The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-17
Struck the Bottom While Entering
the HarbOr at Newport After a
Supply of Torpedoes.
SECOND-CLASS BATTLE SHIP
AND COST $2.5o0,OO0 WHEN con
sTRUCTED ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO.
Her Position Exceedingly Dangerous
The Cushing's Fight with the
Big Massa chusetts.

NEWPORT. r. l., Sept. 16.-The battle
ship Texas which left the North Atlantic
squadron this afternoon for the purpose
of getting supply of torpedoes here
struck rock while coming into the har-
Dor at $50 O'Clock and is hard and fast
She nests on the rock amidships and re-
sisted all attempts made by the tug
Aquidnock to dislodge her. The position of
the vessel is a dangerous one and should
a storm set in it would go hard with her.
The place where the vessel struck is al
most directly opposite the torpedo station.
The Texas left the North Atlantic squad
ron after the Massachusetts had left the
harbor and joined the other ships When
she reached the harbor the tide run
ming out strongly and was at about half
ebb.' The first warning the officers had
of the danger was a slight shock just for
ward of midships. Captain Glass at once
ordered the port anchor out. The hook
held firmly and the ship gradually swung
broadside on the beach. She was firm and
could not be moved so as to make the
least Roadway by means of the anchor.
The ebbing tide left her a fixture for the
night at least.
Captain Henry Glass and Lieutenant D.
J. Kelly We're both on the bridge and
neither supposed the water at that point to
DE so swallow. All tAdiIiliidilOI was iiidUS
at once and it was decided to send for a
tug With the tide below half ebb five
fathoms of water were found under the
bow and about the same depth under the
stern AS the tide fell the bow began to
appear above water and tonight it is out
of water The stern is on a line with the
water All naval officials who have
the vessel admit that her position is a dam
gerous
The tug Aquidnock arrived alongside the
Texas within half an hour after she struck
and quickly got d line out. The war ship
however proved too heavy for the tug to
handle and was apparently firmly fixed on
the rock. The tug was obliged to give up
the attempt to float the monster battle
ship tonight but will make an attempt at
high water, which will be at 3 O'Clock to-
morrow morning. Several other tugs and
possibly the giant wrecker, Right Arm, will
assist her. . tat--
CAPTAIN Glass when seen tonight re-
fused to be interviewed. He gave orders to
let no one come aboard the vessel. The
department at Washington has been noti-
fed of the accident
The Texas IS a second-class two-turret
battle ship of 6,315 tons displacement and
5000 horse power Her speed Is ssnentee cen
knots an hour. she was quit IN 1oo5-5o ana
cost 81. 500, 000.
A statement was given out late tonight
by the commander of the Texas During
the evening diver was sent down. and
he saws that the rocks In the vicinity do
not press against the vessel He reported
that she rested on sandy ridge and is in
no danger while the water was calm. The
following is the official statement: The
ship slowed down in fifteen fathoms of
water and stopped in eleven fathoms.
signal given to the port engines. Dut
was mistaken in the engine room and the
engine started ahead. Word was sent down
to see if the engines were backing and the
word came back Yes Word was sent
to back both engines al full speed when the
mistake was discovered. but before they
could be backed the vessel struck on the
beach The port anchor dropped in
twenty-three feet of water, the vessel
drawing twenty-three feet forward. AL
though no shock was felt on the hummock
on the port bow. divers We're sent down.
and she was found to be resting easily. no
she will come off at high tide. The ma
chinist in the engine room is responsible
for the affair. 1t is thought that the YES
sci is not badly damaged.