The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-14
INDIANA READY TO BE DocKED
THE BIG BATTLESHIP TO LEAVE
THE WATER THIS MORNING.

STATS Received with saIutes-A
Reception by the Citizens of Beau
fOrt-The Indiana's Rough Trip
Down the Coast.
Beaufort s. G, March 13-There is
about to be another link in rhe rapid and
substantial naval development of the
United States. Some time ago. when
there was talk of putting the battleship
Indiana in a dry dock, 1t was said that the
nearest available dry dock was at Halifax.
the possibilities of dock at Port Royal had
not been tested. 1t was realized that IT
would never do to send the Indiana to
Halifax, and so attention was attracted
to the just completed dock, and inquiry
showed that the dock here. as well as the
port were in every way suited to the task.
There are plenty OF docks in the country,
but the one at Port Royal seems to be the
only one complete with a sufficient width
of gate to admit such hrst-class battle
ships as the Indiana. The docking has
been anxiously awaited, and has been
looked forward to with great interest by
the people Of the South Atlantic coast
The railroads worked up large excursions
and there was quite an invasion of visitors
! to see the docking and the noted vessel
| They came by the hundreds from South
Carolina and Georgia, and by noon there
were about 1000 visitors on the ground.
The Indiana was sighted on Bay Point
this morning at 6 o'clock by the United
| States buoy tender Wisteria, which had
been sent out last night for that purpose.
At o'clock the big ship passed the bar
easily with the morning tide and came
| into the sound, and thence into Port Royal
harbor. She is now anchored beyond Paris
Capt Evans reported Immediately to the
navy department his arrival, with the in
formation that the water was too low 10
| attempt TO go into the dock to-day, but
| that he would probably enter dock to-
| morrow morning with the tide
The Indiana was lightened before COM
| ing in by the release of her water tanks.
| She now draws "a feet of water, and 1t
was possible for her to make the dock,
| but fearing to take any chances, the at
| tempt was abandoned. There were twenty
/ five feet of water in the dock when the
| battleship came in at 7:30 o'clock. Half an
| hour or so later the northwest wind had
| blown out fully two and a half feet of wa
\ ter. For two days the wind has been blow
| ing a pretty stiff gale, diminishing the
! food tide about three feet from it's normal
| gauge. 1t was possible to have docked the
! Indiana tonight. Everything was favor
able but Capt. Evans told the Morning
| News correspondent that there was no me-
| cessity for so doing; he wanted to guard
| against any mishaps.
| As soon as the Indiana put anchor,
| Capt. Charles Rockwell, in command OF
| the naval station, went abroad and had
a consultation with Capt. Evans. They
| concluded to make the dock in the morn
| ing if everything is favorable
The flood gate was opened yesterday
! afternoon at o'clock, and the dock was
| filled by the evening tide. In conversa-
! ton with Capt. Rockwell he said every
| thing was in perfect order awaiting the
coming and docking of the big ship. He
| anticipated no lack of water. The dock
| was inspected before the water was turn
ed in. 1t was almost entirely devoid of
The dock, as is well known, is the larg-
| est on this continent, and the only one
| large enough to receive the Indiana,
which is the largest ship the United
| States has in commission. 1t is large
| enough to receive the deepest draft ves-
sells In the world, having a length of 620
feet, with an altitude of thirty-foUr feet,
and mean breadth of sixty-four feet AS
| to the pumping engine, 1t is possibly the
most powerful ever built, having a dis
| charge force of 5000 a minute. It's cost,
| together with the buildings and machine
| ry, was about $SS0OO The dry dock and
| accessories were put up at a cost of some
| thing over A,500,000. The Propeller Tow
| boat Company of Savannah has three of
| its tugs here-the McCauley, Smith and
the. Juno-to haul the Indiana into the
| dock, the contract having been awarded
| to this company. The vessel came In this
| morning without tow.
| Gov. Atkinson and staff of Georgia and
| Gov Evans of South Carolina, with his
| staff officers and many of the state Of
| fcials, reached Beaufort last night, and
went over to Paris Island this noon
| of Beaufort. Many prominent citizens of
| Beaufort were also I'm the party. Quite a
| number also came down from Charleston,
among whom are Mayor Smythe and mem
| bers of the city council. Accompanying
| Gov. Evans were Adjt. Gen. Watts Milf
| tary Secretary Stokes, u. S. A., and Coils.
| McCrady, McSWeeney, Evans, Neal, Mar
| tin, Lockwood, Appel, Mauldin and Behre.
| Accompanying Gov. Atkinson were Adjt.
! coils. Harrison, Elliott, Wilkes, Galloway
| Messick, West; Inspector General Obear,
! Controller General Wright, Clark Howell
of the Constitution; II. II. Cabaniss Of the
| Journal; c. A. Collier, president Of the
| chamber Of commerce.; w. c. Sanders
| and w II. Inman, and other representa-
| tive business men. Charleston's delega-
! ton included Judges Simonton and Braw-
| ley, and Maj J. c. Hemphill, editor News
and Courier. Augusta, Savannah and 9TH
| er neighboring cities were represented.
! Upon the arrival of the guests at the
/ naval station they were received by Com
mandant Rockwell. Chief Engineer of
| Construction Macay and the attaches of
/ the station. After being shown about the
| station Cows. Atkinson apd Evans and
party were received with salutes aboard
| the Indiana, When party, such as this
meets speeches are a natural sequence.
After the dinner party to-day there was
| a call for speeches, and short talks were
4 made by Gov. Atkinson, Gov. Evans, Con-
| gresham Elliott, Col Wilson, Adtt Gen.
| Watts, Adjt Gen. Kell, Capt Brown, u
/ S. A., and Maj. Lockwood There was
| some merriment over the cross-1re Of ref
| erences to senatorial bees that are thought
! to be in the bonnets of the two governors
| The local reception committee of Beau
| fort is made up Of Hon. William Lock
wood, chairman; J. Averill, D. G. Wilson,
! c. c. Townsend, w. r. Bristol and w. o.
| Prentiss
! Several trains from South Carolina and
| Georgia points reached the city this morn
| ing well filled with people eager to see
| the big ship. They were disappointed
| to find out the docking had been post
1 poned until tomorrow. Many of them
will return home tonight since their
/ railroad tickets expire. Others will re-
main over until tomorrow TO witness the
/ docking
| The ceremonies will be very Informal
/ since none Of the state officials from In
/ diana are here. Gov. Matthews telegraph
/ ed his regrets TO Mr. Lockwood at Beau
| fort last night and stated that the silver
/ service to be presented by the state had
not been completed, but when It was fin
| ished he would come to Port Royal and
make the presentation if the Indiana still
| be here.
The battleshiD was open TO visitors this
| afternoon and every kind of sail and row
boat was pressed into active service, trans
| porting the crowds 70 and from the ship.
| The officers were courteous 70 all and put
in the afternoon showing and explaining
| the interesting parts of the ship. Capt