New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-18
THE MISHAP TO THE TEXAS.
LIKELY TO BE INVESTIGATED By a
COURT OF INQUIRY.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG NAVAL Off
GERS AS TO THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
HER LATEST MrsADvENTURE

/
GERS AS TO THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
HER LATEST MrsADvENrrRE-
HER UNIUCKY CREW.
Washington. Sept 17.-Captain Glass tcle-
graphed the Navy Department from New
port this morning that the Texas, having
run on the sand Off Goat Island had
foated again and. far he could learn.
was unnjured. report by mail will follow.
The favorable outcome Of what might have
proved n serious accident to the unlucky battle
ship Texas caused general satisfaction among
the officials Of the Navy Department this morn
ing. and they were greatly relieved alter the
suspense Of the night. The reports OF he ship
striking on bottom known to be so rocky as
Newport Harbor having given rise to consid-
cradle fear that the vessel would be ruined.
The career Of the Texas ever since she existed
only on paper had been checkercd that the
supersttious thought her end had come. HeT
collapse in the Brooklyn drydock last year. ioi-
lowed by the development of structural weak
ness on her trial trip caused her TO be sent 10
the Norfolk Navy Yard last January. where her
immersed hull was thoroughly rebuilt, costing
over 500. 900 During her six months stay in
the Norfolk drydock ner frames and bottom
were strengthened. and it was only about three
and sent 70 Join Admiral Bunce's squadron at
Tompkinsvie the day before Ii Hung Chang
arrived in America. Her cost. including repairs
up to that time, had exceeded S4oHooo al
though she had been designed originally to cost
only S2.5OOOO0
To fix the responsibility for yesterdays I'M
fortunate occurrence, Will be the immediate ef-
fort OF the Navy Department. The batte-ship
Massachusetts,. drawing at least two feet more
water than the Texas had just visited the New
port naval station and secured her torpedoes'
She had scarcely given up her berth 70 the
Texas when the latter vessel approached ana
struck Captain Rodgers. Of the Massachusetts
Is known as one Of the most cautious command
ing officers In the service and ne stayed well
out from shore and anchored In ABOUT Sixty iee'
of water 1t is believed that Captain Glass also
a cautious officer, concluded he could lie litte
closer 10 the island than the Massachusetts
Fortunately the tide was out and when 1t rose
later In the night he able to pull his snip
off
The effort to blame the affair on n macninist
Is combatted among nava, officers VINO are
friendly 10 the enlisted men They say that IN
going into port all officers are on duty. and that
an engineer officer two Of them must nave
been in charge OF the engine-room. Engineer
officers, however, contend tndt the! "a" vi''y
obey signals and that II the engines were kept
going ahead when the stop signal had been
given the signal must have been out OF order
and failed To- act. When an engine is IN motion
the signal on the bridge. where the captain 49,
shows the fact. court Of inquiry VIII promptly
Investigate the occurrence. Newport Haroor mas
been the scene Of several Similar accidents 10
warshps The Atlanta. when commanded ny
Captain Bunce now Admiral. ran on rock
there and was seriously damaged Her sister
shin the Boston, while "scorching" over a meas
ured mile Jus; above the naval station. found
sharp Jagged spur OF rock which ripped out a
long streak in her bottom. her compartment
construction alone preventing her from sinking.
Captain Glass himself had "a grounding ex-
periencc when he commanded the Cincinnati
two years ago The ship new. ana after
leaving New-York for Newport she struck some
thing supposed TO be Execution Rock. 1t was
contended that no rock was charted at tne
spot the vessel touched, and IL was surmised
that sunken canal boat constituted the OBJ
struction If 81 the hulk must have been loaded
with iron AMI immovable. for $1,000 dent had
ba