Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-05
LEAKS UNDER CONTROL
CAPT. CoFFHAN REPORTS Re
oARDTNa THE BOSTON.

Capt. Coffman, commanding the cruiser
Boston, which grounded on Peabody rock.
| in Rosario straits, Monday, telegraphed the
Navy Department from Bellingham, near
Seattle. last night that the leaks in the
hull are under absolute control and that
he hopes to have the ship free Of water in
a few hours.
The Navy Department had previously
received the following from Capt. Coffman:
Boston grounded September on Pea
body rock. Rosario straits, and is leaking.
Navy yard tug has been wired to assist to
Bremerton navy yard. Divers examining
ships hull since early morning. So far
unable to locate any leaks. Water under
control"
A naval court OF inquiry will be appointed
to investigate the recent grounding of the
cruiser Boston and to fix che responsibility
were careless or negligent in the matter
they will be tried by court-martial
Lying in Deep Water.
A press dispatch from Belllngham says:
The cruiser Boston. which struck Peabody
rock in Rosario straits, about twenty-five
miles from here, Monday noon, is now
lying In deep water in this harbor in order
to give divers an opportunity to examine
the hull The vessel has taken consider
able water and has listed degrees to port.
Seven compartments are filed All the
life boats are provisioned and swung out
ready for instant use,
The ships diver. who is still at work.
mas FOUND seam three feet in length,
which is admitting water, but has not dis
covered any holes In the hull. The vessel
is believed to be badly wrenched Com
mander Coffman Is awaiting tugs to tow
the Boston to Bremerton.
The men are beginning to show the eff
rects OF the strain to- which they have
been subjected for twenty-four hours
The Boston was moving slowly in a dense
fog when the rock was sighted. The en-
g1nes were reversed, but it was too late
to save the cruiser. An opening was made
m her hull. through which the water
compartments were filled before the pumps
got into operation, but from that time on
rising.
the stranded vessel was signaled by the
Boston, and an effort Of an hour was made
to pull her free. Finally the rising tide
wmch throws a strong eddy from the Gulf
OF georgia into the strait. forced the Jones
to leave the Boston to her fate and proceed
to Bellingham without her.
Proceeded Under Her Own Steam.
The cruiser Boston reached Beliineham
under her own steam at o'clock. She
double purpose Of getting assistance, if
possible. and in order to be near a good
beach in case 1t became necessary to run
her ashore Commander Cofrman said:
1--WE are not in a sinking condition, or
should have beached the cruiser as soon rs
1 reached the harbor. The pumps are all
working and are disposing Of the water
easily. I cannot estimate the extent Of
the damage. but there Is nothing to. fear.
We were simply sailing in very dense fog
and ran on dry land. Our 800 men are all
very tired with yesterdays work, for 1t
was strenuous day with u.s.
A line of bluejackets. with string Of
buckets worked in conjunction with The
| pumps all night and yesterday to pr .vert
the Boston from going to the bottom.
The cruisers Boston and Princeton and
| the destroyer Paul Jones were directed to
leave Bremerton for Blaine for target prac-
tice: The Princeton has reached her lesti-
nation. The Boston and Paul Jones PLAN
ned to anchor at Bellfngham last night and
proceed early in the morning for the north
ern town. The order has been counter
manded and the future movements o. the
craft depend upon the outcome of the Bos-
ton accident.
The cruiser Boston was one of the first
vessels built for the new navy. She was
launched on December 4, 1884 at the Roach
shipyard at Chester, Pa. and with her sis
ter ship, the Atlanta, was at that time con-
sidered as approaching the highest type Of
modern cruiser. OF late years. however.
she has been superseded by far superior
craft. She is 2s8 feet in length, AZ feet
| beam and % feet In depth. Her displace-
ment Is $500 tons.
She rates as a second-class protected
| cruiser. She is Of steel. with one screw.
Her indicated horse power is 1890 and her
speed fifteen knots.
She carries two 8-inch breech-loading
guns, six 6-inch breechloading guns two
6-p0und, two 3-pound and two 1-pound
rapid-fre guns. two 3-pound revolving can
| non and two Calling machine guns Her
crew consists of 272 men.
The Boston won fame as a member Of
Dewey's feet which won the battle OF
Manila.