River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-03-31

said the forward part Of the ship forward
of the after smokestack had been to all
appearances completely destroyed. The
coming tower lay in position opposite
the door leading to the superstructure ait
and to starboard, inclined al about 10 de-
prces to the vertical with the top of the
coming tower in board. Continuing. he
described with close detail the condition
under the main deck on the port side. The
fixtures were completely wrecked. while
fixtures in the same position on the star
board side were in some cases almost in
tact The port bulkhead between the main
and berth decks at the coming tower sup
port had been blown aft on both sides, but
a great deal more on the port than on the
starboard side. The tireroum hatch imtne-
dtately abaft of the coming tower had been
blown in three directions-aft. to star
hoard and to port The protective deck
under the coming tower supports was bent
in two directions. the plates on the star
board side being bent up and on the lar
board side bent down.
In reply TO an inquiry as to whether
ne meant with reference to their original
positions Ensign Powelson replied aflTma-
lively. The beam supporting the pro-
tective deck a few inches abaft of the ar
mored tube, to port of the midship line,
vas bert up to starboard of the mid
ship line. Just forward Of the coming
tower underneath the deck, two beams
met at right angles; one beam was broken
and pushed from port to starboard.
grating was found on the poop awning
lust forward Of the after searchlight
i piece OF the side plating just ahaft
Of ne starboard turret was visible. This
plate was bent outward and then the for
ward end bent upward ana foided BACK
ward upon itself This plate was sheared
from the rest of the plating below the
water line This plating below the water
line has been pushed out TO starboard.'
The armored gratngs of the engine room
hatch were blown off a composition
strainer was picked up from the bottom
on the starbOard quarter at point about
opposite the poop capstan and about ~
feet from it. The chief engineer thought
the strainer was from the fremen's wash
room. 1t was not strainer in the ships
side.
Near the piece of outside plating to
which witness referred above he said there
were pieces OF red sheilaced plauks. on
these planks was bolted composition
track two inches wide and an inch thick.
Ensign Powelson then asked II the court
meant for him to say anything about what
the divers reported or just what he saw.
The judge advocate replied that he would
like to have him state any important dis
coverfes which might lead the court to
draw some conclusion as to the cause,
and If a diver gave such information to
state the divers name. Before doing 50
the Judge advocate asked witness TO state
III
were in line Ensign POwelson replied
that as far as he could judge they We're
not The end where the explosion &C.
CURED seemed to be pushed from port
to starboard from five to ten degrees, he
should Judge, with the apex 10 the star
board. The divers reported to witness shat
at a point where the ten-inch shell room
should be they discovered ten-tnch shells
regularly arranged, but the ship had sunk
down so much that some OF the shells were
in the mud
Gunner Morgan reported that In walking
on the bottom he fell into hole on the
pert side and went down In the mud. ne
also reported that as far as he could judge
everything seemed to be bent upward tH
the vicinity Of this hole. He also reported
that the plates seemed TO have been pushed
over to the starb0ard and then bent down.
Ensign PoweIson then said that six
irch powder tank that he saw appeared to
be n empty tank broken by the explosion.
as il was not badly dented and merely
ripped the length OF the seam. ten-inch
tank was badly battered out OF any con
ceiyable shape.
Continuing. the witness said the divers
I'D to the night before he was then on the
stand had not been on the outside OF the
ship The mud was too deep for them 70
walk on the bottom.
What is the condition of the starboard
turretTs witness was asked.
ITO my knowledge il has not been found
sir" was the reply.
He understood something had been found
under the place where the turret formerly
was. but its exact character had not been
determined.
Impressions of Ensign Powelson.
What impression is produced upon your
mind by the reports, as far as you nave
quoted them p Ensign Fowelson was asked.
prom reports alone or from the appear
ance Of the wreck?'
Either from such reports or the conul-
lions which you believe to exist"