The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-01
ON THE ROCKS.
Cruiser Brooklyn Strikes
a Sunken Ledge.
The Big Vessel Was Being
Moved to a Safe Berth.
She May Not Be Released From the
Ice for Month or More.

Philadelphia. Feb. Tho United
States cruiser Brooklyn, the --latest pride
Of q peerless navy, calculated to with
stand the iiercest onslaught of shot and
shell, lies almost utterly helpleso. be-
cause OF a narrow ledge OF sunken rock
In the Delaware river, above Marcus
Hook, on which she struck heavily Sat-
urday afternoon.
Her lower double compartments for
ward were completely stove In. and II
was only by the merest good fortune
that the big vessel did not sink. This
would undoubtedly have been the re-
suit had not her inner compartments
successfully withstood the shock AS il
was. she was pulled clear OF the rocks,
and Is now tied to the big stone Ice
breakers at Marcus Hook, protected
from the heavy ice gorges In mid-river.
The big vessel is seriously damaged. and
IL is impossible to say when she will be
able to go into active service. At pres
ent she is in no danger of further dam
age. being fully protected in the safe
anchorage afforded by the Ice breakers.
How the accident occurred can only be
established by court Of inquiry. and
this, Captain Cook Of the Brooklyn has
already asked for.
Since December she had been lying at
League island navy yard, and certain
small repairs had delayed her sailing.
BY the early part of the present month,
however, all arrangements had been
completed for her going to sea, when
the cold snap set in. and was followed
by the piling up OF ice in the river. and
particularly at the bend in the river,
Immediately below the navy yard,
known as the Horse Shoe The city ics
boat managed to keep the channel clear
TO the city, but on the sides IL piled up
from two TO six feet.
The Brooklyn, lying at League island,
with her PROV facing seaward, was
hemmed in tight and fast, and IL was
deemed advisable to postpone sailing.
The cold weather continued, and the ice
began piling. until it was believed that
the position of the big boat was perilous.
The ice was surging around and about
her, and her officers felt that she must
be moved or the heavy foes would force
asked for. the government would have
built wharves sufficiently long enough
to protect such a vessel, there would
have been no necessity for moving the
vessel. 1t was evident however. by the
tugging at her anchor chains that a
safer berth should be given her. and 50
1t was decided to take her to Cramps,
where one has been provided for her.
&c
into requisition and broke the ice around
the ship, while four big tugs stood by,
ready to tow her to her destination.
At the last moment It was seen that, to
go through the ice in the Horseshoe. was
fraught with great difficulty and per-
haps danger. Then IL was that Captain
Cook asked the pilots. Captains Wells
and Bennett, two of the most careful
and experienced men on the river. If the
ship could be taken down the river
They replied in the affirmative, and said
that safe anchorage could be obtained
at Marcus Hook. The Brooklyn, under
her own steam, got under way, and kept
straight on down the river, the ice
beat breaking a way for her, and two
tugs following in her wake. Both pilots
were on the cruiser. and she made her
way easily enough through the mass of
floating ice and following the ranges
closely.
She had reached opposite and close to
Schooner ledge when the pilots sent her
slightly to starboard, where they con-
sidered IL better water. Almost in
stantly the vessel struck the rocks with
jar that shook her from stem to stern.
For moment all was confusion, but for
a moment only; the next her cool-head-
ed officers and men were at work The
engines responded beautifully, and she
was quickly backed off. The quick set
Ting of her prov showed that damage
had resulted. A hasty examination,
followed by a closer one showed that
her inner compartments were but slight
ly IL at all, damaged, and that the bulk
of the damage had been done TO the out
er compartments. directly under the en-
gine and fire rooms. At first, many on
board feared that the splendid ship
would sink, but this fear was soon dis
PEELED. The city ice boat ana the tugs
lent a hand, passed lines to the vessel
snd towed her to Marcus Hook, where
she was made fast TO the ice breaker
Her bow has settled over foot i'm the
river. but otherwise nothing seemed
sut of the ordinary order o: things. On
board, however. a general feeling OF
gloom perva6ed the officers and men,
and. although none could be prevailed
upon TO talk about the matter, IL was
svident that they felt deeply the acci-
dent To their ship. Captain Cook was
seen, but politely and firmly declined TO
discuss the situation. He contented
himself by saying that he had notified
The navy department and had asked for
the appointment of a court of inquiry.
He was unable TO say when the vessel
would be able TO leave her present an
;horage. but il is evident. from the
Seavy ice in the river. that this cannot
be done until a general thaw has set I'm
and the river is practically free from ice.
This depends entirely upon the weather.
Should IL continue cold, II Will not ba
until the latter part Of the month or the
Early pprt of March that she can be