Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-08-20
A Big FLEET REVIEWED
Warsaips Pass Before President Roose'
vel! in the Sound.
BERRY RAMMED THE DECATUR
Thrltu& Incident at the Close Of the Evolutlons
AT tho Time OF the Collision The De-
streyers Were Runa!ng at q Speed OF "
Kaots-The Blow Was TrsMendous-No
Material Camake Done.

Oyster Bay (Special) For the hrs'
time in the history of the country the
President of the United States Monday
reviswed and inspected, in time of peace
a great feet of United States warshlps
The ceremony was a magnificent and I'M
pressive naval spectacle.
1t was unmarried by the slightest mis-
hap until just at it's conclusion, when
the torpedo-boat destroyer Barry ram
ned the destroyer Decatur, fortunately
however, doing little damage.
The incident was exciting. 1t occurrcc
Just at the moment when the President
was receiving congratulations upon the
success of the mancuvers.
He first squadron of dcstroyera con
sisted of the Decatur, Bainbridge, Barry
Dale and Chauncev all under command
Of Lieut.. L. II. Chandler, and was ap,
preaching the Mayilower at fun speed
The vessel. were in close formation.
Orders were sigralcd from the De
7atur to the other vessels to iorm
wedge. In executing the orders the De
catur swung across the bow OF the
Barry. An instant later the Barry ram
med her OH the starboard side. AS the
ships were running at speed OF x
lnots the blow was tremendous lhi
Decatur listed sharply to port ana
seemed to be in serious distress. Fror
the Mayfower she appeared to be sink
ing.
The Maynower's boats were nannct
instantly, but were not lowered. as the
Decatur was seen to right herself. In {
few minutes she hoistcd signal of "nt
serious damage" Later she stcamec
alongside the Mayfower and Lleuten
ant Chandler reported that while hl
ship had received a bad bump on th'
starboard quarter she was not material'N
damaged The injury was plainly cvi'
dent from the deck of the ,Maytiowcr
She had been struck about halfway be
tween her stern and midship, and a
large dent had been made in her plates
The starboard rail was damaged, but
otherwise the vessel was intact. lhe
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
paneuvcrs OF the destroyer squadron.
The vessels came to an immediate stop,
the cambridge, Dale and Chaunccy
standing by the two in collision. Boats
were lowered from two OF them, but
after casual examination OF the in
juries to the Barry and Decatur the
boats returned to their vessels.
Admiral Dewey ordered Lieutenant
Chandler to proceed with the FIVE yes
seis to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, whert
such repairs as may be necessary could
be made quickly, Alter the damage
has been repaired the squadron will re-
Join the fleet and continue the sum-
mer maneuvers.
President Roosevelt, who was intent
Iy watching the squadron OF destroyer.
when the accident occurred, remarked
that such accidents, especially to de
stroyers, were likely to occur at any
time. In the execution OF war ma
neuvcrs 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 a vessel its
efficiency would detcrioratc materially.