The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-15
FINE AS A WRECKER.
Stories About Admiral Crownin-
shields Abilities.
ADVENTURES ON THE MAINE
Ihe Incident Which Led to His Hos
tility to Admiral ri
49,, Schley. #.sl aE
r.,v York sus, sooeEas ss-vzes

Chicago, July IA Chronicle special
from Washington says: e Not since the
Schley inquiry have naval ,circles been
as stirred up as when a cable dispatch
was received from Rear Admiral Crownin-
shield to the effect that he had run the
battleship Illinois aground in Christiania
harbor and that the vessel was so badly
damaged that it would have to be put in
dry dock. .-s@ ~ -
Closely following upon Secretary
Moody's trenchant criticisms Of the pol
3cy of placing in command. Of large and
important vessels men whose knowledge
of matt ers nautical is confined to an Of
ace desk the accident to the Illinois has
caused much unfavorable comment upon
the seamanship of certain officers Of the
navy in general and of Admiral Crownin-
shield in particular. There are those who
do not hesitate to say openly that what
ever knowledge Admiral Crowninshield
may possess, he is incompetent as a
navigator. They point to the former
court of inquiry to which he was sub
Jected when in command Of the Maine,
when only the influence of his friends
saved him from severe censure.
1t was in 1897 that this court of in
quiry was held. At that time Crownin-
shield, then a captain, was in command
Of the battleship Maine of the North
Atlantic squadron. A squadron under
command Of Admiral Bruce was engaged
IN maneuvers off the harbor Of Charleston
S. c., and the manner of the handling of
the Maine raised much criticism. Ad-
miral Bruce made inquiries and found the
state of affairs upon the vessel to be so
deplorable that he convened a court Of
inquiry.
This consisted of Admiral Schley, then a
captain commanding the flagship New
York and two OF her officers. In investi-
eating the conditions on Crowninshield's S
ship they found that there was no oil on
board and the engines were being racked
to pieces. They also found the crew al
most on the verge of mutiny, owing to
the dictatorial manners Of the COM
nander. Absolute ignorance and incom-
potency on the part of Crowninshield was
claimed.
Captain Schley, as he was then known,
did not hesitate to say so, but the other
two officers, knowing the powerful friends
Crowninshield could bring to his support
and also wishing to uphold the honor OF
the navy, acquitted him. The depart
ment was notified however, that Crownin-
shield was not fit to be in command of
q ship, and in view of his political. and
social pull he was assigned to duty with
the bureau of navigation, and from his
Office desk conducted the persecution of
mis- former superior and critic, Admiral
Schley.
The Illinois Is to be taken under her
own steam to England, if possible, where
she will be dry docked. 1t is impossible
to say now how extensive the necessary
repairs will be or how long it will take
to complete them This cannot be as
certeined definitely until the vessel has
been placed in dry dock. If the injury is
not severe the bill for repairs may not
exceed $4,000 or $4,000. On the other
hand, If the shock of grounding was so
severe as to materially injure the vessels
plates or otherwise incapacitate her, it
may be necessary to make repairs costing
q considerable sum.
1T is not known whether Secretary
Moody will order a. court of inquiry to
investigate the circumstances or not but
If he should, Crowninshield's defense will
be based upon the alleged defect in the
steering gear, which rendered the vessel
unmanageable. At all events, he will
probably be declared free from blame, as
he stands high in the good graces of the
administration.