The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-05-04
SQUADRON IN
FIERCE STORM
Warships at Hampton Roads
Tossed About Like Toys
by Angry Winds.
CRASH SEEMED CERTAIN
The Massachusetts ard Texas Almost
Went Togct,cr-DariuS and Cool
- headed Judgement Ayerted a
Great Disaster.


Fort MONROE, Va. April 2S.-Fur So
hours the flying squadron has been un-
able to communicate with shore. The
storm, which still prevails, making 1t
unsafe to use the steam launches or cut
tiers, ting brought out The mail this
morning.
The storm that struck the coast Tues
day night came up Hampton roads like
a fury. 1t whistieI II the rate Of 30
miles an hour through ;;le great super
structure of the flagship Brooklyn and
whipped up the soa Sc 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 wafer and they had to
stand the brunt OF IL" storm.
Towards morning 1t Increased III vio-
lcnce and as the tide tu-lied flood, the
lookout Oh the forward bridge Of the
BROOKLYN announced thai the snip was
dragging its anchor Tie officer of the
deck simultaneously reported that the
Brooklyn was gcttingin dangerous prox-
unity to the battlcship Massachusetts.
Captain Cook and Executive Officer Ma
son went to the bridge immediately and
ordered the second anchor uuE'n. At
this time the wind was blowing so
tierceiy that mcn could hardly keep
their feet on deck.
l,o cn,o,,1 o,,.j,r,, l,cI,+ 00
favhoms of chain and stack and the big
SHIP stopped and fer a short time
b;easted bravcly the wind and tide.
But in few minutes she began to 90
back slowly and L was evident there
was no hold for the anchors. The sig
nal was immediately given to prepare
to get under way and i'll the meantime
it was hoped that the anchors would
catch and hold.
Faster and faster she went back, her
big broadside swinging towards the dam
gerouS ram on the the proW Of the Mas.
sachusc.tS. The latter was signalled to
pail Qg| her cable and drop away and
she dn. In the meantime. Oh the Brook
lyn, the men in charge OF the forward
compartments are preparing without
the expected collision.
The Massachusetts cleared away her
big bocms and prcp&T";. to,' ,:c collision
not daring TO ship the anr!inr for fear OF
running herself on the sanGmsI III close
proximity or drifting iuto tue Texas.
Faster and faster wcilt the Brooklyn to-
wards the battleShip and the men at the
stations Oh both vessels stood unt'inch-
ingly, ready to perform the special du-
ties assigned them III case o. collision.
There was 10 confusion.
On the decks. with sharp eyes and
active brains, were Captain Cook and
his executive officer. VIII" @n the after
bridge, not interfering with the man
aycnient os the r!Ii"rls uf the ships,
stood Schloy and his fia2 Lieutenant,
Sears, watching with interest. buy with
! as little excitement &; thcC would Il
practice cruise. the big ship; coming to-
get!,cr \ conflict of u;T;cr> would have
meant great dis&>tcT-. b!S there was
! none.
An order from The captain and one o.
the rig anchors COMES rIttling Up anh
the ship drifts Oil Il l!tti2 Easter towards
its evident fate. THEN i'll obedience to
the HELM. the stern Row almost strap
ing the Massachusetts bow, swings ouE
and the head, partly controlled By the
anchor. swings in is though to take the
blow. 1t is Within Il f"w yards Of the
huge batticship and ail are awaiting the
! crash.
| Captain Cook looks over the port side
! of the bridge and says sharply: "Full
speed astcrn.' There Is q clang of
bells. Il shiver as the biz engines turn
and then the cruiser slides rapidly clear
, of the Massachusetts. with barely Il
band to spare. ''C:"verly done" says
! Commodore Schl"y. A. Ec goes down tc
! breakfast.
Clever scainanSAir, perfect discipline
and cooiheadcd Judgment a"crted dis
aster. This ship olcys her engines
perfectly said Captain Cook, mod
! estlv. after lie had anchored further out.