Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-18
THE PRESIDENT
Reviews Great Gathering Of Our
Famous Warships.
First Occasion of the Kind in History
Of the Country.
WarIike Tinge Given by Barry Ram
ming the Decatur.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. 17-PreSident
Roosevelt, today, enjoyed q unique dis
tinction, and at the same time confer
red distinction unique upon the
American navy. For the first time in
the history of the country the President
reviewed and inspected, in time of
peace, a great feet of United States
Warships.
The ceremony was magnificent and
impressive naval spectacle. 1t was un-
marred by the slightest mishap until at
its conclusion, when the torpedo boat
destroyer Barry rammed the destroyer
Decatur fortunately doing little dam
age. The incident, however, was ex-
citing. 1t occurred just at the moment
when the President was receiving con-
gratulations upon the success of the
maneuvres.
The first squadron of destroyers, con-
sisting of the Decatur, cambridge.
Barry, Dale and Chauncey, all under
command of Lient L. H. Chandler was
approaching the Mayfiower at Full
speed. The vessels were in close form
alton. Orders were signaled from the
Decatur to the other vessels to form
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 We're 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 Mayf1ower she appeared to
be sinking
The MayfloWer's boats were manned
instantly, but were not lowered, as the
Decatur was seen to right herself In
few minutes she hoisted a signal of
NO serious damage" Later she was
steered alongside the Mayfiower and
Lieut.. Chandler reported that while his
ship had received bad bump on the
starboard quarter, she was not mate
rally damaged. The injury was plain
ly evident from the deck of the Nav
Hover. She had been struck about half
way between her stern and midshp.
and large dent had been pushed into
her plates. At that point the plates
are only an eight of an inch in thick
ness. Fortunately they We're not
broken. and the vessel made no water.
The side for about 20 feet and the star
board rail was damaged, but otherwise
the vessel was intact The Barry.
which had struck the Decatur a glanc-
ing blow. had her bow crumpled by the
collision, but she was not injured
otherwise
The accident put a sudden stop to
the maneuvres of the destroyers'
squadron, the cambridge. Dale and
Chauncey standing by the two in col
lision. Boats We're lowered from two
OF them, but after a casual examination
OF the injuries to the Barry and De-
catur the boats officers and crews re-
turned to their vessels. Admiral
Dewey ordered Lieut.. Chandler to pro-
coed with the vessels to the BROOKLYN
navy yard, where such repairs as NAV
be necesSitated may be made quickly
After the damage has been repaired,
the squadron will rejoin the fleet to
continue the summer maneuvres.
Admiral Rogers. who was on board
the Mayfiower and is commandant of
the Brooklyn navy yard, said the re
pairs to the two injured vessels could
be made very quickly.
President Roosevelt, who was in
tently watching the squadron of de-
stroyers when the accident occurred,
remarked that such accidents, es-
pecially to destroyers, were likely to
occur at any time. In the execution of
war maneuvres some chances. he said,
must be taken, and if the time ever
should come when the navy was afraid
of the paint of vessel it's efficiency
would deteriorate materially
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 collision.
In commenting upon the accident,
Admiral Dewey stated that really it
amounted to little and would delay the
vessels in their movements only a few
days. He said that such an accident
was part of the war game and must
at times be expected.