
ful, force of the conclusion would reach
tbau Inasmuch as they are still live
rruttons" and have apparently suffered
M inconvenience. the demonstration OF
the inaccuracy OF the theories advanced
90 regarded as complete.
Secretary Herbert IL warmly praised FOR
,,sIstIne on practical tests to demon
strota disputed theories. and there will
tarsafter be 10 fear OF firing the guns
- arv Of the new ships In any direction
over the decks.