Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1903-08-18
RAMMED DESTROYER
Naval Display Was Marred by
Accident.
MAYFLOWER BOATS WERE MANNED.
President, on Board the hearsarge,
Spoke to the Cum Pointers OF
the Navy as to Their

the Navy to Their
Duty
OYSTER BAY. n. Y, Aug. 1S.-The
review by President Roosevelt. a mag
nificent and impressive naval pageant,
was marred by a mishap just at it's
conclusion when the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Barry rammed the destroyer
Decatur, fortunately doing little dam
age. The incident, however, was excit-
ing. 1t occurred just at the. moment
when the president was receiving con-
gratulations upon the success of the
maneuvers. --'
The first squadron of destroyers, con-
sisting of the Decatur, cambridge,
Barry, Dale and Chauncey, all under
command Of Lieutenant L. H. Chan
der, was approaching the Mayfiower
at full speed. The vessels were in close
formation. Orders were sIgnaled from
the Decatur to the other vessels to form
a wedge. In executing the orders the
Decatur swung across the bow of the
Barry. An instant later the Barry
rammed her on the starboard side. AS
the ships were running at a speed of
twenty knots, the blow was. tremen-
dous. The Decatur listed sharply to
port and seemed to be in serious dis
tress. From the Mayf1ower she ap-
peared to be sinking.
The >Mayfowers boats were manned
instantly, but were not lowered, az the
Decatur was seen to right herself. In,
a few minutes she hoisted signal of
mo serious DANA e." Later she steam
ed alongside the Mayfower, and Lieu
tenant Chandler reported that, while
his ship had received bad bump on
the starboard quarter she was not ma
terially damaged. The injury. was
plainly evident from the deck of the
May1ower. She had been struck about
halfway between her stern and mid
ship, and large dent had been pushed
into her plates. The Barry, which had
struck the Decatur a glancing blow,
had her bow crumpled hy1th collision,
but she was not injured otherwise. ~
The accident put sudden stop to the
maneuvers of the destroyer squadron.
The vessels came to an immediate
stop, the cambridge, Dale and Chaun-
cey standing by the two in collision.
Admiral Barker ordered Lieutenant
Chandler to proceed with the five yes
sells to the Brooklyn navy yard, where
such repairs as may be necessary could
be made quickly. 15%a'.s %5~s--
President Roosevelt, who was intent
ly watching the squadron of destroyers
when the accident occurred, remarked
that such an accident, especially to de-
stroyers, was likely to occur at any
time.
At the conclusion of the review Presi-
dent Roosevelt entertained his guests
and all the commanding officers of the
fleet at delightful luncheon on board
the Mayfiower- 77 17+e:E5,'
During the luncheon the president
rose and said:
1--WE have with us today representa-
tves of the greatest powers-Great
Britain, Germany, Russia and Japan. |
ask you to drink to those powers and
to their sovereigns." - H..
The toast was drank standing. Then
the president continued: eve also have
with us representatives Of an internal
tional incident AS to that, may the
best boat VIM
Win 1duShleI anu applause InaC
toast likewise was drank by the guests
standing.
Captain Dechair of the British en-
bassy addressed the president as fol-
lows: I'm the name of my colleagues
in the name of our Sovereigns and ain
the name of our countries, I desire to
thank you I propose the health of the
president of the United States - 100 : ~
The guests drank the toast heartily.
AS the president went aboard rthe
Kearsarge his flag was broken out at
the main peak and every one of the
twelve saluting ships in the feet fred
a presidents salute After chatting
with Admiral Barker and casually in
speeding the Kearsarge the president,
before visiting the other fagships to
return the calls of the rear admirals, |
addressed the enlisted men and officers
of the ship. When they had been
drawn up on the gun deck he spoke as
follows:
President Roosevelt said: 81
"Oficers and enlisted men: 1 wish to
say word of thanks to you on behalf
of the people of the United States
There are many public servants whom
hold in high esteem .hut thore a no M