The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-20
Hoos1ER wARsHIP NOT INJURED
Damage In Dry Dock at Halifax Was
Nominal.

WASHINGTON, Sept. ia citing
Secretary Roosevelt, as an answer to
the recently published reports that the
battleship Indiana was injured while
in the Halifax dry dock, has made
public the following report received
from Capt. Henry Taylor, commanding
the vessel. made shortly after the dock
ing:
81 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 and
entered the slip at Z. At noon the dock
being half pumped out, [ ordered an
inspection of the double bottom in or
der to detect strain as the blocks took
the weight. The dock was dry at 4
O'clock and no evidence of strain was
discovered. At $50 it was observed
that some buckling had occurred in the
double bottoms under the forward 13-
inch turret and adjacent thereto. The
additional Snoring, which was being
placed in position, was placed forward
and the double bottoms watched close
~ to discover if this buckling increas-
ed. Careful measurement was made
for this purpose under the direction of
Naval Constructor BoWles and con-
tinued during. the night No increase
being discovered, 1 decided after con-
sultation 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 a
slight inequality of support. Mr.. Bow
les Informed me that he does not an
ticipate any present repairs being
necessary on account of the buckling.
The buckling is confined to the floor
space adjacent to the vertical keel. The
maximum of one and half inches oc-
ours at frame twenty-nine, decreasing
forward to frame twenty-five, where
it ceases, and aft to frame thirty-two,
where it ceases again-three frames
abaft from thirty-two showing very
slight detection"
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 shin took her place
in the squadron 'mmedia ely after leav-
ing the dock and maneuVered as salts
factOrily as could be desired. Mr..
Roosevelt has just received this letter
from one of the captains of the squad
ron:
'.I have just been on board the In
diana and asked about the reports that
she was damaged at Halifax. When
the Columbia was docked at Southamp-
ton and the same hue and cry was
raised. British naval officers not only
laughed at it, but thought her captain
hardly treated because of the inquiry
made, and called what happened to the
Columbia a common occurrence with
them They said to me- When you
have had experience of docking more
modern vessels you will find the same
conditions of affairs. AS for the In
diana, no strain of any kind is observ-
ed, and neither the speed nor efficiency
of the ship has been affected in the
slightest degree. In the same way
about the great gun. I find that what
has happened is merely what the bu-
reau of ordnance has been anticipating,
slight pitting due to the character and
quantity of explosive used, and the gun
has not been injured in the slightest
degree