The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-10

New York, Nov. 9.-Thc United States
oattleship Texas, to which Il number of
accidents have occurred since she was
launched, lies alongside the Cob dock, in
the Brooklyn navy yard, submerged
ABOUT I'VE feet above her water line
rarly to-day the main injection valve on
'he starbonrd side near the midship line
ana about fourteen feet below the water
me was showed in from the force of the
water ana the engine rooms were uu;"
Hooded with dirty, black, muddy water.
ne snip soon began to settle and Capt
niasS, who wis in command of the
icNas, called the officers and crew to
quarters and did everything possible to
minimize the ships injuries. At the
Tune the accident occurred there was
only about two feet of water under the
snip ana she soon rested on the muddy
nottom This was ut low water, but at
hlgh water there was between five and
SIN feet OF water above the line mt the
stern and about eighteen inches less ut
her bow.
Nrccking tugs We're Immediately sum.
moned and three of them were soon
alongside pumping the water out of her
engine ana boiler room, while IL diver
WIS sent down to ascertain the extent of
che damage. Capt. Glass, Lieut.. Kelly
ANA Engineer Moore, oas well as all the
othcr officers of the ship, could not he in
uuccu to talk about the accident and all
inquiries were referred to Commodore
Sicard, commnndant of the yard.
Inc Texas has been followed by IL series
OF accidents since her launching. At
.hat time she had II serious list to star
board the Keel on which she was laid
ne'hS uneven On her speed trial trip IL
"A In
postponement, and while entering New
port, r. L., harbor recently she was
aground for Il few hours. Willie in dry
dock mt the Brooklyn navy yard she sus-
tanned severe strain, several plates
being bent Nearly 100000 were spen.
IN repairs at the Norfolk navy yard.a
few months ago. The Texas was buil
at Norfolk by the Government.
Washington, Nov 8 The first official
news o: the last accident to the battle
snip Texas was received at the Navy De-
partment over the telephone to-day from
New OK. Commodore Sicard the
commandant of the New York navy
yard was called To the instrument anu
mace II verbal report of the affair. He
said the Texas was now lying in twenty
feet OF water. Both of her engine rooms
are filled with water. The accident
was caused by tn bursting of the star
board main Injection ,alvc, as near as
can he discovered. The Chapman Wreck
ing Company are now living ALONGSIDE
NO. dry dock is being prepared to re.
crlNc the Texas as soon rs she can In,
Heated. The accident probably was due
to the breaking of the yoke which holds
down the starboard main injection valve
whereby the valve admitted water to
Vhe snip Ihe commanding promised to
make IL more complete report during the
day ami IN the absence of the details the
officials OF the Navy Department cannot
estimate the full damage 1t will. how
ever, ;hey say be extensive. as even if the
water is speedily removed the machinery
Will have been more or less injured.
Later III the day Commodore Sicard
supplemented his first report by a telc-
gram. giving further details of the acct
dent. He said the Texas main injection
pipe was removed for repairs and the
pipe to scawartl closed with n blank
ilanSc. This morning about O'Clock.
the yoke through which the valve stem
screws broke under the water pressure
from outside and the SEA rushed in. ull.
ing the starboard engine room and thence
leaked through the closed water tight
doors and gradually filled the port engine
room No other parts of the shin were
h'''SH pCSi'ltS Ollt uWO engine rooms.
Ihe ship settled down upon the soft bot
tom, listing two degrees and beius Sc
cured to the Cob dock.
Secretary Herbert this afternoon an
pointed II court of inquiry to investigate
the affair The detail is: Commodore j.
y. Miller, of the Boston navy ward:
Chief Engineer w. w. DUNCAN, inspector
of machinery at Cramps, and Naval
Constructor ilanscom, of the New York
yard, as Judge advocate. The court will
meet meet ut the New York yard ut p. m.
Wednesday next.
SIZE Il AFLOAT.
New York, Nov. 9.--Commander West
telegraphed the Associated Press Mt 1880
TO- night that the battleship Texas was
ahoat at the brooklyn navy yard, and
would be pumped out by midnight and
docked on Tuesday.
Professor liirschberg, eye specialist, of