The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-14
FLORIDA STANDS
 BLOW OF TORPEDO
Monitor Does Not Sink After
 Test Is Completed
TORPEDO TEARS BIG HOLE
Naval Officers Drive Whitehead Tor pedo Into Side of Monitor, Which Stands Test We'll and Is
 Able To Fight.

Norfolk, Va, June 13.-(Special. )--Limp- ing slowly along, partly under her own steam. but with the aid of two big tugs, the monitor Florida put in at the Norfolk hayward at 2:30 o'clock this aft ernoon badly crippled, but not out of commission. She was immediately placed In dry dock and pumped out, and only naval officers were permitted to see her.
 Secretaries Taft, Metcalf and Postmas- ter-General Meyer spent the afternoon in an inspecting tour about the Norfolk navy 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 Mayf1ower.
 The damages to the monitor are quite extensive but not costly. The officers who witnessed todays tests are enthus- iastic over the result of the attack.
 Many debated and theoretical points were demonstrated. Most important of these is that torpedo carrying a heavy charge of gun cotton, hitting the hull of an American batteship in a weak spot below the armor belt will not put the vessel out of commission. The Florida did not sink although it is possible she would have done so had it not been for quick work at the pumps and in placing the collision material
 The external damage done was much greater than was done by the numerous high explosive shells and projectiles fired in the first test. The concussion was much greater, although the shells fired at her superstructure did not do as much damage to the upper part of the ship as the one torpedo did, hitting her six or seven feet below the water line.
 In the words of Com. William S. Smith. who was aboard the lofida:
 "It seemed as If she had been struck a terrible blow, and was lifted up and over It seemed as though we were standing alongside 12-inch gun. After the first impact the boat shuddered from stem to stern in a manner that imparted for moment that petrifying, sickenng feeling that she had been struck vietal DOW and all was over. Each man rushed to his station, manned the pumps and dropped the collision ma. and did other reserve york;
 So great was the shock that the Flor- ida's searchlight was smashed. This light is mounted on her mast just above the turret, but the 12-inch shell that smashed her turret plate failed to touch it. Not only this, but the dummy that was placed on her forward bridge that came out of the other attack unscathed, vas thrown down with great violence. The Florida's entire starboard side was blackened, three supporting booms anl ner torpedo net were blown away and the supporting beams were bent and twisted.
 But despite all this she was in condi- tion to fight and the water only flooded the compartment hit by the torpedo. This was her starboard coal bunker forward. The torpedo pierced her outer and inner shell below the armor belt and blew the there. Her magazine and handling room were dry. Nothing in the boiler or en- zine room was disturbed. No water en- tered. The Florida listed about a foot and a half in 20 minutes and then slowly settled. Two stationary pumping engines were brought into play. The collision mat placed over the hole made by the torpedo is a heavy canvass mat stuffed with hemp and horse hair and designed to stop the rapid inflow of water in a collision
 After the preliminary inspection prepa- rations were begun for towing the Flor Ida to the Norfolk navy yard