The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-17
SHE STRIKES A ROCK.
The Battleship Texas Hard and
y Fast in Newport Harbor.
FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO GET her OFF
The Position Of the Vessel Is n Danger
Gus One, and Should u Storm Set In 1t
Would Go Hard with IIer-Her Other
Experiences.

Gus One, and Should u Storm Set In 1t
Would Go Hard with uer-Her Other
Experiences.
NEWPORT, r. l., Sept. 17.-The BATTLE
ship Texas, which left the North Atlantic
squadron yesterday for tho purpose Of get
ting supply of torpedocs here struck
rock while coming into the harbor at 5 80
O'Clock and Is hard and fast. She rests on
the rock amidships and resisted all at
tcmpts made by tho tug Aquidneck to
dislodgo her, The position of the vessel
Is dangerous one and should storm set
IN 1t would go hard with her.
The'place where the vessel struck is al
most directly opposite tho torpedo station.
The Texas left the North Atlantic squad
ron after the Massachusetts had left the
harbor and Joined tho other ships. When
she reached the harbor the tide was run
ming out strongly, and was at about "half
ebb."
The first warning tho officers had Of tho
danger was slight shock just forward of
midships. Captain Glass at once ordered
the port anchor 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 loast head
way by means the anchor.
Captain Henry Glass and Lieutenant d.
J. 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
j 1.,l,. l1,,, ln,t
the stern. As the tide fell, the bow began
to appear above water and last night it
was out of water, The stern Is on line
with the water. All the naval officials who
have seen the vessel admit that her posi-
tion is q dangerous one.
The tug Aquldnock arrived alongside
che Texas within half an hour after she
struck, and quickly got n line out. The
ship, however, proved too heavy for the
tug to handle, and was apparently firmly
fixed on tho rock. The tug was obliged
to give up the attempt to float the mon
ster battleship but will make another at-
tempt, and several other tugs, and posi-
bly, the giant wrecker Right Arm will as
sist her.
Captain Glass when seen refused to be
come aboard the vessel. The department
nj Washington has boen notified of the
accident. The Texas is second class two
turret battleship of 6,3l5 tons displace.
ment and 5000 horse power, Her speed is
seventeen knots an hour. She was built
In 1SS9-9O and cost s., 100000.
There is great regret in naval circles
over the accident to the Texas. The vos-
sel has had an unfortunate career, and on
more than one occasion has had to be laid
mp for repairs Once at Norfolk her entire
hull was reconstructed, Captain Glass,
the commander Of the Texas, has been
particularly unfortunate. Two years ago,
when in command Of the Cincinnati the
vessel struck Execution" rock, outside
of He'll Gate.
A. statement was given out late last
night by the commander of the Texas.
During the evening diver was sent down
md he says that the rocks in the vicinity
10 not press against the vessel, He re-
ported that she rested on sandy ridge,
and is In no danger while the water was
calm