The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 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
lars More Than Congress Appro-
nriated for the Purpose. and Yet
She ia Reported to be Faulty
Vessel.


she ia Reported to be Faulty
Vessel.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-The first
report on the accident to the Texas
came to the Navy Department Satur-
day from Commodore Montgomery 81
card. Commandant of the New York
Navv-yard. who inclosed the following
from Captain Henry Glass, Commander
of the Texas:
Il would respectfully report that on
the regular weekly inspection OF double
bottoms in this ship, made this alter
noon. frames 43 and 10 in compartment
B. 81, were found to be distorted, appa-
rently from straining on the keel blocKs-
No outward evidence of this condltoh
appears, and a general examination OIL
the ship made Immediately after she
was docked, failed to show any strain
Immediately on the above condition pc
ing reported to me, / reported II anu
notified the Naval Constructor on thls
station
Commodore Sicards Endorsement on
this was to the effect that the Naval
Constructor, after examination, re-
ported that the Texas was IN many re-
Spects resting and supported tnofouSnly
and safely but at Constructor BoWteS
suggestion about six feet OF water was
let into the dock though the Naval con-
structor considered this merely as
pTecaution.
Yesterday another communication
came from Commodore Sicard, lnclos-
ing a detailed report on the condltlon Oh
every part of the keel, showing tnal ce-
ment was cracked in about twenty sec
,1s,fs, r-a1+ln iG1d
bent inward from about half an inch to
an inch and a half, and that the joints
to the main drain and suctlon-plpeS
were strained. Commodore Sicard's re-
port follows:
The distortion to frames 43 ana 20
was first reported to ne 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 3:30 yesterday morning,
and was the result of an examination
made in the.morning. Further eXamln-
alton made to-day shows no change
More water to fifteen draught has been
admitted to the dock to-day, and the
Naval Constructor has been directed 10
make a detailed report No delay 'llI
result to the work now going on upon
the vessel
IlRSe reports, II VIII DC otNil AeA4t-
sustain the accuracy of the dispatches
which gave the first news of the Texas
accident Extreme reticence has been
observed at the Navy Department, as
well as at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, re
Aarding the accident, and also by I'll
Navy Department officials who nave
been concerned in the construction CT
the Texas. and who should therefore ne
in position to give an accurate state
nent OF her defects. The vessel mas
been sfngularly unfortunate for several
wears in being made the subject for ad-
verse criticism, and numerous stories
have been printed about her uhsea-
worthiness. her structural defects and
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
drawn by William Johns, an Engllsn
draughtsman. but they were considered
unsatisfactory and We're 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-
clared that they We're worthless. and
that no ship built after them could f1oat
Constructor RoWleS, then at the Nor
folk Navy yard. thought otherwise, ana
declared that with some slight mod1i1ca-
tions he could build a good ship on that
design and he would be willing to stake
his raDutatiOn as a naval constructor on
the result Upon these assurances the
vessel was commenced. her keel being
laid June !. 1880 Frequently during
her construction changes We're made on
account OF the controversies continually
stirred up about her. and thus through
Z ,fgx- .Ea
until August 10Th of this year. The
Act of CONGRESS August ;. 1856. author
iZing her construction placed the statu-
tory limit OF her cost at S2,OOOOO0, but
the Paymaster-GeEerafs accounts show
that IIp to June 30 1894 these being the
latest figures at hand), she had cost
S3.O46.314 81. In the year and a half
since that time these fsures have been
materially increased
Among the other developments dur
ing her construction which increased
The impression that her hull was not
strong was the accident to ner boilers
when thew were first filed The weight
OF the water broke the saddles which
supp0rted the boilers. a bed plate of
her auxiliary engines broke during the
dock trial at Norfolk, the accident be-
ing caused. it was claimed. by the eX-
cessive fiexibility Of the hull
The Texas. when completed, turned
ont TO be the only vessel Of the new
ravy that had not exceeded her draft.
II is claimed that this is due 10 the fact
that rnuch of her iron work was inten
tionallv made lighter in weight as well
as in STRENGTH. the sacrifice having been
made in order that she might float
higher. and in order TO secure her COM
pletion as far as possible within the
price fixed by Congress a few weeks ago
1t was found necessary to dock the ship
which had been continuously in the wa
ter since her arm0r, engines and
heavy weights We're applied. She was
then at Norfolk. and Naval Constructor
A. ". Stahl declined TO assume the re-
sponsibiity OF attempting TO dock her
there, stating that with the highest tide
at Norfolk there would be q leeWay of
only a 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 al the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
where Constructor Bowlcs would be in
charge.
The Navy Department has called On
Naval Constructor Bowles for detailed
account Of the matter. which is eN-
pected at the department tomorrow
COLORADO SPRINGS ROBBERY.
No Clew TO the Parties Who Held
Up Agent Krout.
COLORADO SPRINGS (Col). Nov. -
notwithstanding the utmost efforts on
the part of the police, county and Wells
Fargo secret service officers. together
with the county bloodhounds. IN to n
late h0lJr Tonight NOT even q o.1o,r- 90