The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-14
REPORTS ON THE DAMAGES.
Washington Is Informed OF the Serf-
Gus Condition of the Ship.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1s.-Acting Secre-
tary Darling late this afternoon received
from Captain Emory, commanding the In
diana. the senior officer present, the report
Of the board appointed to investigate the
accident to the Massachusetts,. The dis
patch is as follows:
The board appointed for that purpose has
finished the investigation of the accident TO
the Massachusetts. Its conclusions meet
my approval. The report is as follows:
Compartments AZ and A97 are fun OF
water-about 800 tons. There are slight
leaks into AIS and A16. where the Longitude
nails pierced the watertight bulkhead al
Frame IA. This bukhead is slightly sprung.
There are slight leaks through rivets into
compartments Ala and AS. The diver re-
ports that port and starboard strakes are
dented and cracked athwartships. between
Frames IL and Is. One crack is about eight
cen inches long and one-half inch wide. A
second crack is i'm the shape of an inverted
7 shows in port strake b or G, between the
same frames. The crack extends four feet
across the plate and fourteen inches In the
seam. with half an inch the greatest open
ing. About twenty-four feet OF the decking
keel are injured. The divers remain at
work. i recommend two centrifugal pumps.
electrically driven preferred. with eight
inch suction and thirty feet of suction hose.
foot check valve and delivery hose for each
pump. i consider il necessary for the fndi-
ana TO remain. EMORY"
read: Subsequent to the report of the
board the divers discovered that the star
board cardboard strake. between frames No.
and No. is. is punctured. The opening ex-
tends above three and half feet across the
plate. The greatest width is four inches
Orders were sent this afternoon TO Naval
Constructor Gilmore at Bath. Me-. to make
thorough inspection OF the ship and re-
fha ~ he IN he d.
partment. The commandant at the Boston
navy yard has been telegraphed instrac-
tions to send a wrecking pump to the Mas
sachusetts to pump out the water from the
flooded compartments.
In reply TO Captain Emory's inquiries
to when he can sail with the Indiana 10
join the fleet the acting secretary has in
formed him by telegraph that he Is 10 re-
main by the Massachusetts for the present.
Orders have been sent 10 the Brooklyn navy
yard to get the dock there in readiness for
the Massachusetts, which is TO go there for
repairs.
Compartment A43. which was one OF the
compartments flooded; Is up almost on a
partment 4. is realized that the damage To
the Massachusetts may cost a large amount
TO repair One hundred thousand dollars
was spent on the Massachusetts, when she
grounded i'm New York harbor In 1893 The
pilot OF the vessel was suspended for this
accident.
other dispatches from Captain Emory, the
first OF which was dated at Rockland. Me-.
Wednesday night. IL recounted the circum-
stances OF the accident substantially as re-
ported In the press dispatches, and an
nounced the convening OF the board 10 in
vestiagte the accident and amount OF DAM
age The second dispatch. dated at u.eo
o'clock Wednesday night. was as follows:
Investigation OF injury. 10 Massachusetts,
by board cannot be completed until to-mor-
row. by which time all weights will be re-
moved from forward. The water Is con-
fined to compartments. i feel confident the
Massachusetts, Will be able TO steam 10 the
dockyard The draft OF the vessel when
, leaving Frenchman's bay twenty-six
feet three inches forward, twenty-six feet
ten inches aft. Draft at y. m. twenty
seven feet eleven inches forward. twenty
six feet two inches aft
Request orders concerning Indiana and
the Scorpion they are remaining by my
orders standing by Massachusetts. Other
vessels here Hartford. Newport. Culgoa. lf
we are not required Co convoy the Massa-
chusetts / request permission 10 san fmme-
aiafely TO iOin the feet.