New-York tribune., 1895-09-06
pAD FOR CAPTAIN SUMNER.
.,r ADMITS THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON
DOCK WAS NOT INSPECTED.
,.,,,rr ENGINEER HARRIS. OF THE COLUMBIA

..,,,rr ENGINEER HARRIS OF THE COLUMBIA
-p,rs TO HELP HIS COMMANDER But
OTHER TESTIMONY Is TOO STRONG.
49,, captain George W. Sumner. OF the cruiser
.,a ,s IN a bad nx admitted by all who
.sa-8 tAe testimony given yesterday at the second
NJ . assion OF the court-martial which Is trying
o" 49, negligence IN regard 10 the docking OF the
mn, :, southampton last July. After the witnesses
:, wednesday had received copies OF their testi-
- Cor revision the formal proceedings opened.
,.h Lieutenant James NJ. Helm, who was watch
"a a,vsion officer OF the ship at the time she was
-, on the stand On direct examination by
lieutenant Draper he practically repeated the testi-
nv given at the court Of inquiry and said that he
"a Lieutenant C commander Allibone tell Captain
s,r,ner OF the condition OF the ship.
rs,ef Engineer William II. Harris who was the
=, witness said that on the first day the ship
-. IN dock he discovered OF the injuries and
,s-or,ed them to Captain Sumner. On the second
A., he found that the freroom stanchons We're
s..rrnC He let the water out OF the boilers and
..,or,ed the matter TO the captain. In his opinion
.ss damage 10 the ship caused by the bad
,ork in docking her. and she should have been
s,.,sd 10 relieve the strain
The chief engineer said that the stanchions In the
s,sroom buckled slightly after the ship had been
,,eed IN the Brooklyn dock. but that they remained
s,o after the first bending They were measured
s,srv four hours 20 prevent recurrence or the
..,,,6le nj southampton. He and Captain sumner
"a inspected the ship after his report OF the strain
sss been made and they did not think that the
ssmage was sufficient to cause any trouble HIS
.rsines had been affected by the buckling Of the
s.snchions and had increased I'm speed after the
ship got away from Southampton
Jorstlo c. Glmor. Assistant Naval COnstruc~
,o- the next witness said that the total cost OF
me repairs made necessary by the bad handling Of
he shin was s. 652 and that In his opinion the dam
sys was entirely local and did not affect the struc-
,sre OF the ship Passed Assistant Engineer Mar
I'm Bevington gave some unimportant testimony re-
ss-ilne the damage 10 the enRlne-ro0m stanchions,
ssns after he had been relieved Captain Sumner
yss called % the stand
THE CAPTAINS DAMAGING ADMISSION.
The captain showed plainly the effects Of the
s,rain ne was under and gave his testimony In a
,ubiued voice In response TO direct examination
by the Judge-Advocate he practically repeated his
preytous testimony. admitting that he had not sent
an ofrcer to examine the condition OF the dock be-
,,re allowing the Columbia 10 lie noated in. and
,hef ne had not ordered the dock 10 be nlled ana
N. yvssel fOatai when the reports OF her condition
H had relied or ne statements OF the officers o..
h docking company that the dock was all right
ana had not made personal examination OF the
vay the keel blocks were placed He was acting
under hurry orders from the Department. and DID
no, think that the delay OF floating the ship was
warranted under the circumstances.
A. 3a1 IN the afternoon the court adjourned untN
his morning when Il IS expected that Naval Con-
sructor Francis r Bcwles VIII be back from
Washington and tes.lfy 10 the technicalies OF the
supervision AZ head OF The local Bureau OF Com
s,roctcn and Repair. The taking Of testimony VIII
rrobsby end to-day. and the court Will al once be-
Kin work IT'S report.