The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-12
HER BOTTOM STOVE IN
The Battleship Massach usetts
Meets With a Serious
Accident.

New York, Dec. 1.-THE battleship
Massachusetts, less than an hour out
of her berth in the Brooklyn navy yard
and barely started on a trip to Hamp
ton Roads, struck an obstruction off
Governors Island and is now back at
the navy yard, with her bottom stove
in and three compartments filled with
water
Believing at first that the damage
was light, her commander took her down
the bay to anchorage off Tompkinville.
1t was found necessary then to return
to the navy yard. The pumps We're
kept going at the time, but the ship
reached the yard with a decided list to
port and down by the head enough to
show q glimmer of red paint under the
water line aft.
The Massachusetts was ordered a few
days ago to proceed to Hampton Roads.
Every bunker was crammed with coal,
and she carried a heavy load of stores
and provisions. when she swung out
from her berth, headed down the East
river.
Capt. Nicoll Ludlow was in command,
with Lieutenant Commander Schroeder
as executive officer, and Lieut.. Potts S
navigator. James A. Bell. a government
pilot, who has many times taken the
great steel ships of the navy in and
out of the harbOr, directed the move
ments of the helmsmen.
Under the shadow of the bridge and
through the busy waters off the bat
terry, the massachusetts moved SLOWLY,
saluted by river craft and admired by
seamen and landsmen. 1t was intend
ed to come to anchor off TOmkinsville,
and the battleship was headed straight
for that point. There is good channel
on the harbOr side of Governors Island,
but it is fianked by Diamond Reef an
ugly obstruction that pushes it's ragged,
rocky edge towards the keels that draw
past.
Near the point of this reef the Mas
sachusetts. moving slowly, suddenly
stopped, with a slight shock. hesitated,
and then slid shiveringly over some OBJ
struction and drifted on. The engines
were stopped in an instant, bells clang-
ed throughout the ship and the officers,
schooled by long training, took their sta
lions promptly.
So far as could be ascertained, only
trihing damage had been done. Men
sent to investigate reported that water
was filing the forward compartments
on the port side. The pumps We're set
to work and signals made to attract at
tentiOn on Governors Island. When
this was gained a request was signalled
to notify Rear Admiral Bunce, COM
mandant of the navy yard, to send
tug to Tomkinsville.
Under half steam the Massachusetts
then proceeded to the Staten Island an
chorage. The big tug, WOmpatuck,
which, during the war, was one of the
auxiliary gunbOatS in Cuban waters,
fastened to TOmpxinsville. 1t had been
decided then that the battleship must
not attempt sea voyage, and she
started Dack Tor the navy YARD, the
pumps going all the way. The Wompa-
tuck lowered sympathetically near her
big gray sister.
BY the time the battleship trailed up
the river to the mouth of the WalIa bout
Basin, she showed list to port of no
ticeable proportions, and was also
sunken at the bow. This was about
four hours and a half after the acct
dent. Many of the officers stationed at
the navy yard were gathered on the
pier heads to watch her.
Probably on account of her list, the
great ship appeared to steer badly. The
tide was racing upstream and she was
carried several hundred feet past the
entrance to the basin. Some of the Of
ficers ashore expressed fear that she
was sinking.
The Government tugs Nina and Mar
WOmpatuck. which was putting fercely
in valiant effort to swing the 12,000-
ton battleship around. Lines were soon
made fast and the three vessels, after
half an hours hard work, warped the
Massachusetts into the basin.
Captain Ludlow walked ashore at
once and hurried with his report to
Rear Admiral Bunce- He refused to
say a word, except to his superior Of
ficer Admiral Bunce referred in
quirers to the Secretary of the Navy,
to whom a report was telegraphed.
Bell, the pilot, blamed the accident on
the low water in the channel.
As soon as the ship was made fast
to the pier, Naval Constructor Hill went
aboard and made an examination from
the inside.
Three compartments were flooded.
Some of the sailors said it was feared
at first that the vessel would sink
AS soon as possible the Massac husettS
will be dry-docked and repaired. Mean
while a court of inquiry will be ordered.