The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-01
The Armorsd Cruiser Brooklyn Lies
Helpless in the Delaware.
SMASHED AGAINST A REEF
While Heading for Safe Anchorage
From an Immense Ice Fioe
She Strikes a Rock-Dam-
age Not Great.

'e'is Heipiess btcause Of narrow ledge
OF rock I'm the Delaware river. above
Marcus Hook. Pennsylvania. on which
she struck heavily yesterday after
noon. Her lower double compartments
forward, were stove in, and Il was
only by the merest good fortune that
the big vessel did not sink. This would
undoubtedly have been the result had
not her inner compartments success
fully withstood the shock. As il was,
she was pulled clear of the rocks and
Is now tied to the big stone ice break
ers at Marcus Hook. protected from
the heavy Ice gorges in mid-river.
The big vessel is seriously damaged.
and 1t Is impossible TO say when she
viii be able TO go into active service.
AT present she Is in no danger of fur
ther damage. being fully protected in
the safe anchorage afforded by the ice
breakers. How the accident occurred
can only he established by n court Of
inquiry. and this Cantain Cook of the
Brooklyn has already asked for. The
exact place where the vessel struck was
on schooner Ledge rock. between Ches-
ter and Marcus Hook. at about las
O'Clock. What makes the act even
more deplorable Is The fact that this
was the first time the ship had been
handled by the present officers and
crew since going into commission in
the early part OF December.
Since then she had been lying at
League Island navy yard and certain
small repairs had delayed her sailing.
lSy the early part Of the present month
however, all arrangements had been
completed for her going To sea when
the cold snap set In and was followed
by the piling up of Ice In the river and
particularly at the bend In the river.
Immediately below the navy yard,
known as the Horse shoe. The city ice
boat managed to keep the channel clear
OF Ice but on the sides IL piled up from
two to six feet.
The Brooklyn lying at League island
with her nrow facing seaward. was
held In tight and fast by the freezing
weather and II was deemed advisable
to postpone sailing until clearer sea.
This did not come and the cold wealth.
er continued and the ice began piling
until IL was believed the nosition Of
the big boat was perilous. The ice was
surging around and about her and her
officers felt she must ne moved or the
heavy floes would force her ashore. 1t
was evident. by the Juggling at her an
chor chains. that safer berth should
he given her. and so II was decided to
take her to Cramps yard Yesterday.
where one had been provided for her.
One OF the city ice boats was brought
INTO renuisitloh ana broke the ice
around the shin. while four hig tugs
stood bv ready to lend hand to tow
her 10 ner destination Al the last mo-
ment, IL was seen that to go through
the Ice IN the Horse shoe was fraught
Win great dlincuny ana nerhaps dan
ger. Inen " was that CAPTAIN Cook
asked the pilots, Captains wall and
Bennett. TWO of the most careful and
experienced men on the river. IN the
ship could be taken down the river.
They reported IN the affirmative. and
said that safe anchorage could he OBJ
tained at Marcus Hook. The Brooklyn
under her own stear7 rot under way
and kept straight - '7wn the river.
the Ice boat brealsir way for her
and two or the tugs following In her
wake.
Both pilots were on the cruiser. and
she made her way easily enough
through the marshes OF floating ice.
anu i'ioNinb tnf iaiscs flDStlN. sne
had reached opposite and close 10
Schooner Ledge when the pilots sent
her slightly to starboard. where they
considered II better water Almost
instantly the vessel struck the rocks
with jar that shook her from stem to
stern. For n moment all was confu-
sion. but for moment only: the next
moment her cool-headed officers and
men We're at work. The engines re-
sponded beautifully and she was
quickly backed on The quick settling
OF her prov showed that damage had
resulted. A hasty examination fol-
lowed by closer one showed that her
inner compartments were hut slightly
II at all damaged and that the bulk Of
the injury had been done 10 the outer
compartments. directly under the en-
gine and fire rooms.
At first many on board feared that
the splendid shin would sink, but this
fear was soon dsnelled. The CITY ice
boat and the tugs lent hand, passed
the lines to the vessel and towed her
TO Marcus Hook. where she was made
fast to the ice breakers. Here she lay
to-day when an associated press re-
porter boarded her. Her how had SET
tied over a foot in the river. but other
wise nothing seemed out of the ordi-