Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-13
Three Times the Huge Structure Was
Adrift.
TOWING APPARATUS INJURED
Weather Encountered Has Been I'm
usual in the Latitude Traversed
Now at the Canary Islands.

I1uSlSg, commanding the L. =. -. GLACIER,
flagship of the drydock Dewey expedition.
an interesting narrative is gwen of the trip
from Hampton Roads to Las Pslmas. Can
aries. The report is dated February il,
at sea"
Our progress" says the report. has not
beer, at all satisfactory since reaching the
fortieth meridian of longitude. owing to a
never-endlng succession of winds and seas
from the eastward. These winds most seri-
ously retarded the progress OF the dock and,
most unfortunately. have held from
southwark and eastward with such persist
eacy that the northeast trade winds have
blown away of the coast. and, as a result
We ran into them at least three hundred
miles north of their usual northern limit at
this season of the year. This rendered Il
necessary for our making most Of the trip
against the wind and sea. on but lew oc-
casions have we had any wind that favored
us in our easterly trip.
That the department may see the hard
luck, in the way of weather. which We On
countered. / inclose a memorandum show
ing the wind. state Of tie weather and sea
since our departure. This memorandum mas
been made up from the ships log and shows
a most exasperating continuance NJ 'asteTly
winds and seas in about latitude - degrees,
where winds variable In direction and Occa-
sional Gains would be expected AT this sea
son of the year. The delay has been most
unfortunate, as It necessitatcs our touching
at some port before reaching Port said
Expenditure of Coal and Water.
THE numerous accidents TO towing outfit
have resulted in an unlooked-for expendl-
ture of water and coal on the dock, rem
dered necessary by working the capstans
and windlass in picking up brides and tow
ing spans, Keeling in lines etc. On some
days the expenditure OF water ran up TO
5000 gallons, while the usual daily needs
of the dock require but 100 gallons. These
unexpected calls on the supply have re-
duced Il tc such an extent that II would
be imprudent IL not impossible to 60
through to Port Said without a stop. and
/ prefer the Canaries to one of the Medi-
terranean ports for reftting OF our no.
tila. Owing to the unexpected length OF
the passage across all the towing vessels
have used up much coal and water that
they are very light. and have lost a great
deal of towing power. shall therefore
take considerable coal and water on all or
the ships.
Owing to our various mishaps, the trip
thus far has been a most destructive ono
for gear in the way of hawsers, running
lines and small stuff.
Towing Machines Damaged.
The towing machines on both the Caeser
and Brutus are damaged. but | think We
can put them in some kind of shape on the
arrival of the extra parts from home and
by using the spare parts now on board the
various vessels. The Caesars can stili
be used for Keeling in wire, butted absft the
machine. The Caesars machine was dis
abled on the 9Th of January, and the Bru-
tus' the 18th of January. l shall have to
have a few castings made at Las Palmas
TO complete the work. On both occasions
OF disabling no attempt was made to pro-
coed. The Golfers and dock were heading
wind and sea, engines just turning over,
leading collier TO maintain ships head
while dock and both GOLFERS were drifting
10 leeward.
Commander Hosey says that in ordi-
nary weather the Glacier, Caesar and Bru-
tus have towed the dock and Potomac and
In bad weather the Glacier has usually cast
off. In the latter event the Glacier would
tow the Potomac. unless The weather was
exceptionally bad
Dock Three Times Adrift.
During the voyage over the dock was
adrift three times. OF these experiences
Commander Hosley reports:
THE first time was on January 10.
There was a very long, heavy swell from
northward to eastward All the vessels
were rolling and pitching, the ships max
imum roll being 80 degrees. AT 1925 the
wire line between the Brutus and the dock
parted about the center. We AT once cast
off from the Caesar. The Caesar ana Bru-
tus remained coupled UP until the dock was
again picked up at about lbs pm. the
following day, by the Potomac running a
line to the Brutus. On TINS occasion the
Brutus sustained considerable damage TO
her rail, which j hope TO have repaired at
Las PaImas. During the night the dock
was adrift the crew of the dock got bride
and span on dock, so the Brutus put IN
place q new wire line and we went ahead
again. On the second occasion. which was
on January 25, the damage was greater
This happened in moderate gale, with
rough sea from southeast. The barometer
had fallen to 29.T0 and the weather had
been bad for couple of days The dock
was kept head to sea by the Caesar ana
Brutus the Brutus engines being stopped,
that of the Caesar just turning over and
the dock and all drifting to northwafd ana
westward. II was very rough mat htsnt'
and by noon we had all drifted about sixty
three miles north sixteen degrees west. Inc
weather and sea moderated somewhat IN
the afternoon and night, the W-nc hduIiHs
to southwark and westward and changing
the drift of the dock. At noon on the 2Ith
we were able to get hold of the dock again,
although there was a very long sea rolIlne-
Between the Potomac and Brutus. stu IN
tow of Caesar. assisted by a Whale Dodb
from this ship. we got dock in tow, the wire
line being shackled TO chain bride at
Brutus' stern, the dock being started again
on its proper course at about I'D pm
The chain bride broke again at stern OF
Rr11tus on January %, and the dock was
adrift This time she was finally got in
tow not far from where she dt1fted pre-
viously. This time the dock was taken IN
tow from the other end, while the Manila
snans In the forward end We're being re-
paired. Commander Hosley adds that there
have been no serious accidents 10 the per-
sonnet OF the fiotilla, although many minor
injuries have been suffered owing To the
parting of the gear. He commends the
work of the officers and crew. Fortunately
there was much rain and In that way the
fiotiIIa was able to obtain rain water ana
avoid a water famine. Great difficulty was
experienced In coaling the Glacier at sea.
May Leave by the 10th.
cable message was received at the
Navy Department from Commander Hosley
at Las Paimas this morning. saying that
although the material for the dock arrived
on the 9th instant, the work was being de-
layed by the lack OF riveters, but that IL
ought to be finished by the 10th instant, In
which event the trip toward the Philippines
would be resumed on that date or imme-
diately thereafter.
Presidential Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate yesterday confirmed the fol-
lowing nominations:
Gebhard wiIrich. Wisconsin. consul nj 81. John.