New-York tribune., 1901-06-21

has taken cognizance of the action of the COM
mander of the battleship Massachusetts in going
through He'll Gate to-day on his way from
New York to Newburyport. This course is re-
garCed here as extremely dangerous for a ship
of the dimensions of the Massachusetts. Secre-
tary Long issued a stringent order tonight that
hereafter no battleship shall go through He'll
Gate except under conditions OF exceptional
emergency.
The first class battleship Massachusetts went
from the Brooklyn Navy Yard into Long Island
Sound yesterday morning through He'll Gate
Captain Manney. her commander. whose idea it
was that this short cut should be taken. sought
to dispel the belief of naval officers that the long
trip by way of New-York Bay and the ocean
for craft of her class was the only safe pathway
out Of this port. Captain Manney acted on his
own responsibility, and took chances which were
called hazardous by Rear Admiral Barker, the
commandant Of the navy yard
The Massachusetts draws % feet OF water.
more than any other vessel in the navy. and she
is the onlv warship of her class TO go through
He'll Gate. Captain Manney was confident that
he could accomplish his purpose. although there
is only a narrow channel in the Gate that has
the necessary depth Of water,
The captain gave as a reason for attempting
this passage the desire to economize in coal and
time in reaching the Sound. where il was his in
tention TO nave the "drsfiip SoHpaS'eS SOi
rected.
No snaciaI pilot was taken by the Massa-
chusetts Captain Bell. the veteran navy yard
pilot, proffered his services. but Captain Man
ney said:
II have been in these waters a great many
times before. / never took pilot yet, and
don't see why / should now"
Captafn Bell also made little Of the danger OF
taking the Massachusetts through He'll Gate.
In his opinion it was not specially hazardous.
and required only careful work by the men at
the steering apparatus He added;
Why there is a vessel three times as big as
the Massachusetts which goes through He'll
Gate twice every day. That's the Priscilla. of
the Fall River line. She comes in in the morn
ing and goes out in the afternoon"
The pilot suggested to Captain Brownson. of
the battleship Alabama that he take his vessel
out the same way but Captain BrownsOn did not
care to venture II.
Just previous TO making loose the moorings of
the Massachusetts at the Cob Dock Captain Man
ney held a long conference with Commandant
Barker. What the nature of II was was not re-
vealed but the captains face carried content
ed smile Before starting Captain Manney said:
Il don't know what all this hullabaIoo is
about l don't see where there is any danger
They talk about battleship going
through. The Maine went through OF course.
Sile WASH Il DattleSllp or tne NTSJ class QOn
think there is any danger. II l did L wouldn't
attempt the passage"
1t took six minutes for the Massachusetts, to
go through He'll Gate. She leo feet from
land when she eft the Astoria shore. She
turned toward Wards Island. and then changed
her direction toward the Long Island shore. On
the latter course she was kept until she reached
Nigger's Point south of Wards Island. Thence
she had full. free course all the way through
Ii exactly IL 80 o'clock when the start
made at the Navy Yard. and He'll Gate was
cleared at 12:iS o'clock without the slightest
accident The navy tug Powhatan pulled the
battleship into the East River. There. under
her own engines She turned about and
headed for Hell Gate.
Admiral Barker did not know that Captain
Manney contemplated the Hell Gate adventure.
so he says. until he read of il in the newspapers
The admiral denied last evening that he termed
Captain Manneys venture foolhardy. He did
say this
Considering the risk of property, / would not
take vessel of her class through a narrow pas
sage, especially when there is need for it,
/ went through there on the Philadelphia N.Y.
self. but they made great time about it be-
cause they thought didn't have pilot. did
have a pilot. though. OF course. IL the battle
ship gets through. it is all right but if anything
happens the captain will be responsible for it,"
When the Massachusetts, has adjusted her
compasses she is to proceed to Newburyport,
Mass, to take part In the celebration there.
Later she will join the North Atlantic Squadron