The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-29
The Brooklyn and Massachusetts
Almost Clash Together,
SAVED BY PERFECT DISCIPLINE.
The Terrible Gale Caused the Flag
ship TO Drag Her Anchor, and on
~ Quick Work Prevented
Collision-TheG Gale Reached
Velocity of Ninety
Miles An Hour.

on BOARD THE FLAGSHIP BROOK
LYN OFF, FORT MONROE, April 2s.-
For thirty-six hours the Flying Squadron
was unable 10 communicate with shore
The storm struck the coast Tuesday
night, came up Hampton Roads ike
fury It whistled at the rate Of ninety
miles an hour through the great super
structure of the flagship Brooklyn and
whipped up the sea 30 that the white
foam broke in huge MASSES over the deck
Of the Massachusetts and the Texas. The
heavy draught 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.
DRAGGED HER ANCHOR.
Toward morning the storm increased In
violence ana as the tide turned the look
out on the forward bridge of the Brook
lyn announced that the ship was dragging
its anchor The officer of the deck ST.
multanoously reported that the Brooklyn
was getting in dangerous proximity 10
the battleship Massachusetts,. Captain
Cook and Executive officer Mason went
10 the bridge Immediately and ordered
the second anchor down. AT this time
the wind was blowing so fiercely the men
could hardly keep gheir feet on deck.
The second anchor ran out about twenty
fathoms OF chain and stuck. the big
shin stopped. and for short time
breasted the wind and tide, but in a few
minutes she began to back slowly and it
was evident that there was no hold for
the anchors. The signal was immedi-
ately given TO prepare TO get under way.
Faster and faster she went back. her
big broadside swinging toward the dan
gerous ram on the PROV of the Massa-
chusotts. The latter was signalled TO pay
out her cable and drop away and she
did So In the meantime on the Brook
lyn the men i'm charge of the forward
compartments went to their stations
closing the water-tight compartments,
and preparing without any outward evil
dence Of excitement for the expected
collision.
PREPARED FOR COLLISION
The Massachusetts cleared away her
big booms and prepared for the collision.
not daring 10 ship anchor for fear Of
running herself on the sand-bar in close
proximity or drifting into che Texas.
Faster and faster went the Brooklyn to-
ward the battleship. and the men az the
stations on both vessels stood unflinch-
lnclv. ready to perform the special duty
was no confusion. on the bridge with
cool heads. sharp eyes and active brains
were Cantain Cook and his executive
officer while on the after bridge. not In
terfering with the management Of the
officers OF the ship. stood Commodore
Schley and his flag lieutenant Sears.
watching with interest but with as little
excitement as they would a praetlce
cruise the big ships coming together.
4 conflict OF orders would have meant
great danger and disaster. but there was
none. An order from the captain and
ono OF the big ancohrs comes rattling
up and the ship drifts on little faster
toward its evident fate. Then in obedi-
ence TO the helm the stern. now almost
scraping Massachusetts, bow. swings out
and Is partly controlled by the anchors.
swinging I'm as II 10 take the blow They
are within few yards OF the huge bat
tioehlp. and all are awaiting the crash.
lcontinued on Second Page)