The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-04
ATTEMPTS TO RUIN
The CONNECTICUT
NAVY DEPARTMENT REPORT
Upon THE THREE EFFORTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE.

This Is the BattIeship Launched a
Few Days Ago and that the Gov
crnment Is BuiIding-It Would
Seem That Someone Connected
With the Work Is Seeking to
Effect the Damage-MOre Safe
guards Are to BE Adopted.
Washington, Oct. 3.-After delaying
some time in the hope that by working
in secret detectives might be able to
discover the persons who have been
making various attempts to damage
the battleship Connecticut in the New
York navy yard. the Navy Department
to-day concluded to publish the latest
report in the case from William J.
Baxter, the naval constructor in
charge at New York, feeling that pub
licity now will make toward the pro-
lection of the vessel in the future from
d repetition of such attempts. The
report says:
''As reported in the naval construc-
tors letter of April /, 1904, there were
discovered on March 81, in compart-
IIlCIl D-oi tNO AlNOlo III IIdlllG Uo72s
connecting the forward frame angle
to the keelplate, whose heads had
been Clipped off, holes drilled COM
pletely through them and the rivets
forced down into the keelblock be-
meath by heavy pressure.
"On Sept. A. while the diver was
sweeping the underwater portion of
the ways on the Connecticut, there was
found a bolt about 13s inches in diam
eter, which was located about mid
way with the starboard underway and
about half way between the intersec-
tion of the ways with low water and
the end. This bolt was driven into
the ways and projected up about six
inches, making an obstruction which
would have caused serious injury dur
ing the launching and might have en-
tirely prevented it.
Guards Then Posted.
These ways had previously been
inspected by the divers, at which time
no such bolt was found. Following
the discovery of this bolt, the naval
constructor, as authorized by the COM
mandant, stationed additional ship
keepers during the day and at night
stationed four armed shipkeepers
dlOAHQ lHG ways anu HldQG ptONtSAOH
for having light under and around the
Connecticut at all times, and officers
of this department were constantly OIL
duty in this connection-day and night
and made periodical inspections be-
tween the hours of sunset and sunrise,
and never less than three times each
night.
"On Wednesday night Sept. 2S, the
quarterman shipfitter-in- charge of the
(FnnnaNfiouf ViUprfRr
and leading man riveter in charge of
the testing gang, made a thorough and
complete inspection in each water
tight compartment on the vessel, and
after these compartments were in
spected the manhole cover was closed
down and fastened. The result of
these inspections was reported, and
everything was at that time secure and
in good condition. After the launch on
Sept. 20, it was found that compart-
ment B-SS was making water. The
pumps were started and the water
was kept under control.
Hole Drilled In the Side.
ION the morning of Sept. 80. 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-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
it would have been impossible to de-
tect it's presence from the outside. The
location Of the hole for working pur-
poses being absolutely useless, indi-
Gates that it was done maliciously. An
examination of the compartment and
hole by Assistant Naval Constructor
Robinson of this department indicates
that the hole was drilled from the in
side.
I'm view of these malicious acts,
which involved danger to the ship and
possible loss of life of the men employ
ed thereon. it is respectfully recon-
mended that the ship be brightly illum-
mated both day and night; that special
watchmen of mechanical ability be en-
ployed, and that all employees on the
ship be informed of these malicious
acts, in order that each one of them
may feel that it is his duty to guard
against their recurrence"
The recommendations of the naval
constructor were approved by Admiral
Rodgers, Chief Naval Constructor
Capps and by Assistant Secretary