The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-26
NAVAL OFFICER PRAISED
Warship Illinois Was Saved From
Destruction by Capt. Bradford.
FINDINGS OF COURT OF INQUIRY

Il Has Just Been Learned How Mar.
rowly the eattlcship Escaped Being
Sunk, with All On Board, In Collision
With the Missouri on Guantanamo.
Washington. March %. - Captain
Royal Bird Bradford. commanding the
baiilcship Illinois, is warmly com
mended in tlt findings Of the court Of
inquiry which Investigated the collision
OF the Missouri and Illinois on Guam
tanamO. for bis splendid scamanshlp.
which, the report says. saved the Hi
nOis from what would almost lneyit-
ably have proved her total destruction
had II not been for the excellent Iudg-
ment shown by her captain at several
critical moments.
The findings Of the court are to- the
effect that the possibility for the ac-
cident cannot be- placed, as IL was due
entirely To the failure or the steam
steering gear OF the Missouri to work
at "A critical moment
That the Missouri narrowly escaped
being sunk, with all on board and that
she was saved only by the quick and
accurate judgment OF her commander,
assisted by the commander Of the Mis-
souri,. Captain W. 5. COwles. who did
everything in his power to prevent the
collision. was not known at the de-
partment until the official findings Of
the court were received. The report
shows that while the Illinois and Mis-
souri, were cruising abreast at dis
lance Of 500 yards apart the Missouri
suddenly gave a lurch in the direction
OF the Illinois. Captain Bradford there
upon swung his ship around in the
same direction. and the Missouri
crossed in the rear OF the Illinois and
fell behind IL was supposed that the
steering gear Of the Missouri was again
In working order. aud she started
ahead at full speed 10 regain her place
IN the line alongside the Illinois. but
when 400 yards on her steering gear
again failed. and once more the Mis-
souri, an high speed started for the
Illinois which was cruising al 10 knots.
so rapidly was The Missouri coming
toward him that Captain Bradford gave
an order 10 reverse The engines. intend
ing to back the Illinois and give the
Missouri a free way across her bow.
but NJ the same moment Captain
Cowle.. grasping the danger of the sit
uation. ordered the Missouri's engines
reversed. and within a minute both
ships We're backing and soon would
have colliGcd. Captain Bradford wait
cd until the Missouri had passed the
median line ~ the Illinois, which he
figured would De- the turning point. and
quickly started his ship forward again
IN the EFFORT to swing the Illinois
around before the Missouri should
strike her II was impossible for the
Illinois 10 get ont or the Misaouri's
way in time, bat this Vancouver saved
Captain Bradiold's ship from a blow
amidships. which II IS believed would
have proved her destruction
Rear Admiral Capps. chief cOnstruc-
tor OF the navy, has returned to the
navy department from New York
where he inspected the Illinois. lie re-
ports that the strut Of the Illinois is
broken and her propeller shaft bent
The shaft will be removed and an ef-
fort made to straighten it. II this is
unsuccessful It will be necessary to
make a new shaft and It is probable
that this will require at least six
months II will prove a serious en-
barrassment to the navy for the Illi-
nois to be laid up for a half year. and
every effort will be made to repair the
injured shaft