Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-02
STRUCK A HIDDEN ROCK
The Brooklyn While Attempting
to Escape the Ice
MET WITH AN ACCIDENT
Which viii Necessitate Her Going in the Dock
- For Extensive Repairs.
S-Accident Was Similar to That Encoun-
tered By the Delaware, Another of
Uncle Sans War Vessels Bids
Made for Repair Work.

Washington, Feb. 1.-Secretary Herbert
has made arrangements to go to Charles
ton on the 18th inst, and spend two days
while Admiral Bunces fleet is blockading
that port. Secretary Herbert has re-
ceived the following report from Capt.
Cooke:
~. s. s. Brooklyn, Marcus Hook,
Delaware County, Pa, Jan. 30, 1897
Dear Sir: The Brooklyn anchored off
League Island, and was dangerously be-
set by ice. had been quite anxious lest
the ship be carried ashore by foes that
were getting heavier and heavier. Upon
discovering the throttle valve chamber
to be out of order yesterday at noon 1
determined it was best to put the ship in
a safer position, If one could be found.
l learned upon consultation with Capt.
Sargent. of Cramps ship yard, that
safe berth could be had at that yard.
l decided at once to Recommend to Conn
modore Howell that the ship with her
engines and assisted by tugs should go to
Cramps as soon as possible. Commo-
dore Howell approved OF my recon-
mendation.
II made arrangements with the rugs
and pilots of the Red Star line to take
me through the ice to Cramps yard and
moor me there today Also sent for the
Philadelphia city dee boat No. l, to break
the ice around the ship and in the chan
mel and through the horseshoe.
"Three tugs arrived near the ship be-
tween 10 and IL a. m. The fourth tug
was wedged in the ice at the horseshoe
and did not arrive until we reached Mar
Gus Hook The ice boat No. l broke the
thicker ice around the ship, where we
had been wedged since the flood tide
of the night before, heading down stream.
/ weighed anchor and with our own en-
gineer and the assistance of the tugs in
breaking the ice tried in vain to turn the
ship. Finding could not 90 SO, my pest s
resource seemed to be to attempt to gec
out of the river. The pilot, an expert
enced and apparently intelligent man,
said the tide was Favorable. and he ad-
vised strongly that I go to- Marcus HOOK
and tie up at the ice piers, and thus pc
ready to go on favorable tide on down
the river.
"On being convinced that was my best
course, I determined to go. taking
second pilot to take the ranges, desir-
ing to use every safeguard that could
be secured The ship steamed reaoily
through the ice and handled perfectly.
l was about to congratulate myself upon
the success of the whole movement, she
struck while passing Schooner Ledge,
and while she was on the range OF the
best water.
II had the assurance from the navi-
eating officer Lieut.. McCrea, and myself
also kept the range.
1.-THE grounding of the ship was imper-
ceptibly felt and appeared like passing
over loose stones. 1t was soon reported
that the double bottom compartments
under the fire rooms and the forward en-
gine rooms were full OF water, leaking
through the manhole plates and rivets
in some places into the bilges and for
ward magazine which have been readily
pumped out and kept free.
This is most deplorable ACCIDENT.
and one that has fallen like a pal upon
the officers and crew thoroughly inter-
ested in the ship, her welfare and her
cargo. From all the facts at present
within my knowledge, feel that the ac-
cident came from no neglect OF precau-
ton or 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 ac-
count for the disaster, and is entirely
sustained in this opinion by Pilot Ben
nett. Recent blastings at this ledge,
which 1 understand has been going on,
may have left some loose rock not be-
fore in the channel
AT the time of passing this ledge, the
tide had dropped not more than one foot
below high water, as determined by the
watermarks on 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 will
permit to League Island, discharge all
81 request court of inquiry TO inves-
tigate and report.
Very respectfully,
"F A. COOK,
Captain United States Navy Command
Ing"
The desired court will be promptly or
dered.
The accident to the Brooklyn is so SINH
lar to that which injured the Columbia
in the Delaware river three years ago
&tot ,a1 off hn1t hn oy,no nh
struction caused the damage in each in
stance The Columbia went down the
river in May, 1894, but not until August
following was the discovery made that
her bottom plates had been badly Scared
and dented, necessitating $4,000 worth OF
repairs in the League Island dock. A
court of inquiry exonerated the officers.
as it was shown that they used every
precaution, and there is no doubt at the
navy department that the court which
will investigate the Brooklyn's misfor-
tune will be unable to attach any blame
upon Capt. Cook and his officials.
Lewis Nixon reached the navy depart
ment this afternoon with an offer from
the Cramps to make good the damage to
the Brooklyn at the League Island yard
as soon as the vessel can be docked there
under the same terms that the Columbia
was repaired by them at the same place.
The latest disaster has again started the
controversy in the navy over the advisa-
bility of maintaining the League Island
yard, which repeated accidents have
demonstrated to be difficult of access for
heavy ships and strong effort will be
made to close the yard or have congress
dredge the channel to an adequate DEPTH.
NEEDS A NEW CAPITOL.
Jackson, Miss, Feb. 1.-The demand
for a new capitol building broke out
afresh today, when 1t was known that the
rains of yesterday had simply deluged
the several rooms of the present struct-
ure. The floors and carpets were all wet
and ten foot sections of plastering had
fallen in every direction. The roof Is so