Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-08-18
WARSHIPS REVIEWED
Ceremony a Magnificent and
Imposing Naval Spec
tacle.
ACCIDENT OCCURS TO DECATUR
ts Rammed by the Barry, but Nc Ma
terlsl Damage Done-Boats Ordered
to Brooklyn Navy Yard to Repair.
Distinguished Guests Present.

Oyster Bay, Aug. 18.-For the first
time In the history OF the country the
president of the United States review
ed and inspected in tiAe of peace q
great fleet of United States warships
The ceremony was a magnificent and
impressive naval spectacle. 1t was
unmarried by the slightest mishap un
til just at it's conclusion, when the
torpedo boat destroyer Barry rammed
the destroyer Decatur, fortunately
however, doing little damage.
The incident was exciting. 1t oc
Cured just at the moment when the
president was receiving congratula
lions upon the subject of the maneu
yers
The first squadron of destroyers
consisting of the Decatur, cambridge
Barry, Dale and Chauncey. all under
command of Lieutenant L. Fl, Chand
Ter, was approaching the Mayfiower a.
full speed The vessels were In close
formation.
Decatur Rammed by Barry.
Orders were signalled from the De
catur 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 20 knots, the blow was tremendous
The Decatur listed sharply to port
and seemed to be in serious distress
From the Mayfiower she appeared to
be sinking
The Mayflower's boats were manned
instantly, but were not lowered, as
the Decatur was seen to right herself
Ir few minutes she hoisted a signal
Of mo serious damage" Later she
steamed alongside the Mayfower and
Lieutenant Chandler reported that
while his ship had received a bad
bump on the starboard quarter she
was not materially damaged The in.
jury was plainly evident from the
deck of the Mayflower She had been
struck about half way between he-
stern and midship aud a large dent
had been made in her plates. The
starboard rail was damaged, but 9th
erwise the vessel was intact The
Barry, which had struck the Decatur
glancing blow, had her bow erum-
pied by the collision, but she was not
injured otherwise.
Accident Stons Maneuvers
The accident put sudden stop 10
the maneuvers of the destroyer squad
ron. The vessels came to an immedi-
ate stop. the cambridge. Dale and
Chauncey standing by the two in col
llsion. Boats were lowered from two
Of them, but after a casual examina-
ton OF the injuries to the Barry and
Decatur the boats returned to their
vessels
Admiral Dewey 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. After the
damage has been repaired the squad
ron will rejoin the feet and continue
the summer maneuvers.
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 maneuvers some chances, he said
q he
should come when the navy was afraid
OF scratching off the paint of vessel
its efficiency would deteriorate ma
terially.
President an interested Spectator.
Both the president and Mrs. Roose-
welt noted the accident with great
calmness. Notwithstanding the fact
that their son, Kermit was on board
the Decatur at the time of the col
lision. He was standing beside Lieu.
tenant Chandler when the vessel ran
alongside the Mayhower to report. In
commenting upon the accident AID
miral Dewey said that really Il
amounted to little and would delay
the vessels in their movements only a
few days. He said that such an acct.
dent was part OF the war game and
must at times be expected.
The review occurred on Long Island
sound, two miles and half off the en-
trance to Oyster bay Presiden.
Roosevelt. in company with Secretary
OF the Navy Moody, Admiral Dewey,
Rear Admiral Taylor, Rear Admiral
Rodgers, Captain Brownson, General
Chaffee and General Barry, stood on
the bridge OF the auxiliary cruiser
Mayfiower as she steamed slowly down
one column of the warships and up
the other. The two columns extended
$500 yards. the ships being anchored
at intervals of 500 yards.
An imposing Spectacle.
AS the Mayflower passed each ship
In the two columns the yards and
rails OF each were manned by jackies
In white duck. the marines were pa
-aded and presented arms, the presi.
dents salute OF 81 guns was fred, the
buglers sounded flourish, the drum
mers gave four rufiies, the band played
Hail Columbia" and the entire crew
stood at salute AS the Mayhower
swept maJestically past each ship this
crew Of the saluting vessel gave the