The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-05
CAPTAIN s|GsbEE PRAISED
Warmly Commended for Skillful
Handling of Battleship Maine.
REPORT ON THEPIER ACCIDENT
Quick Judgment of the Ships Of
ficers at Critical Moment Un-
doubtedly Saved Many Lives
Splendid Scanlanship Lauded by
the Secretary of the Navy.

Secretary Long has written letter 10
for the judgment he displayed while
commanding the Maine when she colidt,d
with car float and a pier In the East
River, New York, recently. He has also
caused 10 be issued an extract from the
report of the Ioard Of inquiry which eX
amined into the facts, and which reads as
follows:
TIE Maine, proceeding down East River
on her way from the sound to staten
Island, when just below the navy yard
had On her port bow a tug with two car
floats alongside, and on her startoard
bow the steamer Colorado, not under her
own steam, but towed by the tug ), jew.
EFT, with a tow line ahead. These vessels
and the Name Were on the Brooklyn side
of the river, all steaning the same way.
that is down stream. favored by a strong
ebb current.
At this moment, the steamboat Chancel-
lor, hound up stream, coillded with the
railroad car floats on her port side. They
in recovering, turned toward the New York
side of the river At the same time the
tug Jewett. towing the Steamship Colorado,
also turned toward the New York side, and
tie railroad car floats then collided with
the port quarter of the Colorado, a S she
was turned by the Jewett. Thus the river
ahead of the Maine-being occupied by the
Chancellor, the railroad car floats, the
Colorado, and the jew ett-was closed to
further progress of the Maine, except fox
narrow gap between the Jewett and the
New York piers. The Maine then turned
toward the New York shore, intending to
pass through the gap, but when about
turning her head down stream through the
gap, and while still pointing toward the
New Yori; shore, she perceived the steam
boat isabella coming up stream and about
to pass through this gap.
The Isabella, which was crowded with
eXcursionists, blew two whistles, indi-
eating that she would pass between the
Maine and the New York shore. The colu-
| handing officer of the Maine perceiving
| that he could not pass the Isabella tn
starboard, without certainty OF collision,
blew one whsle, shortly after repeating
this one whistle signal. and to this re-
| ceiving a reply from the Isabella of one
whistle
The M;tine then ported her helm and
continued toward the New York piers until
| danger OF collision with the Isabella was
passed She then W ent full speed astern OH
the starboard engine tthe port engine was
| already backing), and she blew three
whistles to signify TO surrounding vessels
| that she was going astern, but she did not
| gather sternhoard in time to avoid col
| lisloa with the pier.
| The Maine struck a car float lying at
the east side of the pier, and then the
pier itself, doing some damage to both,
but very little to herself. Meantime the
call 10 collision quarters had been sounded,
| and water-tight doors were closed. The
| Maine backed out into the stream and CON
.inued on TO her destination, Tompkins-
| vile. n. Y.
| 1t appears to the board that the situa-
| ton was forced upon the Maine by the
| collisions which occurred between other
| ships ahead OF her and by the confusion re-
sulting therefrom, and that the command
ing officer of the Maine having steeretl
toward the New York side to avoid col
liston with those vessels and there find
ing the Isa bella, crowded with people, COM
ing through the narrow gap which he in
| tended to use, the second phaseof the situa-
ton was also forced upon him, and there
| was lelt Tor MN TO choose DeiWeeu the COZ
lison with the Isabella or with the New
| York pier.
The serious disaster which might have
resulted from collision with the Isabella
aud the comparatively slight injury liable
to occur with the New York piers leaves
no doubt in the minds Of the board that the
Judgment OF the Commanding officer. OF
the Maine was sound and correct and that
he probably avoided serious disaster an,
loss OF life TO the Isabella by taking the
course re did
The testimony shows that good order
and discipline prevailed, and that all OF
ders and signals weresclearly un derstoof
and promptly obeyed.
The damage done to the Maine wa
very slight. TIE necessary repairs cal
be male by Inc ships force, and ART
partly completed already.
1t is stated at the Navy Department
that the accident appears, to have beer
inevitable, and that, therefore, the de
partInent is not sponsibe for the re
sultant damages. the liability for which
If any, should rest urcn the vessel fore
ing the Maine into collision with the dock