The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-13

DoT haToor, Me, Aug l5.-Tne nrst ac-
cident OF the summer naval war game
OF the North Atlantic fleet, or, as Cap
tain Joseph q. Eaton puts II, the first
serious accident. happened yesterday af-
ternoon at t2.zs O'Clock. when the bat
tleship Massachusetts, ran on a rock pin
nacle projecting from Dry Ledge the
southwesterly point OF Egg Rock, as she
was leaving here with the feet for oys-
ter Bay The accident occurred about
three miles southeast OF Bar Harbor
The battleship did not run into the rock.
put Just grazed II on her port bow, "a feet
under her water line, which Is Just two
feet less than she draws
The result OF the collision was a crack
IN the metal plate large enough TO admit
tnree fingers OF mans hand. This
crack gave the water admission TO two
or the l4o compartments into which the
hull OF the ship Is divided and so was
Tar from serious The ship might have
or 20 compartments filled and yet be In
no danger of sinking
The coast yesterday was enveloped
with the thickest fog that has blown In
here this summer, and II was impossi-
Ole Tor the watch officers OF the ship TO
see more than 100 feet ahead OF the ship
at the time she struck. Extra precautions
had been taken. as II was considered TO
be dangerous sailing.
Five officers were on the lookout IN
front OF the pilot house instead oftwo.
who have regular duty there. Among
these were Captain Eaton himself Be-
Tore the ship struck she was over pretty
close to shore. When the ship was pass
ing Long Porcupine Island the fog LIFTED
lfor few minutes and the captain found
his ship less than hundred feet from
1.-THE shore.
4 Foe WAS TJyI(-LS
II was n surprise 10 many that Ad
miral Barker set sail in so thick n
|,fog Had the admiral deferred his de-
irArture for two hours the accident wonId
mot have happened as the fog lifted no. |
'ticeably by o'clock
The Massachusetts was the most cas-
ltsriy ship in the formation and she was
on the rort side OF the Texas. though |
she was unable 10 see that ship owing |
10 the density of the fog.
SoundirRs were constantly taken. Just |
oefore the ship struck is fathoms were !
reported 10 the captain and just after the
soundings showed 10 fathoms.
Capt Eaton said tonight that his ship
vas on her course. according TO the
hart. and this IL possible. as there are
many deep rocks and pinnacles which
. ire not on the charts. IL ia not often
hat big boat comes UP I'm these waters.
The torpedo boat destroyers. which
ave been making soundings here, have
ound several rocks that are not on the
,harts. II is not probable that II will
AXE much work To repair the ship.
Her injury was not so serious but that
he could not have gone on, but Capt.
| Gator thought IL safer 10 bring her back
nto the harbor and have divers examine
he break carefully.
Capt Eaton said tonight that he was
eady TO sail as soon as he received
word from the navy department The
crew was kept busy tonight shifting
he ammunition from the forward part
q the ship aft to keep the boat on an
ven keel
About 140 tons of water entered :
through the little crack. 120 OF which ]
re In one OF the compartments. Had
he accident happened little nearer the G
oiddle of the boat not nearly so much {
,ater would have been taken In. as the
COMPARTMENTS there are much smaller c
GOOD DISCIPLINE.
At the time OF the accident the best OF =
iscipline prevailed. The jar OF the col :
sion was felt by the officers. and they ,
I once sent an orderly below TO see what
,as wrong The danger signal was then
lown and every man jumped TO his place
|,ithout the slightest excitement.
| All OF the compartments were closed,
he marine corps was at its station at the
re boats and every jackie was at his
ost.
The danger signal at once drew the a
indiana, which Is sister snip OF the 3
iassa chusetts, the Scorpion and three
estroyers TO her side. and the admiral {
ent three boats to accompany the ship n
ack into the harbor. n
As soon az the harbor was reached the
estroyers were sent back 10 the fleet
ut the Scorpion and Indiana stayed with
or during the night and they VIII prob =,
oix ha Y
Captain Eaton said tonight: I'VE are u
|ll right, and II the accident had hap
ened I'm deep sea we should have Kept =
ight on sailing, but under the circum- !.
|tanccs Il seemed best to come back The =
log was the thickest we have had dur =
|hg the manoeuvres. and could not u
ee half a ships length ahead OF us. We Il
re ready TO sail soon as the navy de- .
artment notifies us where we are TO dry =
ock.
III was Just as n YOU bruised your "
boulder in passing through door. We =
hay have been standing bit too near =
he eastward and the tide was carrying g
Ia in considerably, as IL was only an %
our before high tide
DANGEROUS ROCK. ..
An old seaman said: This is not the Z,
rst accident that has taken place on NJ
bis ledge Of rock. Several ships have n
truck It and some have gone down AZ
here We have been hollering long N
me for p buoy out there and now may Y
II well get It," NJ
The last ship To run on the ledge was
he Julia Ann, n fishing schooner. She y,
has returning from "A haul when she W
|truck the rock and went down with her M
i cargo and crew.
The naval fleet left here shortly after tu
O'Clock this morning I'm the fleet be- IN
des the Massachusetts, and those YES wi
BIS which returned with her. were tho n,
|earsarge, Illinois. Alabama. Texas. IN
lympia Baltimore. Topeka. Yankee.
anther. Prairie and the torpedo boat de- be
royer hotilla The fleet will go directly te
| oyster Ray. whore n will be reviewed in
/ the president. and then return 60 cf
ockland. Ne. whore % viii coal In prep a
ration for the joint army and navy 10,
|anoeuvres on Portland harbor VI
A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT. N