The herald., 1896-09-17
Struck on the Rocks Off New
Port
HER POSITION DANGEROUS
Her Destruction Certain If Rough
Weather Sets Ia
At High Tide an Attempt Will Be Made
to Drag the Vessel Off-Cap-
tain Refuses to Talk.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated PreSS Special Wire
Newport, r. l., Sept. 16-The battle
ship Texas, which left the North At
lantic squadron this afternoon for the
purpose of getting supply of torpedoes
here, struck rock while steaming into
the harbor at $50 o'clock and is hard
and fast. She rests on the rock amid
ships, and resists all attempts made by
the tug Aquidneck to dislodge her. The
position of the vessel is a dangerous
one, and should a storm set in it would
go hard with her. The place where the
vessel struck is almost directly opposite
the torpedo station. The Texas left the
North Atlantic squadron after the Mas
sachusetts had left the harbor and
Joined the other ships When she
reached the harbor the tide was run
ming out strongly and was at about
half ebb." The first warning the Off
GERS had of the danger was a slight
shock just forward of amidships. Cap
tain Glass at once ordered the port an
chor out. The hook held FIRMLY and
the ship gradually swung broadside on
the beach. She was firm and could not
be moved so as to make the least head
ing tide left her fixture for the nigh.
at least. Captain Henry Glass and
Lieutenant j. d. Kelly were both on
the bridge and neither supposed the
water at that point to be so shallow
An examination was made at once and
it was decided to send for tug. With
the tide below half ebb. five fathoms of
water were found under the bow and
about the same depth under the stern
AS the. tide fell the bow began to ap-
pear above water, and tonight it is out
of water. The stern is on line with
the water All the naval officers who
have seen the vessel admit that her
position is a dangerous one. The tug
Aquidneck arrived alongside the Texas
within half an hour after she struck
and quickly got a line out The Warshp,
however, proved too heavy for the tug
to handle. and was apparently firmly
fixed on the rock. The tug was obliged
to give up the attempt to float the mon
ster battleship, but another attempt
will be made at high tide, which will be
at 3 o'clock tomorrow morning. Two or
three other tugs. and possibly the giant
wrecker, Right Arm, will assist her.
Captain Glass, when seen tonight, re-
fused to be interviewed. He gave or
ders to let no one come aboard the YES
sci. The department at Washington
has been notified of the accident.
NEWPORT, r. l., Sept. 16.-A state
ment was given out late tonight by the
commander of the Texas. During the
evening diver was sent down and he
says the rocks in the vicinity do not
press against the vessel He reported
that she rested on sandy bridge and is
in no danger while it is calm. The fol-
lowing is the official statement:
The ship slowed down in fifteen faith
oms of water and stopped in eleven faith
oms. A signal was given to back the
port engines but was mistaken in the
engine room and the engine started
ahead. Word was sent down to see
if the engines were backing and the
word came back Yes" Word was sent
back to back both engines al full speed.
when the mistake was discovered, but
before they could be backed the YES
sci struck the beach, The port anchor
was dropped in twenty-three feet of
water, the vessel drawing twenty three
feet forward. Although no shock was
felt on the port bow, divers were sent
down and she was found to be resting
easily, TO rock being under her. 1t is
thought she will come off at high tide
The machinst in the engine room is
responsible for the affair. 1t is not
thought the vessel is badly damaged.