New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-11
ACCIDENT TO A WARSHTP,
THE MASSACHUSETTS DAMAGED on OR
NEAR DIAMOND REEF

PLATES SMASHED so THAT WATER POURED IN
RAPIDLY-TUGs HAD TO HELP HER BACK
TO THE NAVY YARD-PILoT SAYS
SHE WENT AGROUND IN
LOW TIDE.
The battle-ship Massachusetts. while going
from the Navy fard yesterday to Tompkns-
vile. Staten Island struck some obstacle on or
the Diamond Reef. which projects north
ward from Governors Island. and had some OF
her bottom plates smashed or twisted that
five Of the air-tight compartments In her hull
filled with water James A. Bell who Is off,
cially known as Master Of Tugs Of the Navy
Yard. and has been in the employ - the Cow
ernment for many years pilot was steer
ing the Massachusetts. He asserts that he fol-
lowed the course through which II has been the
practice % years 10 take Uncle Sans ships
The reason for the accident. he says was the
unusually low tide He asserted positively that
the ship did not strike the Diamond Reef II IS
the belief Of others however. that the vessel did
run against projecting spur Of the reef. and
only an official inquiry viii show whether the
pilot At fault or not.
The Massachusetts was starting on her way to
Hampton Roads she left the Navy Yard at
IL a. III, DONFG lfFiNlt.!al@iN IOf NVlIAlIStllit
Near the Diamond Reef She came TO a sudden
stop. making a grating sound Il known
at once that the ship had uck some object on
the port side not far from the bow Water
poured into five compartments near the bow.
showing that several plates must have been
damaged. The men set at work at once on the
pumps, and the engines We're stopped BY order
Of Captain Nicon Ludlow Governors Island was
si0N9l'c6 p x.f a nh be
Yard for three tugs. II was feared at first that
the ship was in danger Of sinking. so rapidly
was the water pouring In.
HELPED BY THE WAMPATUCK
The accident happened at II 80 a. m. and It
soon after that that Rear Admiral Bunce
at the Navy Yard received the telegram asking
for assistance and he at once sent the tug
Wampatuck 10 the relief. But meanwhile Cap
tain Ludlow had ascertained that the Massa-
chusetts was not aground. and started for Tomp-
knsville. When he arrived there. however. he
became somewhat alarmed. because the vessel
was listing 10 port and was down ~ the head
He at once turned around and started for the
Navy Yard. The Wampatuck met the Massa-
chuFetts and accompanied her past the Bridge
when she tied up 10 her They arrived on the
Navy Yard basin at o'clock. but drifted past
the ods'h' Inc OH, ''s D" ''r S''u
when they saw the apparent failure Of the
Massachusetts, TO get into the basin. As mat
ter Of fact. sh, dr.ftei past because of the
strength OF the rising noe. hear-A''l'Id' '"'i0V
at once sent the Nina and the Narkeeta to her
,.. "a -. On ,,oio.,, ,be,. and the o.ba~
tug succeeded In getting the oa,tle-ship into the
ward. and she was tied I'D az her former moor
ings. at Main-st.
r. ,,.ssoot,,,e.., ,,as ,ovr IN the water be-
i"' = -
cause she was proNlsioheA I'I l"'s Wy "-7'
T4sr nro,v was sunk so that nearly a foot Of tNe
r.a ,a,,t tho, usual,v reaches barely 10 the
' Pi,"' - - e,,e s,so
water Hhe c'u+u "e see" a"0'V ""'-' '
leaned percepihly 10 port All OF the navy
Yard people showed strong dlsinclinaton TO
disoues the accfder. EXCEPT Mr. Bell the pilot
..,r. III "a 90. ni, diamond paaf" Mr.
Reu said hut touched the bottom or inc chan-
nj 7, wae avoctlv the same channel through
~ , -,, s.,.ora. ,c.eks ago
which TOOK 'hr '''-''-
when she started foI Mania. ne oregon N'rN
,vyArtv-seyen feet. while the Massachusetts
J., .-... to e.. a,1 two inches Il
-'e" "i-' ,,, m -,,,l7 b.va
We hai mr. on l-diH'''' nv go V,
been there yet We returned 10 the Navy iai'
,.itbi, efteen feet of the same spot struck
49,, ,,,- o,,,o.arl Journey but meantime the tide
.r, ,...,, ~ NOR. water The rea-
.o, ,,. Massachusetts, touched bottom IS that
the tide +. unusually low. Il was four feet
lower to-day than the urual low TIDE ao'oi''''s
TO the ->a'g 80 i@Iu s.,s.- =, talk 10 reporters
and So did Rear-Aduiral Burce The latter sald
tba+ he had sent his report 70 Washington. ana
could not give out any Information.
Naval Constructor Hi went a"'atu 'I7
Massachusetts, al once q MAKE a suleil4c ~
animation He searched the bow % sec NAil
the damage was huf refused 10 say Wnrthel 'r
NOT he had ascertained The exact nature oi the
trouble II was learned however. mat there
vas fur feet Of water in each - the i've com
partments The pumps were kept "orking' ou'
il was said thar no in.f So,I @ az o. irt6 drv
~ -nr9i,,c, 10 . is The only one that viii
hold her and the Newark is now In that Ine
Newark will come OUT t'-in.,Iy" "' ..s','j
ana me NaS0a, '.D'.l' ,,t,,ra ~ her injuries
al once ana 'le e"'''
a. ,'i. " ,,,s,,,s ,a, against the Diamond
II 'ir ~" . w. ~ c,sr ,-lssal Injured on