The morning times., 1896-11-10

New York, Nov 9.-Misfortune again
beIeiI the United States Dattieship Texas
today and the big man-of war now rests III
| the mud alongside of the cob dock III the
| Brooklyn navy yard. She is In about
twenty feet OF water, but s sunk only four
| or five feet below the water line.
| The accident fortunately occurred while
| the ship was in comparatively shallow
| water. Had she been at sea she would
| have gone to the bottom and possibly every
| soul aboard would have been lost. IL
| was singular accident and illustrates the
| questionable reliance and dependence
| placed in Il small piece of steel, weighing
not more than riruy pounds, the weight
| of the yoke Of the injection valve OF the
| Texas which caused today's accident.
| Seemingly the whole life Of The great
| hattleship rested upon the strength Of
| this little yoke. The Texas has been in
the navy yard for some time undergoing re-
| pairs. She was tied To the cob dock Just
astern of the Vermont and close to the
| New York and Indiana, which are also
being repaired.
YOKE GAVE WAY.
The accident was caused by the break
ing Of the yoke, which Is used to hold the
bonnet or top of the main injection valve
| or bowl, which is situated in the engine
| room md is used to carry from the sea salt
water and send il into the various small
| pieces connected herewith and running
| into the different sections where it is
| required.
Tnc main injections valve connects from
| the engine room with Il rIange which opens
| on the sea through the bottom OF the ship
| The top Of this iniection valve is bowl
| like arrangement and is situated in the
engine room, from which it runs directly
| downward through the ship, with an open
| ing in the bottom.
,v,t tns,iv In
| three feet high and about three feet in
| diameter. The injection pipe is about one
| and a lalf feet in diameter. \ seacock,
which is made to cover the head OF the
| flange, is worked by screw and a wheel.
| When water is not needed the scacock Is
pressed hard down upon the opening Of the
| flange and held thereon by means Of the
yoke, which is operated by the wheel.
FLAW IN THE METAL.
This yoke broke this morning and the
| pressure of the water coming up through
| the pipe was more than the bonnet could
| stand and II gave way. This left clean
opening tEruughthe pipe 10 the water, which
| rushed in in great quantity.
The cause OF the breaking Of the yoke is
as yet only problematicai The opinion was
expressed by some OF the navy yard men
that 1T must have been due to n flaw in
| the steel, while others say il may have
| been weakened by the Calvanc action of
| the salt water. The official inquiry will
! only determine this.
The accident occurred at 6 o'clock in the
| morning, and there being few people about
| the navy yard at that hour. there was con-
| ScQUently little excitement
Engineer Higgins happened 10 he i'll the
eRgiue-room when the accident occurred
| He was standing near the valve when the
| bonnet flew off and the great rush OF water
| came pouring in He made for the narrow
stairways and soon gained the upper deck.
| He sounded an alarm Immediately and all
| hands responded.
CLOSED THE COMPARTMENTS.
The men acted with promptness. and in
| few seconds more than two minutes every
compartment possible to reach had been
| closed. The three cngDe-room compart-
ircntS could not be reached, however, and
| these We're flooded.
WreCking tugs were sent for. and three
were soon alongside the ship. Divers We're
| also on hand, and they made Il Iigid in
| vestigation and reported that the ship WAS
| in no danger. She lays lightly TO the star
| beard side and her bow was two or three
| feet deeper in the water than her stern.
As soon rs the wrecklng tugs arrived
| they began To pump the water out OF the
| engine rooms. This was the work of
several hours. 4 5 the ship rested on the
| bottom, the mud acted as a plug for the
enter. The bow is buried in The mud several
| feet and this may cause Some delay i'll
| again floating her. The responsibility for
| the accident will likely rest with the
| Navy Yard authorities, as the Texas as
| been under their charge while undergoing
| repairs.
| Capt. Glass WAS on deck this morning
looking after things. hut be declined t.
| speak OF the accident upon the ground that
| it was contrary To orders.
| ENGINES MAY BE DAMAGED.
| Commandant Sicard, of the Brooklyn
| Navy Yard, explained to a representative
| of the United Associated Presses that while
| the accident was extremely unfortunate,
| still the damage would be comparatively
! triflinE. The placing OF q new yoke ana
bonnet upon the valve would be Il small
| matter
Tie principal damage, however. was to
be feared from water and mud To the
| machinery It'was low tide when the
accident happened and outside of the snip $
regular draft, there was only two feet
| of water between her and the mud bottom
She settled down this distance in very
quick time.
Secretary Herbert has ordered the fol-
lowing court of inquiry on the accident To
| the Texas.
CommodoreJ. \. Miller, now comman,lant
of the Boston Navy Yard; Chief Engineer
W. W. DUNCAN. the senior officer of his
| corps, now insp of machinery at
Cramps, and Naval Constructor ].
Hanscem, with Lieut.. B. T. walling, as
judge advocate. The court will meet at
the navy yard, New York, ut p. III.
| Wednesday.
The Texas was floated this evening
She will be docked tomorrow.