Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-01
BROOKLYN DAMAGED
Tho Great BattleShlp Rendered
Utterly Helpless,
SHE STRUCK ON A HIDDEN ROCK.
story OF the Ace den, 7 hat Night Kaye
Resulted in Disaster 10
the yotsel.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan. 8l.-rhe
United States steamer Brooklyn, the
latest pride OF n peerless navy, calcu-
lated to withstand the fietcest on
slaughts Of shot and shell, today lies
almost utterly helpless becSuie Of
narrow ledge OF sunken rock In the
Delaware river, above Marcus HoDk,
Pa, on which she struck heavily yes
terday afternoon. Her lower double
COMPARTMENTS, forward, were closely
stove In, and it was only by the nierest
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. AZ 1t wac, she WAS pulled
clear Of the rocks and is now tied to
the big stone ice-bTeakers ut Marcus
Hook, protected from the heavy Ice
gOrges Ia mid river.
The big vessel is seriously damaged,
anu 1t Is impossible to aay when she
will DO able to 10 into active service.
AT prosen! sne 10 IN no danger Of fur
tner damage, being fully protected In
the safe anchorage afforded by the Ice
btesketp.
How the accident occurred can only
be established by court of Inquiry,
aud this Captain Cock OF the Brooklyn
has already asked for.
Tho exact place where the vessel
struck was on Schooner Ledge rock,
between Chester anu Marcus Hook, at
about l:45 O'Clock.
What makes the accident even more
deplorable is the fact that this was the
first time the ship had been handled
by the present officers anu crew since
going into commission in the early
part of December.
Since then she had been lying ct
League Island navy yard, and certain
small repairs had delayed her sailing.
by the early part OF the present month,
however, all arrangements had been
completed for her going TO eea, when
the cold snap set in and was allowed
by the piliDg upoi Ice in the river,anu
particularly at the bend 10 the river,
Immediately below the navy yard,
known AS tue horseshoe.
The city Ice boat managed to keep
the channel clear of ice, but on The
tides 1t piled up from two TO six ieet.
The Brooklyu, lying at League
Island with her Prov facing soawsrd,
was held in tight ana fast by the ireez.
ing weather, anu IL was deemed aavis-
able to postpone saihng until a clear.
ing sea. This did not come, and the
cold weather continued aud the ice be.
gan piling until IL was believed the
position OF the big boat was perilous.
Tins Ice was surgIn. around and about
her, and her oificers T.it she must be
moved or the heavy foes would furce
ner ashore. II was evident by the
Juggling at the anchor chains that
safer berth should be- given her, and 60
II was decided to take her to Cramp's
yard yesterday, where one bad been
provided for her.
One OF the city ice.boats was brought
Into requisition anu broke the Ice
around the ship, while four big tugs
stood by ready TO lend hand to tow
her to her destination. At the last
moment 1t was seen that 10 10 through
tue ice In the horseshoe was fraught
with great difficulty and perhaps dan-
ger. Then 1t was that Capt. Cook
asked the pilots, Cspts. Wall and Ben
nett, two 1.-THE most careful and sx-
periencod men on the river, II the chip
could be taken down the river. They
replied in the affirmative and said that