The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-01
Port Royal indicated.
The Indiana Successfully
Docked.

Port Royal, March 27.-At just
1880 this morning, on tide which had
been eboing for good hour, the bat
tleship Indiana steamed gallaptly
through the caisson of the governm meot
dry dock on Paris island with fully Is
inches to spare between her keel and
the blocks. It was glad day for the
people of Port Royal aud the sat
isfaction depicted upon the faces of the
officers at the naval station was a sufi-
ciens testimonial of the qualification
which they experienced in the vindica-
tion of the work upon which they have
labored so long and so faithfully, and
upon which Of late some people have
attempte to cast aspersions The dock
ing this morning was triumph for the
harbor of Port Royal and for every
friend of the Paris Island station. The
battlesbip was put on the blocks not
only With perfect ease and success. but
when the tide had been running out for
at least an hour. The docking might
Just as we'll have been done yesterday
or the day before. On the 25th, the
unofficial reckoning of the water
showed rs feet in the dock aud yester-
day evening there was much more.
The Indiana draws 24 feet, and on
either of. the tides mentioned it is
claimed that she could have gone in
with an abundance of water to spare.
The officers in charge, however doubt
less knew best. They have at all
events docked she Indiana most success
fully and that has always been the
great consideration. The tide this
morning was at its height about $3.50
and it had beeo designed to run the
vessel into the caisson at that hour
But when the morning came, the whole
harbor was enveloped iu dense shsoud
CT mist aod fog. The battleship was
steered cautiously for the dock in the
leading strings of four tugs. So much
delay was occasioned By the fog that it
was not until after o'clock that she
cleared the caisson and foated in the
dry dock. According to the official
figures, there were then 25 feet and 8
inches of tide. This was about 4
inches below the normal, but it gave
the battleship good Is inches to spare
above the blocks.
The pumps were turned in as soon as
everything was pronounced to be snug.
At first the pumping was purpous:y
done very slowly, to give the men at
work ou the ships sides better chance
to work. Three hours after the work
had started there were still 10 feet OF
water ia the dock. During the forenoon
many excursion parties came down to
the island from Beaufor: aud Port Roy
al and toe successful docking was made
the subject of many congratulations and
much merry.making. 1t was not until
quite late is the afternoon that the last
bit Of water was pumped out of the
dock. At 6 O'Clock she stood high and
dry on the blocks. She rested straight
on her keel aud she was by actual meas
uremept just l fcot and 10 inches above
the floor Of the dock The officers and
the gentlemen officially connected with
the station or the battleship are as usual
very relicent, but their satisfaction With
the result of to-day's work is expressed
in many ways No one can say of
course what the official report will be.
but it is believed here that it will ex-
press the con viction that the dock is in
splendid condition aud that it is capable
of holding aoy ship iu the navy.
Captain Evans Of the Indiana.
Fighting Bob." as he is called, said
when requested to make statement,
1.-THE docking has been complete sue
cess, as you cao see. 1t does not re-
quire an expert or naval officer to per-
ceive that fact. It has been most sat.
issactory days work The bottom Of
the dock has not settled, or II al all,
only the fractional part of ao inch.
This is most unusual thing when
docks are tested fully for the first time
The New York, Massachusetts or Texas
can be m ucb more easily docked than
the indiana. as they are much lighter
iu draughs.'
tits an cpeo secret here that the
docking could have taken place almost
any day during the last week, but it
was though: best to wait till the period
of the highest spring tides The OH
GERS though; it was very important to
have lust as much water as possible tor
the first trial OF the structure.