Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-03
Capt. Wilde's Report on the Battle
Ships Grounding.
ALL HANDS WERE ON THE ALERT
Extraordinary Precautions Taken
Against Accident.
PUT IN THOROUGH REPAIR


Of the battle ship Oregon Of the circum-
stances attending the grounding Of that
ship in the Gulf Of Pechih last June, and
her successful salvage. The report goes to
confirm the departments previously ex-
pressed conviction that the grounding was
not in any respect attributable to fault on
the part of Captain Wilde, or any officers
Of the Oregon, who, in fact, appear to have
exercised extraordinary precautions to
guard against the accident. The Oregon
has now been completely repaired, and ar
rived yesterday at Wusung. where she is to
form one of the International fleet to guard
the transport service during the existence
Of the Chinese troubles.
Captain Wildes report, which is addressed
to Admiral Kempff. is as follows:
u. S. Oregon, first rate,
GULF OF PECHILI, July 4.
1 have the honor to report that the L. 5.
g. Oregon, under my command, grounded
upon an unchartered ledge in Pechili gulf
at 300 pm, June %, 1900. The ledge has
three and a half fath0ms over its highest
part. Its position is located by sextant
angles upon an accompanying chart. The
chart shows at this place seventeen TO eigh-
teen fathomS. Preceding to the ground
ing of the ship I have to state that / re-
celved urgent orders from Hong Kong from
the commander-in-chief to proceed 10 Taku
as soon as ready. This order was dated
noon. On June 20 a cable was received
from the cOmmander-in-c n-chief. The Laf1rO
arrived at 4:1O pm. June 23. and the mo-
ment men and stores were taken from her
the Oregon went to sea, leaving Hong
Kong at $50 pm Weather fine and clear
until the Goth, when fog set in very thick.
Slowed to half speed. At intervals fog
lifted and ship was sent ahead full speed
8. E. Promitory light was sighted at STA
o'clock on night Of June q: N. e. Promi
tory light was not sighted. as fog had
again shut down. Neither was fog signal
heard. Ship was being "leaded' right
along with patent sounding machine. Off
Wei-Hai-Wei the fog lofted for a few mo-
ments, just long enough for me to see the
flashing light. That was the last absolute
fix l had. l judged myself to be OF Che
foo by seeing some junks, which are gen
orally seen off that port. A steamer also
crossed our bow, evidently bound to Chefoo
from Port Arthur. The fog settled down
denser and denser. .,..... .-.....-. 49, .--s-
All Hands on the Alert.
Sounded with patent lead every half hour.
When my distance to Howki light had been
run down to within ten miles I slowed to
five knots, and had leadsmen in both chains;
also extra lookouts, listening for any whis-
tie echo from any island, or to catch sound
Of gun from Howki light station. There
were fully fifty men stretched along for
ward on both sides lookout. Owing to
density of fog I remained on the bridge
night and day since the 2Sth: all hands. in
fact, were constantly on the alert The
whistle was being constantly sounded and
as there were very light airs there was no
reason why the light keepers should not
have heard it. I continued on sounding
constantly. until As pm. on the 2Sth, when
! began deepening water. from twelve to
thirteen fathoms, which l had been getting
right along, to seventeen fathoms. This in
dicated something wrong, and. getting
response to blasts of whistle, I anchored in
seventeen fathoms of water. Fog very
dense. Two whaleboats sounded around
ship. but found Instructions. About
forty-fve minutes after anchoring the fog
suddenly lifted, and Howki light house was
plainly seen. bearing N. II w, distant
three and one-third miles. The chart show
ing clear water. l got under way at once,
headed for Howk light.
Three Distinct Thumps.
Fog shut down again. very dense before
/ got my anchor: but, knowing my posi-
ton, and orders being urgent, and suspect
Ing no dangers, 1 started ahead with star
board helm, when the vessel brought up
did the light keepers fire guns; they then
fred two guns. according to e rule All
water.tight doors were instantly closed.
Engines were instantly stopped, but not
reversed. as l feared she might sing If
backed into deep water. The sea was as
smooth as lake, and 1 thought I would
walt and see If she made water, which she
did rapidly in compartments A 8, A 4, A 5,
S-inch magazine and passing room. At
once got out and provisioned all boats; also
armed and equipped same. Got over COL
lision mat at once, and at slack water sent
diver down and located break. Another
diver was procured very fortunately from a
wreckng expedition some ten miles dis
tant. who located one long break extending
q distance OF twenty-five feet on port side
forward. The current running at great We
locity, divers can only work for two hours
at high and low water slack
Sent for Assistance.
Sent Lieut.. Leigh, navigator to Chefoo
on passing French gunboat Surprise to
charter steamers to take ammunition coal
and stores, ship would have to be light
ened to get rock out of side of ship or out
of bottom. TWO steamers arrived from Che
foo on June 80, which had been chartered
by Commander Rodgers, U. 8. s. Nashville.
Got two 1O-inoh centrifugal pumps from
wreckers. Without them water could not
be controlled, as ships steam pumps could
not do 80 because of the breaking of main
On July 1 at IL :57 am. ship foated and
swung to anchor. which had been laid out
astern with 1O-inch hawser. Hawser part
ed, and in order to avoid sinking chartered
steamer could not avoid going aground a
second time. Ship rests between two large
powders forward. Diver can see under
keel. She shows no signs of strain as far
as butts or "streaks" starting. I shall
continue to tighten by taking out more
coal and ammunition. Am confident can get
ship off, Kure dry dock, Inland sea, is
the nearest, and Japanese naval depart
ment has offered it's USE
Very respectfully, G. F. F. WILDE,
Captain, U. S. Navy, Commanding.
Put In Thorough Repair.
A subsequent report from Captain Wilde,
on the following day July dated on
board ship in the Gulf Of Pechii says that
he has the pleasure to report that the ship
1oated off at 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 were controlling the water
Wrecking steamers were with her but
the captain was able to report that no ad-
ditional hole had been found by the diver
since going ashore the first time.
The ship afterward went. as is already
known to Kure dock, where she was thor
oughly repaired.
STAND BY THE PRESIDENT
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