Gilpin observer., 1903-08-20
WARSHIPS COLLIDE.
TORPEDO BOATS RAM EACH OFF,
Err curing REVIEW.
Imposing NavaI Spectaclo Takes Place
OFF oyster Bay-.varahips Preocrt
Magnificent Siaht-Kation's Head
Inspects North Atlantic ScuGcron.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. 18.-Fcr the
first time in the history of the country
the president of the United States re-
viewed and inspected, in time OF
peace, a great feet of United States
warships. The ceremony was g mag
nificent and impressive naval cpecta-
Gle. 1t was unmarried by the slightest
mishap until just at its conclusion,
when the torpedo boat destroyer Barry
rammed the destroyer Decatur, for
tunately, however, doing little dam
age. The incident was exciting. It
occurred just at the moment when the
president was receiving congratula-
tions upon the success Of the maneuv
ers. The first squadron of destroyers,
consisting OF the Decatur, cambridge.
Barry, Dale and Chauncey, all under
command of Lieutenant L. H. Chand
ler was approaching the Mayaower at
full speed. The vessels were in close
formation. Orders were signalled
from the Decatur to the other vessels
TO form a wedge. In executing the or
ders, the Decatur swung across the
bow of the Barry An instant later
the Barry rammed her on the star
board side. AS the ships were run
ming at speed of twenty knots the
blow was tremendous. The Decatur
listed sharply to port and seemed to
be in serious distress. From the May
flower she appeared to be sinking.
| The Mayflower's boats were manned
instantly, but We're not lowered, as
the Decatur was seen to right her
self In few minutes she hoisted
signal of mo serious damage" Later
she steamed alongside the May1ower
and Lieutenant Chandler reported that
while his ship had received a bad
bump on the starboard quarter, she
was not materially damaged. The
Barry. which had struck the Decatur
a glancing blow. had her bow crumpled
by the collision. but she was not IN
jured otherwise. The accident put
sudden stop to the maneuvers OF the
destroyers' squadron.
President Roosevelt, who was in
| tently watching the squadron of de-
stroyers when the accident occurred.
remarked that such accidents. espe-
cially to destroyers. were likely to oc-
cur at any time. In the execution of
war maneuyers some chances. he said.
must be taken and II the time ever
| Should come when the navy was
afraid of scratching off the paint of
vessel, its efficiency would deteriorate
materially. Both the president and
Mrs. Roosevelt noted the accident
with great calmness. Notwithstanding
the fact that their son, Kermit was on
| I..n A.
collision.
President Passes Down Line.
| The review occurred on Long ISL
and sound. two miles and half off
the entrance to Oyster bay. President
Roosevelt. in company with Secretary
of the Navy Moody, Admiral Dewey,
Rear Admiral Rodgers. Captain Brown
son. General Chaffee and General Bar
ry stood on the bridge of the auxil-
iary cruiser Mayflower as she steamed
slowly down one column of the war
ships and up the other. The two col
umns extended twenty-five hundred
yards the ships being anchored at in
tervals of 500 yards. AS the Mayfiower
passed each ship in the two columns,
the yards and rail of each were
manned by jackies in white duck. the
marines We're paraded and presented
arms. the presidential salute of twenty
one guns was fired the buglers sound
ed flourish, the drummers gave four
rufiies. the band played Hail Colum-
bia" and the entire crew stood at sa-
lutte.
AS the Mayflower swept majestically
past each ship. the crew of the salut-
ing vessel gave the president three
cheers as the commander-in-chief of
the army and navy of the United
States.
At the conclusion OF the review Presi-
dent Roosevelt received on board the
Mayfower Rear Admiral Albert s. Bar
ker, commarderin-chief of the North
Atlantic fleet; Rear Admiral James A.
Sands. commander of the Caribbean
squadron; Rear Admiral Joseph b.
Coghlan. commanding the coast squad
ron. and Rear Admiral William C.
Wise, commanding the training squad
ron. He also received the captains
and commanding officers of the twen-
ty-two vessels in the fleet He re-
received also the naval attaches to
the legations of four of the great pow
ers. Captain Dechair OF the British
embassy. Captain Edwin Schaefer of
the German embassy. Commander w.
c. Boutakoff of the Russian embassy
and Lieutenant Commander Issas
Taksshia of the Japanese legation.
As the president and his party ar
rived and as they departed in turn
from each of the four fagships. the
Kearsarge. Olympia. Yankee and Tex.
ns. every one of the saluting ships in
the fleet fred n salute of twenty-one
guns. During the entire ceremonies
| OF the day 26O4 shots were fred all