New-York tribune., 1904-10-03
MANY GUARD BATTLESHIP
Marines to Shoot IntruderS at Night
Tugs Constant Patrol.

Extraordinary precautions are being taken by
the authorities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard 10 pre-
vent a fourth attempt being made TO insure or de-
stroy the battleship Connecticut which was safely
launched last Thursday in spite OF the purpose OF
wreck the vessel
In addition to trebled guard OF marines by day
II is understood that detectives. both from the
government service and private agencies have been
SO placed as to enable them 10 detect the act OF
any treacherous workmen during the day. From
> p m. to S n. m Gordon Of marines is drawn
about the land side OF the boat. on tho water side
a navy yard tug keeps constant patrol. on her
decks marines with loaded muskets. Already
the decks have been fitted with arc lights, and to-
day more will be put in. so that It will be light
day aboard the ship
The marines have been ordered TO shoot any sus-
picious persons found around tho boat at night
If any is found tampering with the boat in the
daytime he Will DO lucky II he escapes with his
life.
The Workmen have been informed OF the das-
tardly attempts 10 injure the battleshIp. and
much wrought up over them. They realize. well
the naval officials that II is almost without the
range Of probability that the work OF boring holes
through the centre OF rivets and thick plates
and the driving OF bolt into the launching ways
under the water could have been accomplished ly
any stranger without detection.
Il is generally felt that the outrages were perps-
trated BY anarchist or crank under the free
dom given him as a member OF one OF tho con-
strucuon gangs Believing this, the officers IN
charge OF the work declare that they have not the
slightest suspicion 10 who the is. They
admit that he IS probably still enrolled OF
the workmen, and the fear that he may make some
more desperate attempt to wreck the vessel before
she IS completed is causing them little uneasiness
That there IS absolutely reason so far as they
imagine why anybody should want to damage
the boat and the cunning and persistence shown
in the three attempts to that end lead them to
conclude that some mechanic with disordered
mind has determined to wreak vengeance for some
imaginary wrong
II is for this reason that the officers decided 70
take the workmen into their confidence. and each
of the six hundred men VIII from now on be on
the shame OF the supposiuon that there is a
traitor among them and II any should be found. IL
is easy TO assume. his life would be in the grayes
danger.
The men, therefore have willingly yielded to the
more stringent orders that have been issued. No
workman will be allowed the boat before the
the afternoon. At the noon hour no workman Will
be allowed to stay aboard the boat. The vigilance
has not gone far yet as 10 have the worNmen
searched entering tie bstt, although II Is ad-
mitted that dynamite enough TO blow up the ves-
sci might be carried aboard the boat in work
mans blouse. No evidence OF any conspiracy has
developed.
The three attempts TO wreck the vessel by
boring a number of holes lengthwise through the
rvets fastening the keel plates; by placing
obstruction on the launching ways. long bolt
trude five six inches. and by boring a hole
about inch I'm diameter through the %s-nch steel
keel plates. This hole had been bored that on
the outside n hidden by the cradle, about
ten feet up from the bottom line OF the keel Thus
an inspection the outside Thursday morning
failed TO reveal It, The shrewd placing OF the
work done by mechanic thoroughly familiar
with the construction OF the ship.