The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-01-08
BATTLESHIP SQUADRON
 IN SERIOUS DANGER
KEARSARGE AND KENTUCKY GO AGROUND WHILE PUTTING
 TO SEA.

Alabama and Illinois Following Next
 in Line--FOrmer Unable to Change
 Her Course in Time Strikes the Ken
 lucky Badly Damaging the StarbOard
 Side Above the Waterline--IllinOis
 Just Gets Clear of the Tangle--Yes-
 sels Later Re1iOated.
 New York, Jan. 7.-While the battle- ship squadron under command of Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans was proceed ing to sea to-day the battleships Rear sarge and Kentucky ran aground in the lower harbor off the west bank light, The Alabama and Illinois were follow ing next in line, and before they could alter their course the Alabama collid- ed with the Kentucky, striking her a glancing blow. The Illinois just got clear of the tangle and proceeded down the bay, anchoring outside the bar with the flagship Maine, The accident oc- cured shortly after 1 p, m.,
 The Alabama remained by to render assistance to the Kentucky and Kear- sarge and wireless messages were sent to the Brooklyn navy yard for tugs.
 At 2:45 the Kearsarge and Kentucky both were floated, and started for sea, accompanied by the Alabama, The Kentucky, however, was ordered back, and returned to Tompkinsville, Where she anchored late this afternoon.
 The Maine, Illinois, Alabama and Kearsarge remained off the bar un- til 5:25 o'clock, when they weighed an chor and proceeded to sea.
 | A wireless message was received at the Brooklyn navy yard tonight from the Kentucky, stating that the star- board side of the vessel above the wa ter line had been quite badly damaged in the collision with the Alabama. IL also was stated that the Kentucky will come up to the navy yard tomorrow for repairs.
 The squadron of the battleships was bound for Hampton Roads, where the several divisions of the North Atlantic 1 fleet now in home waters are to be assembled under rear admirals, prepar. atory to sailing for West Indian and South American waters for the annua winter manoeuvers. The battleships l had gathered in New York harbor aft CT undergoing extensive repairs, some at Boston and some at the Brooklyn navy yard. The fleet had been divided following the visit of Prince Louis oi Battenberg to New York.
 The battleships anchored off Tomp- kinsville S. I.,last night under orders to proceed to sea to-day. It was nearly tire squadron was under way Int flagship Maine, with Admiral Evans or board, headed the column and threaded her way cautiously through the Mar rows. The Kearsarge and Kentucky following, were slightly swept out O their course and being deep in the wa ter with heavy supplies on board ant coal bunkers full, grounded just off thu west bank light. The navigating of ficer of the Alabama made every of fort to swing wide of the grounded ships, but the sweep of the stroni flood tide that was running carried tn, heavy Alabama into the Kentucky witt a crash.
 Luckily the blow was a glancing one It fell on the starboard side. The Il inois, which had altered her course a quickly as possible, barely missed col liding with the two vessels already il trouble. But she swung clear in tn swirling tide, and kept on her cours to join the Maine.
 There was a rapid exchange of sig nals, the Alabama, which had not beel seriously injured, being ordered t stand by to render assistance to tn grounded Kearsage, and the grounde and battered Kentucky When the nav, yard tugs arrived the battleships wer soon pulled into deep water, and bot started for sea. Admiral Evans, how ever, ordered the Kentucky to tur back, and proceed to the navy var for repairs The Kentucky made he way to Tompkinsville, where her com l mander sent a wireless message to tn yard that the vessel would come up t , be placed in dry dock tomorrow.
 The Alabama, the Maine, Kearsare and Illinois, after lying at anchor out
 side the bar for several hours, durin which wireless messages were eXchang ed briskly, headed for the south, an
 should arrive in Hampton Roads lat
 tonight or early Tuesday morning, As soon as the Kentucky joins th fleet Admiral Evans probably will ol der a court of inquiry to investigate tl 2 grounding of the two ships and th 7 subsequent collision.