The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-01
NEW CRUISER BROOKLYN SHOWS
GREAT FACILITY FOR GET
TING INTO TROUBLE.
WENT ONTO THE ROCKS,
BARELY ESCAPING GOING TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE DELA-
WARE.
EssEL In GREAT PERIL,
seriously Damaged and Hemmed in
by Gathering Masses OF
Ice.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan. 31.-The
United States cruiser Brooklyn TODAY
lies almost utterly helpless because Of
a narrow ledge Of sunken rock in the
Delaware river above Marcus Hook.
on which she struck heavily YESTERDAY
afternoon. Her lower double compart-
ments forward were completely stove
In, and it 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
successfully withstood the shock. AS it
was, she was pulled clear Of the rocks
and is now tied to the Dig stone ice
breakers at Marcus Hook, protected
from the heavy ice gorges in mid river.
The big vessel is seriously damaged.
How the accident occurred can only be
established by court of inquiry, and
this Capt. Cook, of the Brooklyn. has
already asked for. What makes the
accident even more deplorable is the
TACT that this was the first time the
snip has been handled by the present
ohcers and crew since going into COM
mission in the early part Of December.
All arrangements had seen completed
Tor her going to sea, when the cold snap
set in and was followed by the piling
up OF ice In the river, until the Brook
lyn was hemmed in tight and fast. The
position of the big boat was considered
to be perilous and that if she was not
soon moved the heavy sirging ice
would force her ashore Then it was
decided to take her to Cramps yester-
day, where a safer berth had been pro-
vided for her. After one Of the city
ice boats had broken a passage around
the cruiser, and four big tugs stood bv
ready to lend a hand to tow her to her
destination, the Brooklyn, under her
own steam, got under way and kept
straight on down the river, the ice
boat breaking way for her and two
OF the tugs following in her wake. The
Two pilots, Captains Walls and Ben
nett, two Of the most careful and ex-
perienced men on the river, were on
the cruiser and she made her. way cas-
lily enough through the masses Of float
ing ice. She had reached opposite and
close to the schooners' edge of the
channel when the pilots sent her IEght4
ly to starboard, where they considered
1t better water. Almost instantly the
vessel
STRUCK THE ROCKS
with jar that shook her from stem to
stern. For a moment all was confu-
sion, but for a moment only. The en-
g1nes responded beautifully and She
was quickly backed off. A hasty ex-
animation, followed by a closer one.
showed, as the quick settling Of her
prov had indicated, that damage had
resulted. While the inner compart-
n1ents We're but slightly if at ali in
1ured, the bulk of the harm had been
done 10 the outer compartments. di-
rectly under the engine and fire rooms.
The city Ice boat and the tugs then
tCWed her to Marcus Hook. where she
was made fast to the ice breakers.
When an Associated Press represen-
tative boarded her, the cruisers bow ha.1
settled over a, foot in the river Moth
ing else seemed out Of order On board.
however, a general feeling of gloom
pervaded the officers and men. and
although none could be prevailed upon
to talk about the matter, it is evident
that they felt deeply the accident to
their ship. Capt. Cook contented HIM
self by saying that he had notified the
navy department and had asked for
".
1t was evident from the heavy ice in
the river that the Brooklyn cannot be
moved from her present anchorage till
a general thaW has set in, and only
when she is dOcked can the actual ex-
tent Of the damage become known.
The accident, in the opinion of those
who claim to know, shows the impor-
tance OF the government taking some
action to bring the navy yard up to the
standard of excellence it deserves.
If this had been done in the particu-
lar Of better docking facilities the
Brooklyn would not have been COM
PEELED to leave the yard at all And it
is also suggested that some steps be
taken to afford a deeper and wider
channel for such heavy draught ves-
sells in what is admitted to be one Of
the finest waterways in the country
1t cannot be said with justice that
any one was responsible for the acci-
dent. Two Of the best pilots on the
river conducted the big ship down
the river and dictated it's course. The
grounding Of the vessel was a great
surprise to them, for both believed
there was plenty Of water and they
were not close to the ledge
The only one received aboard the
ship except the Associated Press
reporter was Capt. Sargent, of Cramps,
who had walked across the ice at
great peru 10 MS lie.
In his thirty y-seven years as g sail
or, this is the first time Capt Cook has
met with an accident. The Brooklyn
is the latest and most modern pattern
Of an armored cruiser in the navy,
and was launched at Cramps ship
yard on Oct q She is the only ves-
sci In the navy having a complete
electrical apparatus for moving her
turrets. Her cost, exclusive Of arma-
ment, was $2,9S6000 Her battery con-
sists Of eight eight-inch breech-loading
rifles of thirty-five caliber, twelve five
inch breech-loadfng rifles Of the rapid
fire type, twelve six-pounder rapid fire
guns, four one-pounder rapid fire
guns and four machine guns.
HERBERT NOTIFIED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. S1.-Secretary
Herbert was informed Of the accident
to the Brooklyn in the following dis
patch from Capt. Cook: Left League
island on account of the ice jam.
Struck on Schooner Ledge Double bot
tom compartment under the engine and
fire rooms full Of water Leak in bilge,
but kept clear by pumps. Safely
mcored to Ice pier"
The Alliance Relieved.
WASHINGTON Jan. 31-Word has reached