The Washington times., 1908-06-14
MONITOR CRIPPLED
BY TORPEDO TEST
Injuries to the Florida
Greater Than First
Reported.
DAMAGE EXCEEDED
HAVOC OF SHELLS
Vessel Shoulders and Reels Under
Awful Blow, While Pumps
Prevent Sinking.

NORFOLK, Va, June I3.-Limping
slowly along, partly under her own
steam, but with the aid OF three big
sea-going tugs, the monitor Florida put
IN at the Norfolk navy yard at 2.3l
O'Clock this afternoon badly crippled,
but not out of commission She vas inn
mediately placed in dry dock No. and
pumped out Only naval officials were
permitted 10 see her,
Secretaries Taft and Metcalf and
Postmaster General Meyer spent the
afternoon IN a sightseeing tour about
the Norfolk yard. and as soon as the
water was pumped from the Florida
and from the dry dock they inspected
the vessel and then left for Washington
ABOARD the MayfioWer While az the
yard the members Of the official party
We're the guests Of Admiral Taussig,
the cOmmandaut
The Florida Badly Crippled.
The injury done the Florida was
much more serious than the first re-
ports indicated.
When Secretaries Taft and AIetcalf
and the party OF naval experts made
their examination of the effect of the
explosion of 900 pounds of guncottOn
against the FIJrida's water-tight bulk
head they found her in a rather bad
plight. the dynamo room and inner coal
compartments being flooded. The gun
cotton charge IN the torpedo, which was
heavier than any ever used heretofore,
tore an irregular obiong hole nearly 40
square feet IN the ships side. Her
plates were shattered from the water
line eight feet downward.
Bulkhead Stands Test.
Notwithstanding the fact that the tor
pedo seriously crippled the monitor, the
experts believe the test thoroughly
proved the efficacy of the new type of
bulkhead as a means of defense against
such attacks as that made by the
Whitehead torpedo. If a battleship had
been struck under similar conditions
they believe the injury would not have
been sufficient to incapacitate her
Whether today's test viii result in the
adoption of the buIkhead plan of con-
structiOn was not indicated by any of
those who Witnessed the experiment
All who witnessed the tests were en-
thusiastie over the results obtained.
The apparent force of the explosion
was frightful and appalling. Aside from
its picturesque features, the external
damage done was much greater than
was done by the numerous high ex-
plosive shells and projectiles fired in
the first test The conclusion was much
greater and although the shells were
fired at her superstructure they did not
do as much damage 10 the upper part
of the ship as the one torpedo did,
hitting her six or seven feet below the
water line. It seems conclusiveIy proven
that the torpedo is the greatest Of
fensive weapon known 70 modern naval
warfare.
Ship Shuddered Under Blow.
In the words Of Commander William
Strother Smith. who was on board the
Florida, 1T seemed as though she was
struck a terrible blow and lifted up
ward and over. The shock TO US stand
ing in the after deck house. was ter
rife. II seemed as though we were
standing alongside a twelve-inch gun.
After the first impact, the boat shud-
dred from stem 20 stern in a manner
that impaired for moment that petri-
flying sickening feeling that she had
been struck a vital blow and all was
over This was but momentary. and we
rushed out on deck, each man TO his
station. marned the pumps, and dropped
the collision nat and did other reserve
work"
So great was the shock that the
Florida s searchligLt WaS smashed. This
light is nounted on her mast just above
the turret. hgt the twelve-inch shell
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