US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Ten Years of Big Ship Gunnery 75
San Francisco Bay is dangerous.” It also included instructions as to how to
detect dragging of the anchor, who was to carry out this duty, and what to
do if dragging occurred.
The Acting Executive Officer, Lieutenant ( jg) Samuel W. Canan in his
accompanying statement stated he had published this order to “All Hands,”
and personally instructed the chief petty officers, signalmen and men standing
gangway watches regarding it, and given copies to each of the officers standing
Day’s Duty. Each of the deck petty o%cers in his statement confirmed
receiving this instruction.
The Commanding Officer was not on board “having left at 1120 to attend
the Chamber of Commerce luncheon and not having returned.” Following
the luncheon, he played golf at the Presidio. Ensign Everett H. Browne, Class
of 1923, the Chief Engineer of the Metwine, had the Day’s Duty and was in
command at the time of the casualty.
At 1556 the dragging was noted and immediately reported. Ensign Browne
acted promptly. He sent a messenger ashore for the Commanding Officer.
He heaved around on the port chain, went ahead on the engines at 1616
(as soon as the engines were ready) but “just barely missed clearing the
Colorado.” c’The Colorado personnel did everything possible to prevent
damage, veering chain promptly. . . . Especial credit is due the Engineer
Force in starting up the main engines so quickly after being notified.”
Ensign Browne is a very promising young officer, of a high type, zealous,
active and capable, and has already rendered excellent service as Engineer
officer of this vessel, The Commanding Officer has confidence in his ability
and judgment. . . . [He] appears to have erred in not dropping the second
anchor as soon as he saw the vessel was dragging.sg
How the seniors in the chain of command viewed this letter is not known
but what is known is that a Board of Investigation was held but as far as
Lieutenant Commander Turner and Ensign Everett Hale Browne were con-
cerned, nothing of a disciplinary nature ever came of it. And that was luck
of the first water.
The Board of Investigation of three commanders was headed by the Divi-
sion Commander, Commander Theodore A. Kittinger, and convened on
13 April 1925. Ensign Browne testified that he “did not think you could
heave in on one anchor and veer on the other at the same time,” with only
the one capstan with which destroyers were fitted. This combined with the
fact that he had noted that “the starboard anchor chain was faked out on
‘“COMervine to CINCIIS, Ie!ter, 8 Apr. 1925.