The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-01

WASt1iNGTON, Fep. ], lS97.-Secretary
Herbert has received the following off,
cial report from Captain Cook
U. S. S. Brooklyn, Marcus Hook, Del
aware County Pa. Jan: 80. 1897.
Island and was dangerously beset by Ice.
had been quite anxious lest the ship
be carried ashore by foes that were get
ing the throtte vasa On eoard
yesterday noon, I determined it was best
to put the ship in a safer position If one
ton with Captain Sargent, @ poo Of Cramps Cramps
snip yards, that safe berth could be
had at that yard.
I decided at once to recommend to Com
modore Howell that the ship with her
own engines and assisted by tugs should
go to Cramps as soon as possible. Com
modore Howell approved of my recon-
mendation. made arrangements with
the tugs and pilots of the Red Star line
to take me through the ice to Cramp's s
yard and moor me there today. Also with
the Philadelphia city ice boat No. to
oreak 5hs Ice ground the ship and in the
Three tugs arrived near the ship be-
tween eight and ten A. M. The fourth
tug was wedged in the Ice at the Horse
Marcus Hook. The iceboat No. / broke
the thicker ice around the ship where we
had been wedged since the flood tide of
I weighed anchor and with our own en-
gines and the assistance of the tugs in
breaking the ice tried in vain to turn
so. my best Resource seemed to
be to make an attempt to get out of the
river. The pilot, an experienced and APP
was favorable ls and he aal advised Used str strongly I
that go to Marcus Hook and tie up at
the ice piers and thus be ready to go
Being convinced that it was my best
course, determined to go, having pre-
yiously called a second plot from one q
the tug boats to keep the ranges with
him, being deSirouS to use every safe
guard that could be suggested. This ship
steamed readily through the ice and
aandled pepfeelly vas was about to con-
whole ,s,,! mosyenlent s when she struck while
passing Schooner Ledge and while she
was on the range of the best water and
PILOT. the navigating officer. Lieutenant
McCrea and myself also keeping the
The grounding of the ship was most
perceptibly felt and appeared like pass
ing oyer loose stones. Tt was soon re-
ported to me that the double bottom COM
forward engine room were full of water
leaking through the manhole plates and
rlvets IN some places into the bilges and
forward magazine, which have been read
lily pumped out and kept free.
This is q. most deplorable accident and
one that has fallen like pail upon
oAAiCOio cIlu crew tlOEOuSniy interested
in the ship, her welfare and her career.
From ali the facts at present within
my knowledge, feel that the accident
Judgment on my part.
Pilot Wall holds a regular United States
license as pilot and insists that he had got
the best range and cannot account for the
disaster and is entirely sustained in this
opinion by Pilot Bennett. Recent blast
ing at this ledge, which I understand has
been going; on. may have left some loose
AT the time of passing this ledge the
tide had dropped not more than one foot
below nigh water. as determined by the
water marks irs the stone ice-piers, where
we are now moored at Marcus Hook
This ship will have to return as soon as
the river is free of ice and tides permit
to League Island discharge all her weights
and go IN the dock.
I request court of inquiry to investi-
gate and report.
Very respectfully,
r. A. COOK, Captain U. S. N,
The desired court will be promptly or r
(1eref}