The evening world., 1895-09-05
BLAME CAPT, SUMNEl
The Injuries % Cruiser ColumH
Laid at His Door.
He Testifies in His Own Behalf
the Cou,t.MartiaD.
Declares lie Did the Rest Undi
the Circumstances.

The second session ot the naval coud
martial to inquire into charges of Il ~
efficiency and neglect of duty again,
capt. George w. Sumner of the cruises,s.
Columbia, began at ~ o'clock this morn
ing In the assembly room in building 7on
Brooklyn Navy-Yard
All members OF the court arrived early
IN uniform full dress. Lieut. Of Marines
Herbert l.. Draper. Judge Advocate, was (
pusly arranging the specific ations
against Capt. Sumner. I
capt. Sumner came in court a few
moments before the session opened. ac.
companied by Lieut. Commander Mark.
his counsel. and took seat on the left
of the room. He was in fun uniform
and looked tired and careworn.
After the minutes had been approved
Lieut.. ]. NJ Helm, Of the Newport
Torpedo Station and formerly of the
cruiser Columbia, was called.
Lieut.. Helm was asked If he recognised
the accused, and answered:
Il don't recognize anybody as &C.
cused."
That's the accused" said Lieut.,
Draper. pointing towards Capt. Sum-
ner.
'Oh. that" answered Lieut.. Helm,
that's aCpt. Sumner
dry dock on the day following the dock
ing or Columbia. and reported 1t was
unsafe: ,ts 1t was apparent, he said. that
he thought even after blocks had been
Put Put 4nder n1,bIs the unsupported portions Of
great Tsk In his see opnidn he tSs Sssip ppbn ran
| in dry dock.
on ,cross-examination by Lieut.. Com
mander Mark, Lieut.. Helm said biige
blocks were not used at Southampton,
Early on the morning of the 9th OF
July he examined examined the Columbia's bot
to the naked eye, but carpenters meas
urements showed the dents in the bot
to tom had deepened more than one,eighth
OF the Columbia at Southampton very
| poor
The Judge Advocate wanted to allow
Helm TO revise his evidence and return
at once to Newport. Several members
of the Court objected, saying Mr.. Helm
Chief anH iq of fSs
said the precise injuries to the Columbia
were that the fat keel was bent. sew
eral plates buckled and cement in the
double bottoms cracked the entire length
of the boiler-room. He reported this To
Capt Sumner on the evening of the day
nothing was done to ease the strair
while the ship was in dock.
Assistant Naval Constructor Horatitk
g. Gilmore said the cost OF repairing
the Columbia after she returned fror3
Europe was about $685. exclusive 81
painting.
o,sloSE GoSEt p !hsn M took recess until II
Passed Assistant Engineer M
He,yingtonb R,,nnss boo of IL the Columbia.
He corroborated the statements M
by Chief Engineer Harris. Bevi,T
said on cross-examlnation that til
I triFnao la1 I.a1 ~ thA
but that did not show the bottom
not strained.
The prosecution closed with the testy
mony OF Mr.. Bevington.
AT 2.30 o'clock Capt. sumner took thS
stand. He testified he had been in conn
mand of the Columbia about a year. any
orders from the Department while M
was at Kiel, Germany. His orders werk
to dock the ship and return home witt
He said the docks of the London AMI
Southwestern Company We're the ONLY
ones large enough to receive the Colun&
master to the docking company's oftif
and made all arraignments for enterirf
the dock the follo9wing Monday. FL
told him, She had bilge keeis. Capt
Lewis Ley said everything was all right FL
Captain sumner gave the Dockmastf
all necessary information regarding til
cruiser he said the Dockmaster anV
to know their business thoroughly.
On Monday evening, when the strairs
ing was reported to him; he continued
officers to examine the ships hottoma
He went on similar mission. and nca
ticed tic few evidences Of straining. bu
would not increase. Capt: Summer said
he gave strict orders to his subordinate
officers to keep close watch on the
!
dition at the end Of each watch.
The captain then described in detail
docking the Columbia, ON the following
day in the middle of the afternoon, ne
noticed that the ship was straining more
andaa and more .En,i and ordered the dock - be
about 7 O'clock. and Tuesday midnight
the Columbia hoated out of the cock.
T9nsiderlng SIC Iad the he charge Of neglect OF
hS When he was shdaa Ri' have Rs efRi iaid u%nsr eIs%
asainst tn, the Docking Company for dam
Although my ship sustained some
damage, ] thought the most dignifieds I
custom Of American ships to settle debts
before leaving any port whether at
On cross-examination the captain said
he mad been assured by the manager of
tie tie dry & dock company that the Greek. 3
hr r nss the t6a
principle as the Columbia. H
All other witnesses have stated that
GreSs letter nS. mat keel
- verify his statement The witnessz
admitted that no officer had been semi
to examine the dry dock before theo
Columbia entered.
Capt. Sumner was excused, and Lieut-F
Commander Mark said the defense had
but one morar witness to call, Navel
' rho
in Washington. Mr.. Bowles, he sa' IL
would be on hand tomorrow morni. ~
at 10 o'cloci, and court adjourned un
that time.