The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-20
Caused by Inequality of Support by the
Keel Blocks.
British Officers Say 1t is Com
mon Occurrence With Modern
Ships-Neither the Speed nor
Efficiency of the Ship I'm
paired in the Slightest Degree,
Nor Has the Big Gun Sustained
Amy Injury.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-Acting
Secretary Roosevelt in answer to re-
Gently published reports that the bat
tleship Indiana was injured While IN
the Halifax drydock has made pubic
the following report received from cap
tain Henry Taylor, commanding the
vessel, made shortly after the docking:
Il respectfully report that the In
diana gOt under way yesterday morn
ing at 6:15 and proceeded up the har-
Dor to the Halifax craving dock ana
entered the slip at noon. | ordered an
inspection of the double bottom in or
der to determine the strain as the
blocks took the weight. The dock was
dry and no evidence of strain was dis
covered At 5:15 it was observed that
some buckling had occurred in the
double bottoms under the forward thir-
teen-inch turret and adjacent thereto.
The additional snoring which was being
placed in position was placed forward,
and the double bottoms watched closely
to discover if this buckling increased.
Careful measurement was made for
this purpose under the direction of Ma
val Constructor Bowles and continued
during the night. No increase being
discovered, I decided, after consulta-
ton with Mr. Bowles, that it was not
necessary to let water in to float the
ship
The principal reason assigned for
the strain is the fact that some of the
keel blocks are upon rock foundation
and others are not thus causing
sIieht ineouality of support. Mr.
Bowles informs me that he does not
hpinor
necessary on account of the buckling.
The buckling is confined to the floor
space adjacent to the vertical keel.
The maximum of twelve occurs at
frame %. decreasing forward to frame
-, where it ceases, and aft of frame
%. where it ceases again, three of the
frames abaft of frame % showing very
Slight defect"
In connection with the report Mr..
Roosevelt states that the slight buck
ling OF the Indiana's bottom was OF no
consequence, as was indicated by the
fact that the ship took her place in
the squadron Immediately after leav-
ing dock and Unanswered as sausfac-
torily as could be desired.
Mr. Roosevelt has just received this
letter from an officer: Il have just
been on board the Indiana and asked
about the reports that she was dam
aged at Halifax. When the Columbia
was locked about Hampton and cry
was raised, British naval officers not
only laughed at it, but thought her
Captain badly treated because of the
inquiry made and called what happened
to the Columbia a common occurrence
with them. And they said to me-
When you have had the experience
of docking more modern vessels, you
will ind the same condition of affairs.
AS for the Indiana, no strain of any
kind is observed and neither the speed
nor efficiency of the ship has been af-
fected in the slightest degree. In the
same way about the great gun. [ find
that what has happened is merely
what the Bureau of Ordnance has been
anticipating-a slight hitting due to
the character and quantity of explosive
used and the gun has not been in
jured in the slightest degree