The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07

Washington Oct. 3.-After delaying
some time in the hope that by work
ing in secret, detectives might be able
to discover the persons who AVE
been making various attempts TO
damage the battleship Connecticut in
the New York navy yard. the navy
department today concluded to pub
lish the latest report I'm the case OF
William j. Baxter. the constructor in
charge at New York. feeling that
publicity now will make toward the
from a repetition OF such attempts.
The repor says:
AS reported in the naval construc-
tors letter OF April i. 1a04. there
were discovered on March 81. in COM
partment B-S7. two rivets in frame
SIS IL. connecting the forward frame
angle 10 the keel plate. whose heads
had been Clipped off. holes drilled
completely through them and the
rivets forced down into the keel
block beneath by heavy pressure.
"On September II. while the diver
was sweeping the underwater portion
OF the ways on the Connecticut there
was found a bolt about / SIS inches in
diameter, which was located about
mid-width of the starboard under
waterway and about half way be-
tween the intersection OF the ways
with low water and the end. This
bolt was driven into the ways and
- 49,. -
an obstruction which would cause
serious injury during the launching.
and might have entirely prevented IL.
These ways had previously been
inspected by the diver. at which time
no such bolt was found. Following
the discovery of this bolt the naval
constructor as authorized by the COM
man6ant. stationed additional ship
keepers during the day. and at night
stationed -four armed ship keepers
around the ways and made provision
for having light under and-around the
Connecticut at all times. and officers
of this department were constantly
on duty in this connection day and
night, n made periodical inspec-
tons tive the hours of sunset and
sunrise, and never less han three
each night.
oH tuIltSudS. lHe [5lu Vi sep
tember, the quartera!an shipfitter, In
charge of the Connecticut. the quar-
terman riveter and the leading man
riveter, in charge OF the testing gang,
made a thorough and complete in
spection OF each water-tight compart-
ment on the vessel and after these
compartments were inspected the
manhole cover was put down and fas-
tened. The result Of these inspections
vrarn remarked and nyGFythfnu We ~
that time secure and in good condi-
ton. After the launching on the 2sth
ii was found that compartment B-Ss
was making water. The pumps were
started n the water was kept under
control.
"On the morning OF the goth OF
September the pump was started, the
compartment was pumped down and
the quarterman riveter went into the
| compartment when the water was
about five inches OF the bottom and
! discovered that a ia inch hole had
been drilled through the outside shell
plate. The location chosen for drilling
this hole was over the packing on the
sliding ways. where IL would have
been impossible to detect its presence
from the outside. The location OF the
hole for working being alb
solutely useless. indicates that Il was
done malicously. An examination of
the compartment and hole by Assist
ant Naval Constructor Robinson. OF
this department. indicates that the
hole was drilled from the inside.
In view of these malicious acts.
which involved danger TO the ship and
possible loss Of life OF the men en-
ployed thereon, II Is respectfully rec
commended that the ship be brightly
illuminated day and night; that
special watchmen be employed, and
that all employees on the ship be in
formed of these malicious acts in
order that each one Of them may feel
that IL is his duty TO guard against
their recurrence.
The recommendations Of the naval
constructor were approved by Adj
mirai Rodgers. Chief Naval Construc-
tor Caps and by Assistant Secretary
Darling.