New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-29
HE ADMITS CARELESSNESS.
CAPTAIN SUMNER REGRETS THAT HE
HAD NO ONE EXAMINE THE DOCK.

a STATEMENT FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by his FEELINGS
The Court of Inquiry appointed by the AS
sstant Secretary Of the Navy. William McAdoo,
to invest gate The cause Of damages to the hull
Of the cruiser Columbia In drydock at South
ampton last July and to fix upon the proper
persons the responsibility therefor. convened for
its second days session at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning In the court-martia room In Building
No. at the Prooklyn Navy Yard. RearAdm.-
raj John G.. Walker presided and the other MEM
bers of the court. Captains Kautz and Rodgers,
present as was Lieutenant III. l.. Draper,
the judge advocate.
Yesterday mornings session was devoted to
examining officers Of the Columbia, who in sub
stance corroborated the testimony given by
other officers the day before. showing that the
fine cruiser had been damaged by improper
docking at Southampton. and that the fact that
she was straining in the dock had been re-
ported to Captain George W. Sumner at the time.
ADMISSION BY THE CAPTAIN.
The sensation Of the investigation, however,
came in the afternoon. when Captain sumner
admitted carcessness on his part In not having
the dock examined before the Columbia went
into II: that the cruiser was In good condition
before she locked. and that the damages
arose from improper and careless docking at
Southampton.
The arst witness called Yesterday was Lieu
tenant James NJ. Helm. who Is detached FOR
duty at the torpedo station at Newport. lie
was on duty on the Columbia on July y. In dry
dock and found some Of the plates buckled AZ
Il result Of bad docking. The keel blocks on
which the cruiser rested he said. were worn
down In the centre and they were not properly
fhn ha
should not have been rehlled when It was found
the ship was straning, but ne thought wedges
had been driven In TO relieve the strain
THE KEEL WAS BENT.
Chief Engineer william H. Harris. OF the Co
lumba said he found On examination during the
dry-docking that the kee. of the Columbia was
bent In several places. that several plates were
bucklcd and the rvets injured. He had reported
these facts to the commanding officer and attrib-
uted the damages to the unsuitable keel blocks
Beginning at a point where the keel was cut
away. the forward part Of the ship was unsup-
ported The vessel should have been 1oated to
relieve the strain.
Admiral Walker asked the witness If the dock
ing Of the Columbia. therefore. was not nap
hazard. happy -go-lucky way of docking Ihe
witness answered that he did not think such
method OF docking would be used here or In
Government docks abroad.
The other witnesses called in the morning
were Past Assistant Engineer Martin Bevington
Naval Cadet John VI. Lucy, Lieutenant william
H. briggs and Paymaster G. III. Read-who tes-
titled on Tuesday-all being officers Of the Column
bia Their testimony supported that made pre-
viously by their brother officers.
THE CAPTAIN on THE STAND.
After recess until o'clock. taken to enable
CAPTAIN Sumner to get certain data on the
Columbia that officer was sworn, and, taking his
SEPT he read in a low vol from a statement
substantially as follows:
lie said that his orders on leaving Kiel were 70
20 TO southampton and, after taking on coal and
stores to proceed with all possible dispatch to
this city, Proceeding to carry out these orders
he received a cable dispatch from the Navy De-
partment to dock the Columbia at Southampton
and paint her bottom If possible. He found that
the docking company-a part OF the southwest
ern Raiway-was the only ole having suitable
dock He told the superintendent that ne hau
come to have the Columbia locked at once ana
gave him the length draught and beam OF the
ship \ proposition to dock In Dock NO . was ac-
ceptcd and Captain Sumner gave the ohcers Oh
the docking company the docking plan and all the
Information they desired. After describing how
the Columbia subsequently entered the Dock the
cnptain continued IN SnDSlanCt ~ i'HV"''
when the dock was practically empty. 1t was as
covered that the ship was Iot resting properly on
the blocks and that she was being strained lnls
was reported 10 me. the exact time don KNOW.
! wont down 10 the dock and examined the ppttonl
az the shin saw she waS being strained ana S'h,
twice for the docking master. lie arrived am
cxa mined the ship and cam" to the concIu"on 'nat
the shin was then settled on the blocks ana oin'l
suuporta and that she was not likely to receive
further Injurious strain then went on WIN tne
painting Of the ships bottom. according 10 urgent
ingtruciions from the Department, TO save docking
FOR the next six months. very chreiul watch
was kept and orders were given to report any
change or Indications Of further Nralnng. ON me
afternoon Of the OH there were evidences, quite
marked, that the ship was draining the dock
people themselves became alarmed ana gave
orders ~ food the dock. ~ II VAS unsafe Tor the
shin 10 remain In n II was flooded about oc.ocb
on the evening of the second day and about mid
night went out
OFT or THE CENTRE LIKE
cap,aIn Summer then gave the details Of how
the ship had been shorcd up and wedges driven
between the worn keel blocks and the keel The
forefront or ovcrhang. he thought had been well
shored up He explained the difference I'm the
keel blocks at southampton and those In the
I,roDklyn Navy Yard and said that the ship had