The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-05
ARMED MEN GUARD
ILLINOIS IN DOCK
PrecautiOn Against At
tempt TO Injure Her.
SEARCHING FOR THE CULPRIT
WoTkmen Eager to Find the Traitor
and His Fate May Be Sum
mary Justice.


yard because of the attempts 10 lujure
The batteship Connecticut, and the be-
lief of the officers that no vessel IN the
yard is safe so long as the plouteTs
remain undiscovered, were shown By the
extraordinary precautions taken TO safe /
guard the battleship Illinois when she
was put into drydock yesterday.
The guard OF marines thrown around
her is equally as strong as that on
duty about the Connecticut.
Warships in commission are supposed
20 look after their own welfare when
anchored OF tied up at the whaIves at
the navy yard, but when under con-
strucJion or repairs, or in drydocF. the
officers OF the navy yard must safe
guard them against accidents or in
jury The elaborate preparations for
the docking of the Illinois were ar
ranged by the navy yard officials.
Baxter in Charge.
Naval Constructor Baxter was in
charge OF the woIs So long as the
officers do not know who the pIotters
are who would injure the Connecticut
or now many are ia the plot, or whether
The attempts 10 injure the vessel are TO
be directed against the Connecticut
alone, o. other ships Of the navy they
realize that misplaced keel blocks or
other malicious interference with the
arrangements for docking the vessel
might result very seriously, and orders
were given 10 all engaged in the work
to be sharply on the watch and see
that everything was in proper shape for
docking the vessel
Secret Service men who have been on
duty at the yard trying 10 find out what
IS the reason for the existence OF the
plot to iniure the Connecticut. and who
are implicated in it, believe that they
have clue that viii expose the plot
and put the guilty persons in their
hands, and. while they could have made
an arrest yesterday, they are holding Off
in order TO round up all concerned. and
fear 20 Brighten and give a chance TO
escape 70 some of the guilty II an arrest
is made AT once.
Two officers were talking at the navy
yard yesterday. They were approached
By an Official of the yard, who asked
them If there was ANYTHING significant
In the attempted suicide of James Nc
hennas an emplOye on the Connecticut.
Could Have Made an Arrest.
"Oh, he's not the man" said one of
the officers In tone that implied that
The guilty man was known and that Nc
henna was not implicated. The officers
then said that they could have made an
a4lest yesterday; BUT Tor the reason exc
livery eEorL Is being made by the Off
clals an the navy yard 10 narrow down
me number or employees who by reason
cL LEeit "oEh 1a0 access 10 that portion
OF the nun OF the Connecticut that was
FIucJl urea 20 me individual who com
Iulrtel t1e deed.
The men now all know that the sus-
Eecl is within their ranks. FOR there has
Deen no one discharged since the per-
petr4LDn OF the outrage Naval Con
structqr Baxter said. "I fully expect
that -Ley viii ferret him out for their
acti5as Sra wa5 a5 f b3 fS every 5y5l man
me gang IN which he is employed.
Not a Diver
''As to the identity OF the person who
drove the spike into the launching ways
there is no reason why others than reg
ular divers could not have done IT,
Where the spike was found the water
ls about three feet deep at low tide and
- gre nave ur suspicion or the divers
employed here We believe the bolt was
placed mere DE some one who IS Ia
ni-lar Hi-l dock building methods.
Spikes and bolts are frequently driven
INFO wood under water Dy placing "a
i.-E-- az IRON pipe C1 end with the
upon 4lel 20 ls su easy matter 10 oOTe
me hole necessary Insert the bolt and
drive IL DT the use OF al heavy weight
pulled dp and doWL the inside OF the
This could have been done after the
close or work an O'Clock al night and
doubt very much IL "a sentry would
have stopped the worker or workers
Hi-s Do "a boat could have proceeded
Ll-l LleF accomplished their purpose.
OF course He are investigating along
every c-eH shat offers itself.
Broke Her Back.
1Iv belief ls." be said. that the bolt
would have stripped the pIauking from
the cradle until q sufficient quantity had
piled up underneath 20 stop the further
launching OF the ship Then, with all
het great "=-EaL supported only amid
sMps. me railing tide would have Left
her ends almost free and she would
nave broken t.l Laahr -A sea IaE.alnH.
before the ways could have beer. cleared.
d only hope the person who did in feels
as worried about 10 as II did before the
i---4cll-e LElea-Hs him would almost
secret Service men are plentiful I'm the
Earl, ana every new face seen gazing
upon me laltlasL-p as she lies 40 the
end OF the dock is believed 10 belong TO a
detective according 10 the men Not
person approaches the Connecticut who
vs. NOT carefully scrurulZed by the guard.
as wei as 1y persons VINO are ln the
The night illumination was continued
last night 1E the receiving ship Ham
cock powerful seurcl-lslt has been
set Ht "a point half Way up the main
mast OF The ship. and ITS beams cover
tGe waters about Tla baLtIeshiu Be
sides this launches with armed marines
aTe performing picket duty near the
ship.
W aLcAlnG the Man.
EVERY preeautiou is being taken to
properly guard the ship" said Captain
TLempEiI. D.. S. h.. captain OF the yard.
yesterday should any person be APP
pretended 10 would be my duty % turn
him over ta the civil authorities That
lE. IL Doe arrived here intact" and the
captain smiled.
one Of the ouLCOmes OF the attempts
10 wreck tHe Connecticut Us the aTgus-
Ing OF Grants who nave plans 20 wipe
our all the uayies Of the earth Rear
Admiral Cegnlaur the commandment OF
the yard received letter from a man
yesterday who offered - sell 10 the
Government plan Of his own 90 oe-
Elr1E every other navy on the earth
From this plan, which Is guaranteed.
the inventor wanted $50 GO. and he de-
Clared the only reason why he made tle
price SO small was because bee was "a
patriotic American Al the same time
Always Remember the Full Nam