Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-11
COURT OF INQUIRY
Who Caused the Simpson Dy-Dock CsissOn
to Be Emptied.
The Cost Of Repairs Estimated to De
About s25,OOO, and Some One 10
Likely to he Reprimandcd.

Acting Secretary McAdoo today received
a report from Commodore Sicard in regard
to the accident at the Simpson dry dock
Sur day night, in which he says:
"As stated in my telegram of yesterday
to the department., a serious accident oc
Cured at this yard last evening about g
o'clock, when the caisson of dry dock
No. suddenly left its groove and allowed
the outside waters to rush into the dock
ard fill 1t. The dock had been empty
for about a week, the Raleigh having been
taken out on the 1st instant. 1t seems that
for day or two prior TO the accident the
department of yards and docks had been
removing the ballast from the caisson of
No. 2 for the purpose of substituting ce-
ment. This was being done pursuant to
a recommendation made the 2tth Of April
last by the naval constructor, which was
approved by the bureau Of yards and
docks.
An Empty CaissOn.
about 1 pm. Saturday all the ballast
had been removed and the caisson seems
to have heen entirely empty. The tide
was rising during the afternoon and early
evening. and about o'clock was rather
higher than usual, when presumably the
buoyancy Of the caisson caused 1t 10 slip
or spring upward in the groove. thus
becoming quickly disengaged from the LAT
Instant rush Of water into the dock, which
carried with 1t the Ericsson, the COM
maEdants barge, and several scows and
floats and some lumber belonging 20
MeSsrs. Walsh, contractors for dry dock
No. g. The thrush also set up a current
or suction in the Wallabout, which parted
most Of the fasts of the Puritan and Ter
ror and one Of those of the Atlanta. All
Of dry dock No. 2.
THE Ericsson was carried by the rush of
water into the dry dock, where she struck
very hard forward against something.
probably the side of the dock. She was
then carried out Of the dock by the refiuent
wave, and remained in the entrance along
side of the west quay wall. Her bows
were discovered to be very badly stove in
and the forward compartment filled with
water to the outside water line. The other
bulkheads and watertight doors. however,
held firmly, and the water was confined to
the forward compartment.
Barge Sunk.
THE commandments barge has not been
seen since the accident. She has sunk to
the bottom of the dock, and no definite re-
port can be made concerning her until the
deck is pumped out. She Is no doubt most
seriously injured, ard her upper works are
all carried away, and remained floating in
the docks, from which they were taken
yesterday. The casson is sunk, ard lies on
its side short distance within the en-
trance Of the dock 1t has been examined
by divers. and is thought to be but little
injured. Preparations to raise ii are now
going on. When raised, 1t is proposed 10
deck this caisson In the granite dock No. I,
where 1T will te repaired and baliasted.
The westerly side of dock No 9. a short
distance within the caisson grooves, was
struck severely by some heavy object
(probably the caisson), and the altars and
plankinR are badly splintered for about
thirty feet. This, however, is simple car
penter dock work, and its repair offers no
difficulty The caisson grooves are found
by the divers to be uninjured
Estimate of Repairs.
When the Terror parted her chainfasts
she crushed enc of her whaleboats
against the cobdock and bent several of
the awning stanchions; all can be repaired
readily.
According to such rough estimates as
can be made at present, the cost of repair
Ing the Damages caused by this occurrence
will be about follows: Ericsson, labor,
$4,000. material, $1,000; barge, uncertain,
as ner hull has not been seen, probably be-
tween 5000 and $1,000; dry dock No.
and caisson. 5000; ships in vicinity, $500"
At the suggestion of Commandant Sicard,
Acting Secretary McAdoo has ordered a
court OF inquiry to meet at the New York
navy yard next Friday at / o'clock to in
vestigate and report upon the accident. The
court Will be composed of Capt. Albert
Boston navy yard; Commander Edwin
Longnecker, on duty at the League Island
navy yard; Civil Engineer Geo. Mckay on
duty at the Port Royal naval sta ton; Lieut.
Geo. Barnett. on duty on the receiving
ship Vermont.