Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-25
RAMKATAHD|N SUNK
Result of Misdirected Shot
During Test Fire.
NOW IN SHALLOW WATER
Officials Reticent Regarding Mishap
Near Indian Head.
AIM AT SHIP THIRTY TIMES
But Only Hit Her Thrice-Use Of
Ancient Gun Blamed
for Accident.
NOW IN SHALLOW WATER
AIM AT SHIP THIRTY TINES

The old ram Katahdin has been dis
abled as the result of misdirected
shot from an old 12-inch gun, and now
lies in shallow water of Stump neck,
about seven miles below Indian Head.
Although the old naval vessel was
sunk during the test firing last Satur-
day. the fact did not become known to
the outside world until last evening"
The matter is even now surrounded by
so much secrecy and mystery that it
is almost impossible to obtain any in
formation on the subject. officials at
the Navy Department, even those in
the ordnance bureau, which Is in charge
of the tests at Indian Head. at first would
not admit that the Katahdin had been
even temporarily knocked out.
From other sources. however, 1t was
ascertained that thirty shots were fired at
the Katahdin last Saturday and that only
three Of them hit the mark. So far as
known. however. there is but one hole in
the hull. That is just below the water
line and caused the sinking of the ves-
sell
Divers have filled the hole. The naval
tugs Triton and Tecumseh are standing by
pumping out the submerged vessel.
Trials All the Week.
The trials have been going on for more
than a week. the gunners being somewhat
handicapped by using q tweve-inch gun
built about twenty years ago. The barrel
is badly eroded and accurate shooting at
long range was impossible.
That was the reason that one Of the
shots, fired at a range of about four
miles, instead Of striking the heavy steel
target that had been set up on the side
of the ship. plunged into the water just
before reaching the Katahdin and made
hole In the unprotected underbody.
To guard against just such an accident
the vessel had been placed in very shall
low water. so that before she had sunk
far enough to submerge her upper deck
she was resting easily on the mud bot
tom. 1t is expected that she will be fully
afoat again within day or two. The
trials then will be resumed There Is
neat roAnd hole In the coming tower OF
the Katahdin. the result of another mis-
tion there is only about three inches no
Importance attaches to that.
Katahdin Unique Vessel.
The katahdin is unique in type among
the possessions of the government. She
is Of 2.1S3 tons displacement, 25O feet
long. has mean draft of 15 feet. is 43h
foot beam and her speed is ratd at sixteen
knots per hour.
The officials of the government who
have been conducting these important
tests are Rear Admiral Mason chief of
the bureau Of ordnance; Gen. Crozier.
chief Of army ordnance; Capt. Knight,
Prof. Alger, Lieut.. Commander Jack
son, Lieut. McNeely and Naval Con-
structors Linnard and Robinson.
The object OF the firing has been to
develop various problems connected
with the flight Of projectiles. impact
against armor at long range, and to
determine the nature of such impact
and similar problems which were not
possible of practical test within the
limited reservation at Indian Head.