The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-29
BIG SHIPS in A STORM
VESSELS OF THE FLYING SQUADRON
NARROWLY ESCAPE DISASTER.
Clever Seamanship and Goodness Save
the Brooklyn and massachusetts
from Crashing Together.

ON BOARD FLAGSHIP BROOKLYN,
off Fort Monroe April 2S.-For thirty-six
hours the flying squadron has been unable
to communicate with shore. The storm,
which still prevails, making it unsafe to
use the steam launches tug brought out
the mail this morning. The storm that
struck the coast Tuesday night came up
Hampton Roads like a fury. 1t whistled at
the rate of ninety miles an hour through
the great euperstructure of the flagship
Brooklyn and whipped up the sea so that
the white foam broke in huge masses over
the deck of the Massachusetts and Texas.
The heavy draft Of the big war vessels made
it impossible for them to get into smooth
water and they had to stand the brunt of
the storm. Towards morning it increased
in violence and as the tide turned the look
out on the forward bridge of the Brooklyn
announced that the ship was dragging its
anchor. The officer of the deck simultan-
eously reported that the Brooklyn was get
ting in dangerous proximity to the battle
ship Massachusetts. Captain Cook and Ex-
ecutive officer Mason went to the bridge inn
medately and ordered the second anchor
down. AT this time the wind was blowing
so fiercely that men could hardly keep
their feet on deck. The second anchor ran
OuL dUOuI twenty ldlHOiIS VI Chilli anu
stuck, and the big ship stopped and for
short time breasted bravely the wind and
tide. But in a few minutes she began to
go back slowly and it was evident that there
was no hold for the anchors. The signal
was Immediately given to prepare to get
under way, and in the meantime 1t was
hoped that the anchors would catch and
hold. Faster and faster she went back, her
big broadside swinging towards the danger
Gus ram on the PROV of the Massachusetts.
The latter was signaled to pull out her
cable and drop away and she did so.
In the meantime on the Brooklyn the men
in charge of the forward compartments pre-
pared without any outward evidence of exz
element for the expected collision. The
Massachusetts cleared away her big booms
and prepared for the collision, not daring to
ship the anchor for fear Of running herself
on the sandbar in close proximity or drift
ing into the Texas. Faster and faster went
the Brooklyn towards the battle ship and
the men at the stations on both vessels stood
unfiinchingly, ready to perform the special
duties assigned them in case of collision.
There was no confusion. On the bridge, with
were Captain Cook with his executive Off
Ger, while on the after bridge, not interfer-
ing with the management of the officers Of
the ships, stood Schley and his flag lieu
tenant, Sears, watching with interest but
with as little excitement as they would q
practice cruise, the big ships coming to-
gether A conflict of orders would have
meant great disaster, but there was none.
An order from the captain and one of the
drifted on a little faster towards it's evident
fate. Then in obedience to the helm, the
stern now almost scraping the Massachu-
settss bow, swung out and the head, partly
controlled by the anchor, swung in as If to
take the blow 1t was Witnln q few yards
of the huge battle ship and all were await
ing the crash.
Captain Cook looked over the port side
of the bridge and then said sharply. Full
speed aStern." There was q clang of bells, q
SILVER as the big engines turned and then
the cruiser glided rapidly clear of the Mas
sachusetts with barely a hand to spare
'Cleverly DONE said Commodore Schley
as he went TO breakfast. Clever seamanship
averted a disaster. This ship obeys her
engines perfectly" said Captain Cook mod
estly after he had anchored further out
The storm continued without abatement
all day ana the patrol boats that keep the
harbor closed had a rough nights work.
This morning there was little abatement of
the gale.
Towards afternoon the storm cleared off
and the heavy sea quickly subsidized. Boats
began running from the ships and commune
cation with shore was resumed. The steam
ers of the Boston and Providence line and
of the Old Dominion Steamship Company,
which were detained yesterday evening
left as usual tonight Anxiety is felt as to
a large schooner, three-maSted. disabled by
loss of main topmast, part of foremost and
saving station. which is ninety miles south
of Virginia beach. and twenty miles north
of Cape Hatteras. The schooner, whose
name was not known. was anchored two
miles north of the station. and was thought
to be in danger if the wind continued strong