The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-02
D%AMAGETOTHE BROOKLYN.
1DoUT 1928 FEE OF HER OUTER
PLATING BENT AND TORN.

AhOut Two week. Nnth NtfeNnhEY
to Repair Her-Likeiy TO GO Isto Dry
uock To-Day-A Court OF inquiry.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1.-Seoretary Herbert has
accepted an offer promptly made by the Cramps
,,.Iny through Lewis Nixon to make the
cruiser Brooklyn as good as new In the shortest
possiblc time at actual cost. The Cramps are
deeply concerned for the welfare Of the vessel.
Tor which they will not receive full pay until
nh, has had her final inspection at sea several
months hence.
Mfr, nixon had visited the ship before hurry
ING to Washington with the proposition. and
,olnd that about 1875 feet Of her outer plating
an each side OF the keel had been bent and torn.
,,yets being sheared of and steel plates ripped
away IN many places. He said all the necessary
Jugs and lighters would DO alongside the vessel
Tonight, getting out tho coal, ammunition, and
heavy stores. to make the ship light enough to
pass over the lodges on her return trip up the
river to the Navy Yard. where she will be
duckcd for repairs. On account OF the river
current At the yard. a bar has formed where
the receiving ship Richmond Is anchored. This
bar will no. let the Brooklyn into the dock In
her present condition. but q dredge will be put
10 work to open n channel. The Ice boats owned
hy the city OF Philadelphia will DO utilized to
make n passage through the Ice, and no efforts
will be spared TO get the Brooklyn into dock to-
morrow.
II 1t DO absolutely necessary, the heavy guns
will be taken Off the Brooklyn. 1t Is estimated
that the vessel can DO made ready for sea again
IA Rbou: two weeks. Moantimoa court Of In
oulry will be held at the League Island Navy
Yard.
Secretary Herbert has received the following
official report from Capt Cook:
The Brooklyn anchored OF League Island
and was dangerously beset by Ice. l had heen
-, .,,,nVs LAT ,hs shIp n. rarriad nshar~ he
foes that were getting heavier and heavier.
Iron receiving the throttle valve Der on
board yesterday noon | determined 1t was best
10 put the ship In u safer position, II one could
be found. l learned. upon consultation with
Capt. Sargent OF Cramps shipyard, that q
saie berth could be- had At that yard. I decided
At once to to Commodore Howell
that the ship. with her own engines and assisted
by tugs, should go to Cramps as soon rs posi-
bic. Commodore Howell approved Of my recon-
mendatlon. | made arrangements with tho
tugs and pilots OF the Red Star line TO take me
through the Ice to Cramps yard and moor me
there to-day. also with the Philadelphia city ice
boat No. | to break the leo around tho ship and
in the channel through tho Horseshoe
Three tugs arrived near tho ship between
sand 10 A. VI. The fourth tug was wedge In
The ice At tho 'Norseshoc,' and die 10. arrive
until we reached Marcus Hook. Tho Ice
boat No. l broke the thicker Ice around
the ship where We had been wedged since
-. - -.,, -. -,
-
$50 a. hro.,i,s, -. 800 ,n ct, go,
az .h,, rind,ns I could no, do az NV h..,
,".s, - 80. 60 80,
resource seemed TO DO 10 make IN attempt TO get
out OF the river. Tho pilot, an experienced and
apparently Intelligent man, said the tide was
favorable, and ne advised strongly that i go
TO Marcus Hook and tic up At the Ice piers
and Tim, b, ready 10 GO on n favorabl,
nN
Tue on uo"h the i'Ner' beins convinced that
1t was my best course | determined to 70. hav-
mk ple,'ous', y. p"V. y
inc 'uHooe'. Aeep' u ,Ankos y. 'in oe'nH
suggested. This ship steamed readily through
sse' '.'p 800 ,uiV"
the ice and handled perfectly. was about to
congratulate myself upon tho success of the
whole movement when she struck while pass
Ing schooner Ledge ana whiie she was on tho
range OF the best water. and having the assur-
nnce Of such from the pilot. the navigating
otheer' Lieut.. MeCrea' and myself also keeping
the range.
This grounding OF the ship was most per-
sepNoi, ieI" anu AppeAfoa nko psssinx oset
loose stones. 1t was soon reported to Us that
sr.room, and the forward engine room, wsrs
snn anu ,hs ior".sa ens'ne rooms we're
tN' Va aNt ASekAbs u uehhoio
plates and riyets in some places into the bilyes
and ,o,v.,a u.s.,i,. ,,hich h.v. ~ r..su,
A"u " "Asa@iho. nc hA'o oeeh reaouS
pumped out and kept free.
This Is a most deplorablo accident, and one
tina, has ,.lI., ill.,. n.II 80 o~..-. 80
a"'H INV u pAi upoh ouesi' M"
crew thoroughly interested In tho ship. her
welfare, and her career. From all the facts at
present within my knowledge | feel that the
accident came from no neglect Of precAution
or Judgment on my part.
pilot Wall holds a regular United States
license a. pilot, and insists that he had got the
best range and cannot account for the disaster,
and Ia entirely sustained in this opinion by
Pilot Bennett. Recent blasting at this place,
which understand has been going on, may
have left some loose rock not before in the
Al the time OF passing this ledge the tide
had dropped not more than one foot below high
water. ~ determined By the water marks on
the stone Ice piers wher. we are now moored, at
Marcus Hook,
This 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 into
the dock.
Il request a court Of inquiry to investigate
and report"
The desired court will be promptly ordered.