The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-02
THE BROOKLYN INJURED
SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY STRIhIN"
on SCHOONER LEDGE.
Plates Ripped on the Bottom Tor DIS
lance of i.5 Feet on Each sue OF INV
Keei-The Og,cisl Report

"Sir.-The Brooklyn anchored OH h'"7 'o
Island and was dangerously Dese, ~
ice. ! have been quite anxious lest INC
ship be carried ashore by foes that were
getting heavier and heavier.
Upon receiving the throttle ''''o
chamber on board yesterday l de'ermln-
ed it was best to put the ship III " ""i'i
position. If one could be found. go, ,..,
Il learned upon consultation WIN ~,
tain Sargent of Cramps shipyaiu' 'n1'
a safe berth could be- had at 'n's 80
I decided at once 10 rccominchu ~ ~,
modore Howell that the snip WIN n
own engines and assisted by tuHa S"o'''
70 to Cramps as soon as possio'''
BROKE A CHANNEL, -, 49,.
Commodore Howell appt.r.e,u,, ,,,,,'ts
recommendation. mace ~ ped sttr
with the tugs and pilots oi IL loo ~
Line 10 take me through lhe -,
Cramps yard nd moor me .t.l. w ~, NJ,
Also with the Iiiladclphia 'ls, ~ $50
No T. e. break the ic' aIoulr Wv go
and in the channel through the Horse
"Tbrce tugs arrived near the snip he-
tween and Do a. NJ Tho iouI ,4 ,u-
Wa wfdced boz the ice ai the hoi9t
shoe and did NOT arrive until We reached
Marcus Hook The Joe boat NO ptohs
tho thicker icc around the snip wh"rs we
had been wedgcd since the Hoon ''u-
the night before heading u""n a' 80. i''
weighed anchor. and. with our 'Mit en-,
gines and the assistance OF W" VS. '.'
breaking the leo where We Hau ".si'
Wedged, and tried iu VAIN 10 'uill w
ship Finding / could not 40 80. my nes'
resources seemed TO Doe 70 MAKE d" ~
tempt O. get out of he river
THE Pilots.
The piiof. am experienced and appa-
rently intelligent man. sara we tu' W.
4 ..N.N
! ! 10 TO Marcus Hook ana ne up al ui'
ice piers. and thus be- ready Z" go OF
faVOrahl tide on down the river i''lis
convinced that 10 was my pest coul s.
| determined 10 e.. having previously cali
| ed 90 second pilot from one OF 'he lut-
boats to keep the ranges win MN, ncihR
DESTROYS 10 use every sdl'suaIu uiat
| could Doe suggested. the snip sltAiheu
readily through the Ice ana hahuich per
| foctly.
Il was about 10 congratulate myself
upon the success If the whole movement
/ when she struck while passing schooner
/ Ledge. and while she " as on inc range
/ of the best water and having the assur-
ancc = ouch from the pilot, the navlgat-
/ Ing officer. Lieutenant McCrea and my
! self also keeping the range.
/ THE kOlNDlNHr
"The grounding of the ship was most
/ pcrccptibly felt and appeared Ike pass
ing over loose stones. IL was soon re-
/ ported 10 me that the double bottom
/ compartments under the hre rooms anu
/ the forward engine room were fun on
water. leaking through the manhole
plates and rivets in some places INTO 'nr
! bilges and forward magazine. which nave
/ been readily pumped OUT ana kept li'.'
This was Il most dcpiorable accident
/ and one that has fallen Ike "a pan ulou
/ officers and crew. thoroughly interested
/ in the ship. her welfare ana her career.
/ From AN the facts 40 present within my
/ knowledge ] feel that the accident came
/ from no neglect Of precaution or jung
I meut on my part
pilot Wall holds "a regular / pee.
/ States license as pilot, ana insists lntl
/ he got the best range and cannot account
] count for the disaster. and lS entirety
sustained IN this opinion hy Pilot Ben
/ nett.
"Keccnt blasting At his ledge which.
/ / ru.le. starl has been going on may
have left some loose rock not before il
the channel
AT the time Of passing this ledge. inf
/ tide had dropped not moro thdn a lpol
I below high water. as determined by ih'
! water marks on tho stone ice piers. where
we are now moored at Marcus Hook.
This ship Wi'l have 90 return as soon
/ as the river.Ia free az ice and tides per
/ nit. % League Island. dlsO barge all her
weights and go DOB the dock.
II request court of inquiry 10 inves'i-
! gate and report
'''- nr COOK
/ -".u-' ,-..- c.. s.. rr,,-
! '"i'-tN "''
inaH"iilf en-, ,rftt, corr-,tprA
The desired court viii Doe promptly. or
| derel.
.' ''iI'". ~ ,' si.Ili - ,,,,is,,
similar 10 thal "hi.u llJuieu ... 49,
'oiuMnla d. I'D. ,'lV - ~ w. H.
years ago mat naval officers 9e.leNe ' p,
same obstruction caused the damage on
! each instance. me- oI,ill"lA VIZ. "o" p
the river Do May i''i ""l i'". -l''', ~
| gust toHoWiit was .I' U.s. ~ ii."l
] that her bottom plates N"l u''h 49,.
SCARED ana den'ea. ... l'i..n7
/ worm at repairs Do li' i'''-''
! dock. 49,. -.
court or inquiry 'N""' "t'u We va.
GERS a. IL was shown tnal lh'y u-ru 'N -
precaution. ami There is no douut al ins
Navy Department tlii me court N"'oi
VIII inVeslisaie me iiooA'yn WI ~, ",.
! able 90 attach any Dbl i'Nc on INC part Oh
her officers
The latest disaster has again started
the controversy in Che navy over th'
adyisahiitv ~ maintaining the League
Island ward. which repeated accidents
have demonstrated t0 be difficult for
access for heavy ships audSt strong ef-
fort will De- made 90 close the yard ol
49,, - ,I,o.lro tho channel 10 ar
adeouato dopth
c..rntar,. fr.rhcrf f4. accented am Offol
.,.,....,f,. ,.a b. tbo crarns fo-da,
,troiigb Lewis nixon 10 make tho cruiser
| t5r1oi-f,-,, I'd, ,.,-i .s ,..,t. iu the ehOrte-|
49, 81 ..,.t cost
RI -. - .toor,l, concerned f.
3D.. ,~,.f'r' ~ a., VESSEL which is ri
,b,fr own construction and for which