Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-04
tors letter of April l. 1904 there vyrre

tors letter of April 1, 1904. there were
discovered on March 81. in compart-
ment B-M. two rivets in frame ssh,
connecting the forward frame angle to
the keel plate. whose heads had ben
Clipped off. holes drilled completely
| through them and the rivets forced
down into the keel block beneath by
heavy pressure: one being on the port
side and driven about a half inch into
| the block and one on the starboard
side and driven about one inch into the
block. Attention is invited in the nav
| al constructors report above referred
to to the fact that excellent workman
snip was displayed in drilling through
these b.. Its and excellent Judgment
was :. II in determining the place to
destn,y them by cutting out the rivets
| over t' keel block where there would
have been no leakage from the out
side Of the ship while the compartment
was under test pressure.
"On Sept. IA. while the diver was
sw eepins the under water portion OF
The WAYS on the Connecticut, there
was found a bolt about tx inches in
diameter which was located about mid
width of the Starboard under water
way and about half wa between the
intersection Of the ways with Nv
water and the end This bolt was
driven into the ways and projected up
about six inches. making an obstruc-
ton which would have caused serious
injury during the launching and might
have entirely prevented it.
These Ways had previously been in
spected ny the di"er. at which time no
such bolt was found. Following the
discovery of this bolt the naval con-
structor. us authorized by the COM
mandant. stationed aboard ship keepers.
around the ways and made previ.;.r.
for having light under and around ,i.-
Connecticut at all times, and uf.-.r.=
of this department We're constantly On
duty in this connection day and night
ana made periodical inspections lr-
tween the hours Of sunset and sunrise
and never less than three times elch
night.
"On "Wednesday. the 2Sth of Septe.n-
her. the quarterman ship filter in
charge of the Connecticut. the quarter
man riveter and The leading man r!v-
eter in charge of tie testing gang.
made 4 thol ough ana complete nspec.
ton Of each watertight compartment
of the vessel and after these cor:paIt-
ments We're inspected the manhule
cover Was closed down and fastened
The result Of these in:.nections WAS re-
ported and everything was at that time
secure and in good condition. After
the launch on the o9th il vas f,und
that compartment B-SS, Uhe port after
boiler room reserve feed ,ank), was
making aNtrt. The pumps were START
ed and the water was KEEP, una y con-
troll.
1t was finally decided to permit the
COMPARING ut 10 be entirely full close all
air pipe" md drain valves, and let the
compartr. ut remain full the night of the
18th. l ''- 'as accordingly done and the
compartI1 ut was inspected after 1t was
full ana he inner bottom and sounding
frames ahi longitudInalS were seen to b,
absolutely tight. and no damage resulted
to the ship.
''On the morning of the 3Oth Of Sep
temler the pump was started The COM
partment was pumped down and the uuir.
terInan rlVeier Went into the compart-
ment when the water was about i've inch
es from the bottom and discovered thar 4
H-iroh hole had been drilled through the
62. outboard of the third water-tight long
ltudinal. and about three inches from the
edge of the shell lap. The location chosen
ter drilling this hole was over the pack
ing on the sliding ways where it would
have been Impossible to detect ITS pres
ence from the outside. The location of tie
noe from working purposes b"i,'. uhru-
luttiy worthless indicates that ID vas
done maliciCusly. An examination of the
compartment ard hole by A-sislaE. ~
val Constructor Robinson Of this depart
ment. indicates that the hole was drilled
from the inside. This hole has been safely
plugged and the manhoc cover fastened
down and can safely remain in this con,li-
ton until such time as the VCSSt. Is tut
in dock
THE official records of this depa rtmrnt
show that compartment B-SS was tested
head Of - feet ~ inches. and WIS, abSo-
lutel' 'Ght This was doLc in The i,r, IT.
e1IC' officer Of this depn rtmeIIt The
outs h lating in wake of the entire crn-
de '1,'~ built in place and was then In
pcrfc, condition.
In view OF these malicious acts which
involved danger to the ship and possible
loss of life of the men employed thereon,
Ii is respectfully recommended that the
ship be brightly Illuminated both day and
night: that special watchmeri of mechani-
raI ability be employed, and that all en-
ployes on the ship be informed Of these
malicious acts. in order that each one of
hem may feel that il is his duty to guard
against their recurrence.
In forwarding this report to the depart
nent. Admiral Rodgers, commandant OF
he ward. saws:
The recommendations of the naval
in the matter have been APP
lruved and are being carried out Fur
her precautions are being taken to guard
he ship at night and she IL cleared of all
yorkmen during the noon hour. a lib
raj number of special watChmen should
rant on nf,sh NIT hn OH