The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-18
STRONG OFFICIAL REPORT.
INSPECTORS COMMENDED THE CEN.
TENNlAL As SEAWORTHYs
"Weil Built In All Resp~ctss when
She Left This Port Was Eat for
Any So.age"-En~ixn Crosse Ap-

Ina affair Of tiie steamer Centennial
waica was chartered as transport 70
Mania oy the government and arrerwarl
rejected at San Francisco On account Of
oeleess which II is asserted by her own
ers and men who examined her are trsv-
saa. is ended, as far as the war depar.-
inert - concerned. Capt Griffssh, one OF
tina owners % the Centennial, has not yet
returned from San Francisco, where he
"ens When second inspsc;ion Of the vss-
sci was ordered. II Is understood that
sie company viii pat ia q calm for dam
ages against the government, claiming
mat the STEAMER was chartered en- repre-
selltatitass which Were made here BIZ Asr
o"Aers ard on the strength OF the .nspec-
'ion she received from the local inspectors.
II VII probably be asserted by the Cesa
tersnial's owners that In no vSpeo. has Il
oss:, proved that the representations made
II her behalf were untrue
EAcess Tor a somewhat spstefui attack
si''ue Ia san Francisco newspaper upon
nina there has beea Tho reflection what
ever against Capt. W. W. Robinson. ,r.
she assistant Quar.e-n,aSter through
~iiom tho negotiations between the war
oeisartrissnt and the owners Of the Cen
tefailsa. were conducted Capt Rahinsss,'s
inspection OF the steamer was made SOLELY
WITH me View OF ascsrtaining her genera.
ce'.fultion Tor carrying troops He did nat
attempt 70 ascertain the condition of her
huAa and machinery. not being a sea going
man These matters were left to Ensign
Crosse, OF the ginboat Wheeling, and 10
the local inspectors, Capt. W. j. Bryant
and c. G. Cherry.
The inspection OF the Centennial by Io-
cal Inspectors W. J. Bryant ard c. c.
Cherry Was made while the vessel was on
the dry dock at the Port Orchard naval
station, 1t was continued when the ship
WIS brought 10 the Arlington dock, 10 be
prepared for her voyage to San Fran
cisco This inspection resulted in the APP
prevail OF the vessel as ut and Seaworthy
TO perform any voyage,
folowlng is synopsis OF the official
statement prepared by inspectors Bryant
and Cherry when the question as 20 the
Centenniafs staworthiness was drought up
at San francisco;
Inspectors' Report.
We examined Eat tho dry dock) all the
plates and tried the rivets on both siies
OF the ship from stem to stern. At the
same TIME We carefully examined the
cardboard streaks, keeIs and butts. when
the dock was fve from water. The bot
tom had no dents or corros4ors. except on
the port quarter. where we found
plates slightly pi,ted. but nothing OF a
serious nature. We were agreeably sur
prised to find the ships bottom In such
good condition, but nc. having any record
OF the ship We deemed l, advisable to dri.l
the plates. which we did along the water
line and under the quarter. We found
the metal good and OF uniform thickness
OF * inches. We ordered a few butts aud
rivets cauiked and new holes riveted up.
'At the Arlington dock We examined
tina Ship inside In all tanks and boiler
rooms. Found considerable scale on
Plates. frames and keessons, but not of
serious character. After a careful in
spection from apron TO stern post, we
pronounced the ship perfectly seaworthy.
"On examining the boilers We applied
hydrus,atic test. after which an internal
examination was made. New tubes and
slight repairs were ordered. We deemed
tho boilers in good condition ard perfectly
safe for the steam pressure allowed
tsixty poundsl. Ordered additional equip
mcnta
1--WE found the smokessack patched In
places and were informed BY tho
captain that the holes were made by shot
during the tate war between Cnn3 and
Japan and were patched in Hos,g Kong
about two years ago. On examination We
consid. red smokeS.ack perfectly safe.
"The Centennial in close frame and mar
row plated well built In all respects and
when she lief; this port was in se,worthy
condition and III tp perform any voyage
Ensign Crosses Report.
Ensign William Crosse. Of the Wheel
ing, who inspected the Centennial al the
request OF Capt Robinson. before the de-
parture OF the Wheeling for St Michael.
also made an official statement regarding
The Steamer, OF which tho following IS a
synopsis:
I'm company with the master of the
steamer, We made a thorough inspection
OF tho vessel from the upper deck 10 the
lower holds. irSoiud.ng all the living
syaces tia engine room and fire goo1n.
I inspected the vessel with the purpose
Of advising az 10 her ssaworthlness ana
her a.sap.ahaiity for caFryi * troops.
I'm the lower ipo.ds Inspected the skin
of the ship and the beams ard found the
ocero<scn and pitting 10 lie inapp.ec!a bic.
Tl,s thickness OF the skin was grsafer
than is customary. being from IA Ia fhs
tucfps rough n1eas,reuss>.1t. The vscSaes
was In good condition and clean throagh-
out, with the exception OF the hold UNDER
the first class cabin. which had some
s1i,nrEee roughly slowed IN IL. The AIR
throughout the ship waa plfe.
In my opinion che ship IL strongly built
and SEA worthy TIE spaces for carrying
second class passengers IN the forward
part OF tsla vessel arr large and well vssEfi-
lated by means Of large cargo natcsies
which admit 81 constant circulation ~
air. The ber.hs or hunks are CT canvas.
tightly stretched between frames There
is unusual height between decks Ihere
10 ma undue crowding. The Lighting faGIi'-
ties are satisfactory.
s-rrhs frs. class cabins and state rooms
are well ventilated ard not crowded.
consider tho ventilation OF the hold under
,ha ags, class calssn aft 30 tse good.
II accepted shs slATsfn'&sas OF ese ef~
.rsrser cffics~ Of tbs Cef1ssr'rai concerning