The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-02
Capt. Cook Reports Acct
dent to Brooklyn.
He Declares That il Was Not
in Any Way His Fault.
The Cramps Make Generous Offer
TO Repair the Cruiser.

/
port of the grounding OF the Brooxly,
, on Schooner ledge. in the Delawar
river. has been received by Secretar,
Herbert from Captain Cook, the com
mander OF the vessel. 1t reads az fol
lows:
L. ;. S. Brooklyn. Marcus Hook, Della.
ware county. jan 80, 1887
Sir-Ihe Brooklyn anchored of
League island, was dangerously beset
by ice / had been quite anxious lest
the ship be carried ashore by foes that
were getting heavier ard heavier
| Upon receiving the throttle valve cham
Der on board yesterday noon, / deter
mined IL was best 10 put the ship in a
safer position If one could be found. |
learned. upon consultation with Captain
sargent of Cramps shipyard, that a
saie berth could be had at that yard.
decided at once to recommend to Com
modorc Howell that the ship. with her
| own engines, and assisted by tugs
should go 10 Cramps as soon as possible
| Commodore Howell approved OF my
| recommendation.
Three tugs arrived near the ship be-
tween s and 10I a. ~ The fourth tug
| was wedged in the ice at the Horse
| shoe, and did not arrive until we
| reached Marcus Hook. The ice boat No.
] broke the thicker icaaround the ship,
| where we had been Nsedged since the
! flood tide of the night before. heading
down stream. / weighed anchor and.
| with our own engines and the assistance
| or the tugs in breaking the ice tried in
vain TO turn the ship. Finding l could
| not do so. my best resource seemed TO
be to make an attempt To get out OF the
river. The pilot. an experienced and an
pnrently intelligent man, said the tide
was favorable, and he advised strongly
that i go 10 Marcus Hook and tie up at
the Ice piers. and thus be ready To go on
a favorable tide, on down the river. Be-
ing convinced that IL was my best
course, / determined to go. having pre
viously called a second pilot from one
or the tugs TO keep the ranges with him.
bolng deslrous TO use every safeguard
that could be suggested. This shin
steamed readily through the ice and
handled perfectly. | was about 10 con-
graduate myself upon the success Of
the whole movement when she struck.
while passing Schooner ledge" and
Whlle she was on the range of the best
water. ard having the assurance of such
rom 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 pass-
ing over loose stones. Ii was soon re-
ported TO me that the double bottom
compartments under the firerooms and
the Forward engineroom were full of wa |
ter, 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.
rms is most dcplorab BILE accident |
and one that has fallen like n pnli upon
officers and crew thoroughly interested
In the ships welfare and her career.
rom All the facts at present within
my knowledge, feel that the accident
came from no neglect of precaution OF
Judgment on my part
Pllot wall holds regular license as
pilot, and insists that he had got tho
pest range, and cannot account for the
ilsaster' ana ~ entirely sustained in this
opinion by Pilot Bennetk Recent
blasting at this ledge, which, I under-
stand, has been going on. may have left
ome loose rock not before in the chan
lel
AT the time Of passing this ledge. the
lde had dropped not more than one foot
'eiow nigh water. as determined nv the
vatermarks on the stone ice piers
Shere we are now moored at Marcus
look
This ship Will have to return. as soon
$ The river is free OF ice and tides per-
lit 70 League island discharge all her
'eights and so on q dock. I
l request court c. inquiry to fnves-
gate and report
Very respectfully. q
I. a. COOK, Captain, IT, S. N, Command I
ing. Il
The captains request for a court of
iquiry has been granted 1t is believed
the navy department that the acci-
ent was unavoidable, under the adj -
arse conditions surrounding the Brook
ms movements. but Captain Cooks
cord VIII stand better after such
'urt OF inquiry has formally made such
declaration.
secretary Herbert has taken steps to =,
I'VE the Brooklyn removed at once :.
ON the somewhat dangerous position :
e now occupies in the Delaware river "
mind the Ice piers at Marcus Hook and !.
oroughly repaired. Lewis Nixon. rem ;,
senting the Cramps called to see the "
'rctary. lie explained that the firm
.turaly felt an interest I'm the mag .
hcent ship, and. therefore. had in -
'ucted him 10 offer Go repair the ship ~
IN ali possible speed at the actual cost -
the material and labor necessary. The ~
,retary gladly accepted the offer. and =,
'rk on the ship will begin at once. :
: Nixon SAYS that the indications are ~
at TIE bottom OF the big cruiser is "
IN dented or shoared OF the rivet -
'ds for distance of about 125 feet. ", ~
q that about two weeks work will be a.
iuired to repair her. ee
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