The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-10-04
CONSPIRACY TO DAMAGE
 WARSHIP CONNECTICUT
OFFICIAL STATEMENT MADE BY
 NAYK DEPARTMENT.

Work of skilled Ieehanic-Live.
 Might Have Been Lost at Launching
 Livery PrecautiOn Now Taken to
 Protect the Ship.
 Washington, oct. s.-After delaying some time in the hope that. by working in secret, detectives might be able to discover the person or persons who have been making various attempts to damage the battleship Connecticut in the New York navy yard, the navy de- lpartment to-day decided to publish the latest report in the case from William J. Baxter, the constructor in charge at New York. The department believes that publicity now will make for the protection of the vessel in the future.
 The report reads:
 "As reported in the naval construc- tors letter of April 1, 1904, there wera discovered on March 31, in compart< ment B S7, two rivets in frame 5S1z. lconnecting the forward frame angle to the keel plate, whose heads had been lchipped off, holes drilled completely through them, and the rivets forced down into the keel block beneath by heavy pressure; one being driven on the port side about half an inch into the block, and one on the starboard side driven about one inch into the block.
 Attention is invited in the naval constructor's report above referred to to the fact that excellent workmanship was displayed in drilling through these rivets and excellent judgment was shown in determining the place to de- stroy them by cutting out these rivets over the keel block, where there would have been no leakage from the outside of the ship while the compartment was under test pressure.
 "On September IA, while the diver Twas sweeping the under-water portion iof the ways on the Connecticut, there was found bolt about one and three ieights inches in diameter, located about lmid-with of the starboard underwater lway and about half way between the intersection of the ways with low water and the end. This bolt was driven into the way and projected up about six inches, making an obstruction which twould have caused serious injury dur ling the launch and might have entirely prevented it.
 Called Out a Guard.
 "These ways had previously been in- lspected by the diver, at which time no lsuch bolt was found. Following the discovery of this bolt the naval con istructor, as authorized by the com mandant, stationed additional ship keepers during the day, and at night lstationed four armed ship-keepers Earound the ways and made provision flor having light under and around the Connecticut at all times
 Officers of this department were lconstantly on duty in this connection day and night, and made periodical in lspections between the hours of sunset land sunrise, and never less than three times each night.
 "On Wednesday, the 18th of Septem- lber, the quarterman shipfitter in charge lof the Connecticut, the quarterman riv- leter and the leading man riveter in lcharge of the testing gang made d thorough and complete inspection of
 
 vessel, and after these compartments were inspected the manhole cover was lclosed down and fastened.
 The result of these inspections was reported and everything was at that ltime secure and in good condition.
 After the launch on the 18th it was found that compartment B-S8 (the port Iafter boiler room reserve feed tank) Twas making water. The. pumps were started and the water was kept under control. It was finally decided to per- init the temperament to be entirely full, close all her pipes and drain valves and let the compartment remain full during the night of the 29th.
 This was accordingly done, and the compartment was inspected after it was full, and the inner bottom and sound ling frames and longitudinals were seen to be absolutely tight, and no damage resulted to the ship.
 Second Hole Discovered.
 "On the morning of the S0th of Sep- tember the pump was started, the com partment was pumped down, and the quarterman riveter went into the com | RelA IlAlSllt sWllSll lllG sWdIGE was dDOuE five inches from the bottom, and dis covered that three-quarter- inch hole had been drilled through the outside Ishell plate between frames 61 and 62, outboard of the third watertight longi- , Itudinal and about three inches from the . edge of the shell lap
 . "The location chosen for drilling this hole was over the packing on the slid- ling ways, where it would have been . impossible to detect it's presence from the outside. The location of the hole for working purposes being absolutely useless, indicates that it was done ma liciously.
 An examination of the compartment and hold by Assistant Naval Construc- tor Robinson, of this department, indi- cates that the hole was drilled from the inside. This hole has been safely plug ged and the manhole cover fastened down, and can safely remain in this : condition until such time as the vessel is put in dock.
 "The official records of this depart ment show that compartment B-S8 was tested on the 24th of March at water pressure head of 27 feet AZ inches and i, lWas absolutely tight. This was done