The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-28
LIKE A FURY. "a
The Storm Swept Down on
Schley's Squadron Nearly
Proving Disastrous.

On Board the Flagship Brooklyn, off
Fort Monroe, Va, April 2S.-For Sc
hours the flying squadron has been I'M
able to communicate with shore The
storm which still prevails making it I'M
safe to use the steam launch, or cut
tiers, tug brought out the mail this
morning.
The storm that struck the coast Tues
day night came up Hampton Roads.
like fury. 1t whistled at the rate of
ninety miles hour through the great
superstructure of the flagship Brooklyn
and whipped up a sea so that the white
foam broke in huge masses over the
decks of the Massachusetts, and the
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 lookout on the for
ward bridge of the Brooklyn announced
that the ship was dragging it's anchor.
The officer of the deck simultaneously
reported that the Brooklyn. was getting
into dangerous proximity to the bat
tleship Massachusetts.
Capt. Cook and executive officer Ma
son went to the bridge Immediately and
ordered the second anchor down. At
this time the wind was blowing so Sc
verely that men could hardly keep their
feet on deck. The second anchor ran
out about 20 fathoms of chain and
stuck and the ship stopped and for
short time breasted bravely the wind
and a tide. But in a few minutes she
began to back slowly and it was evil
dent that there was not hold for the an
chors. The signal was given immedi-
ately to prepare. to get under way and
in the meantime, it was hoped that the
anchor would catch and hold.
Faster and faster she went back her
big broad sides swinging towards the
dangerous ram on the prov of the
Massachusetts. The latter was signal
led to pay out her cable and drop away
and she did so. In the meantime on
the Brooklyn the men in charge of the
forward compartments went to their
stations, closing the water tight COM
partmentS and preparing for the ex-
pected collision.
The Massachusetts cleared away her
big boomS and prepared for the collis-
ion, not daring to ship the anchor for
fear of running herself on the sand
bar in close proximity, or drifting into
the Texas. Faster and faster went the
Brooklyn toward the battleship, and
the men at the stations on both vessels
stood unf1inchingly ready to perform
the special duties assigned them in
case of collision.
There was no confusion on the bridge
where with cool heads, sharp eyes and
active brains, Capt. Cook and his exec
utive officers, stood. On the after
bridge not interfering with the man
agement of the officers of the ship stood
Schley and his flag lieutenant, Sears
watching with interest, but with as lit
tie excitement they would a practice
cruise, the big ships coming together
A conflict of orders would have meant
great disaster but there was none
An order from the captain and one
of the big anchors comes rafting up
and the ship drifts on a little faster
towards its evident fate. Then in obed-
fence to the helm, the stern, now al
most scraping the Massachusetts, bow
swings out, and the head, partly con-
trolled by the anchor, swings as if to
take the blow. 1t is within a few yards
of the huge battleship and all are await
ing the crash. Capt. Cook looks over
the port side of the bridge and then
says sharply: Full speed astern."
There is a clang of bells, a shiver the
big engines turn and the cruiser slides
rapidly clear of the Massachusetts with
barely a hand to spare. "Cleverly
DONE" says Commodore Schley, as he
goes down to breakfast.
Clever seamanship, perfect discipline,
and cOOl-headed judgment had aVerted
a disaster. This ship obeys her en-
gines perfectly" says Capt. Cook mod
estIy, after he had anchored further
out.
ment all day and the patrol boats that
keep the harbor closed had a rough
nights work. This morning there was
little abatement of the gale.