The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04
GROUNDING OF OREGON
OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT
TO THE BATTLEsHIP.
Captain Wilde-s Account, which
shows Every Precaution known
TO Navigators Was Taken.

WASHINGTON. Sept 3--The Navy De-
partment has just received by mail the
official report of Captain Wilde. of the
battleship Oregon. of the circumstances
attending the grounding Of that ship In
the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Ii last June. and her
successful salvage The report goes 10 con-
firm the departments previously expressed
conviction that the grounding was not In
any respect attributable TO fault on the
part OF Captain Wilde or any officer Of the
Oregon. who. in fact, appear to have exer-
cised extraordinary precautions 10 guard
against the accident. The Oregon has been
completely repaired. and arrived yesterday
at Woo-Sung. where she is to form one OF
the international fleet to guard the trans
port service during the existence OF the
Chinese troubles.
Captain Wilde's report. which is dated
~. S. S. Oregon. First Rate. Gulf OF Pc
Chilli. July T." follows:
Il have the honor to report that the
United States ship Oregon, under my COM
mand, grounded upon an uncharted ledge
in Pe-Chi-Li gulf at 3:l5 p. m, June y. 1900.
The ledge has three and a half fathoms
over its highest point It's position Is To-
Gated by sextant angles upon an accom-
panying chart. The chart shows at this
place seventeen 10 eighteen fathoms. Pre-
vious TO the grounding OF the ship. l have
to state L received urgent orders from
Hong-Kong. from the commander-in-chief.
TO proceed 10 Taku as soon as ready. This
order was dated June % and was received
the same afternoon The Zanro arrived
at 4:3O y. IN. on June %. and the moment
men and stores were taken from her the
Oregon went TO sea. leaving H0ng-kong
at $50 d. m Weather fine and clear until
the 18th. when fog set in very thick. Slowed
10 half speed. AT intervals fog lifted and
ship was sent ahead at full speed. South
east promontory light was sighted at STA
o'clock on night of June q: northeast
promontory light was not sighted as fog
had again shut down. Neither was fog
signal heard. Ship was being loaded right
along with patent sounding machine
''Off We-Hai-Wei the fog lifted for
few moments, just long enough for me 10
see the flashing light That was the last
absolute fix l had. judged myself 10 be
generally seen of that port. a steamer
also crossed our bow evidently bound into
Che-Foo from Port Arthur. The fog set
with patent lead every half hour. When
my distance from How-ki light had been
run down 10 within ten miles 1 slowed 10
five knots, and had leadsmen in both
chains, also extra lookouts listening for
any whistle echo from any island or TO
catch sound of gun from How-ki light
station. There were fully fifty men
stretched along forward on both sides on
lookout
Owing to density of fog / remained on
all hands, in fact, were constantly on the
alert. The whistle was being constantly
sounded, and as there were very light airs
tn e was no reason why the heht-keepers
should not have heard ii. 1 continued on.
sounding constantly. until l:45 D. m, on the
18th, when / began deepening water from
twelve TO fifteen fathoms,. which had been
getting right along, TO seventeen fath0ms.
This indicated something wrong, and get
ting no response to blasts of whistle 1
chored in seventeen fathoms of water. Fog
very dense Two whale boats were sounded
around ship. but found distractions.
About forty-fve minutes after anchoring
the fog suddenly lifted, and Howki light
house was plainly seen, bearing N O. y w,
distant three and one-third miles. The
chart showing clear water, | got under
way at once, headed for Howki light.
Fog shut down again before | got my
anchor. but knowing my position and
orders being urgent and suspecting no
dangers, | started ahead with starboard
helm, when the vessel brought up with
three distinct THUMBS. Not until then did
the light keepers fire guns; they then fred
two guns according TO rule. All water
tight doors were instantly closed. Engines
were instantly stopped. but not reversed
as / feared she might sink If backed into
deep water. The sea was smoth as lake
and / decided TO wait and see II she made
water. which she did rapidly In COM
partments A-3. A, AS. A-33. Ass, ass.
B-S0. Thirteen magazine. Eight magazine.
and passing room. AT once got out and
provisioned all boats, also armed and
equipped same. Got over collision mat
at once and at slack water sent diver down
and located break. Another diver was pro-
cured, very fortunately. from a wrecking
expedition some ten miles distant, who
located one long break extending distance
of twenty-five feet on port side forward.
The current running at great velocity. divers
can only work for two hours az high and
low water slack Sent Lieutenant Leigh.
Navigator, TO Che-Foo on passing French
or n a
take ammunition. coal and stores. as ship
would have TO be lightened TO get rock out
of side of ship or out OF bottom
Two steamers arrived from Cbe-FOO on
June So which had been chartered by Com
mander Rodgers, L. 8. s Nashville. Got
two ten centrifugal pumps from wreckers.
controlled, as ships steam pumps could NOT
do because of the breaking or main drain
pipe by rock coming through side. On July
/ at IFS a. ship hoated and swung TO
anchor. which had been laid out eastern
with ten-inch hawser; hawser parted and I'm
order to avoid sinking chartered steamer
could not avoid going around "A second
time Ship rests between two large bowl
ders forward. Diver can see under keel
She shows no singns of strains far
butts 'streaks' starting. | shall con-
tinue to tighten by taking out more coal
and ammunition Am confident can get
ship off. Kure dry dock. inland sea. is
nearest and japanese naval department has
offered its USE
"A subsequent report from Captain Wide
on the following day, July 5. dated on
board ship in the Gulf of chi-Ii. says that
he has the pleasure TO report that the ship
fl0ated of AT l.20 that afternoon while
tightening. She was anchored in seventeen
and one-half fathoms OF water. two and
a quarter miles south OF Howki Light. and
the pumps controlling the water.
Wrecking steamers were near. but the cap
tain was able TO report that no additional
hole had been found by the diver since
going ashore the first time. The ship after
ward went TO Kure dock, where she Was
temporarily repaired.