The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-02-02
STRUCK UyoHAnrERED ROCKS.
This Theory Probably Explains the Acci-
 dent Which Befel the Brooklyn.

This Theory Probably Explains the Acci-
 dent Which Befel the Brooklyn.
 Washington, Feb. 1.-Secretary Her bert has received an official report from Captain Cook regarding the acci- dent to the warship Brooklyn. In it the captain says that the Brooklyn an- chored off League Island and was dan gerously beset by ice. He had been quite anxious lest the ship be carried ashore by foes that were getting heav- fer and heavier. Upon receiving the throttle valve chamber on board yes terday he determined that it was best to put the ship in a safer position if one could be found. He learned that safe berth could be had at Cramps yard and arranged with the tugs and pilots of the Red Star line to take the vessel through the ice to the yard and moor her there. Philadelphia city ice boat No. 1 was also engaged to break the ice around the ship and in the channel through the Horseshoe"
 The captain says he weighed anchor and with his own engines and the as- slstance of the tugs in breaking the ice tried in vain to turn the ship. Finding that he could not do so, his best re- source seemed to be to make an at tempt to get out of the river. On the advice of the pilot he decided to go to | Marcus Hook and tie up at the ice piers, and thus be- etready to go on fa- ypra b1a tido 5pwy, tba r;yay- r.N,a ch;r | steamed readily through the ice and behaved perfectly.
 T was about to congratulate myself upon the success of the whole move ment," says Captcdn Cook, when she struck while passing Schooner Ledge, and while she was on the range of the best water and having the assurance of such from the pilot, the navigating officer. Lieutenant McCrea, and myself also keeping the range.
 "The grounding of the ship was most perceptibly felt and appeared like passing over loose stones. It was soon reported to me that the double-bottom compartments under the fire rooms and the forward engine room were full of water, leaking through the manhole plates and rivets in some places into the bilges and forward magazine, which have been readily pumped out and kept free.
 From all the facts at present within my knowledge I feel that the accident came from no neglect of precaution or judgment on my part. Pilot Wall holds regular United States license as pilot, and insists that he had get l kae ov,I ot Pnr~ the disaster, and is entirely sustained in this opinion by Pilot Bennett. Re- cent blasting at this ledge, which un- derstand has been going on, may have left some loose rock not before in the | channel"
 1 Captain Cook says that the ship will have to return as soon as the river is free of ice, and tides permit, to League Island, discharge all her weights and go in the dock. In conclusion, he re- quests a court of inquiry to investigate and report.
 The desired court will be promptly ordered.
 Washington, Feb. 1.--Secretary Her bert has accepted an offer promptly made by the Cramps to-day through | Lewis Nixon to make the cruiser Brooklyn as good as new in the short est possible time at actual cost. The Cramps are deSply concerned in the welfare of the vessel which is of their own construction and for which they will not be fully paid until the vessel has had her final inspection at sea several months hence.
 MT. Nixon had visited the ship be- fore hurrying to Washington With the proposition and found that about 125 1 feet of her outer plating on each side of the keel had been bent and torn, ravets being sheared off and steel plates ripped away in many places. He says all necessary tugs and lighters will be alongside the vessel tonight getting out the coal, ammunition and heavy stores to make the ship light enough to pass over the ledgeS on her return trip up the river to the navy yard She will be docked for repairs.
 On account of the river current at the yard a bar has been formed where
 the receiving ship Richmond is an
 chored This is too shallow to let the Brooklyn into the dock in her present condition, but a dredge will be imme- diately put to work to open a channel The iceboats owned by the city of Philadelphia will be utilized to make a
 passage through the ice and no effort will be spared to get the Brooklyn into the dock tomorrow. If absolutely necessary her heavy guns will be taken off. It is estimated that the vessel can be made ready for sea again in about
 two weeks.