The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-07
SHE IS A GOOD SHIP.
INDIANA PROVES HERSELF ALL
RIGHT IN A STORM.
Capt. Taylor's Detailed Report
Reaches. the Navy Department
New Locking Device Works Well
Inspection Ordered and Another
Report Will Be Made.

Washington, Feb. 6.-Captain Henry C.
Taylor's detailed report upon the per-
Torrance of the battleship Indiana, in
heavy weather off Hatteras, which caused
him to leave Admiral Bunce's squadron
and seek safety in Hampton Roads,
reached the navy department late this
afternoon. 1t appears that the four eight
inch gun turrets, weighing about $50 tons
each, under the strain of the vessel S
rolling, were found to move laterally one
eighth of an inch with the ships motion,
and that the two 1S-inch gun turrets;
weighing about 500 tons each, moved
laterally one-quarter of an inch under the
same influences.
One of the latter turrets when Captain
Fighting Bob Evans took the ship into
q storm last fall, revolved bodily through
a greater portion of area, but in the
breeze of the day before Yesterday they
did not get loose from the extra fasten-
ings that had been applied during the
winters stay at the New York navy
yard.
The infinitely small lateral movement
which the naval officials attribute TO the
necessary flexibility of the vessel, alarmed
the ships officers, who signalled Admiral
Bunce and secured his permission to seek
of the storm encountered off Hatteras.
officials deduce the opinion that the yes
sci exhibited staunchness in remark
able degree and they assert the opinion
as the Indiana and her class is possessed
by any navy.
The navy department has decided to
withhold the official report from publ
cation, but Assistant Secretary McAdoo
gave out the following statement:
THE report of Captain Taylor with
reference to the behavior of the Indiana
has just been received. The officers OF
the ship, as appears from the report,
owing to the former trouble with the
locking devices of the turrets when the
ship was subjected to heavy rolling, were
exceedingly cautious and observant as
to the action of the improved devices put
on at New York. so far as the report
states the new device did not give way
in any part nor develop any permanent
deformity but when the ship rolled rather
heavily in the trough of the sea, there
was slight play in the device observant
the whole movement not exceeding
quarter of an inch. which was confined
almost entirely to the forward 13-inch
turret. 1t is quite probable that had
there not been any unfavorable experience
with the old devices this would not nave
been observed. This very slight move
ment of the turrets was readily checked
by setting up the bolts, which are very
heavy, being four inches IN diameter ana
far in excess of those formerly used.
There was a heavy swell running. IN the
trough of which the ship was thrown,
owing to her course. and captain Iaylor
Informed Admiral Bunce by signal of
the fact that this slight movement OF the
turrets was observant. and that he feared
under continuous rolling it might in
crease and carry away the locking de-
vice.
after some messages had passed be-
tween them, the Indiana was directed TO
return to the Roads. She had no trouble
on the way back. and indeed. 1t IS ce~-
tain that was she free-handed and not
subject to squadron restrictions as to
movements she could navigate in any
kind of sea or weather. So far as the
renort shows the locking mechanism is in
good condition. but Constructor Stahl OF
the Norfolk yard has been ordered TO
insnect the report on the same