COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 107 



replaced the same as the top one, but they probably figured that it 

 would be easier to lash it and bring it back up. But the lashing gave 

 way. And when those diagonals tore loose, they did damage to the 

 connections to the leg. To repair that under water brought on prob- 

 lems, and I agree with Captain Albers that after the repair, you were 

 in serious trouble. I believe that is what Captain Albers testified 



Senator Stennis. That is what he said. 



Mr. DeLong. And the repair here never did hold. Whether it was 

 improperly designed or improperly installed — when you get hito a 

 position like that, I can only say you are in serious trouble. 



DANGER POINT ESTABLISHED 



Senator Stennis. Well, if the committee would permit me — and 

 some wei'e not here yesterday and that is the reason I go over this — 

 in attempting to repair the damage done at the time of the upending, 

 is that when the Dardelet bolts wei-e installed? I understand that 

 it is at that point you say that they were in trouble, that the repairs 

 were difficult, and that from that point on, the danger was there. Is 

 that correct ? 



Mr. DeLong. This was one of the problems that we visualized that 

 could happen to us, and I think somebody had a decision to make, 

 when you found that the braces tore loose, as to whether you should 

 go back to the port and repair 



Senator Stennis. Now, that is my real question. You are a quali- 

 fied man on this very difficult matter. Faced with the facts as they 

 existed then, what would you have done ? 



Mr. DeLong. Well, I would probably have perspired a little. 



Senator Stennis. In addition to that, what would you have done? 



Mr. DeLong. It depends upon how the break was. I would not 

 venture to say that I would take it back because it was a horrible de- 

 cision that had to be made, and I give thanks that I did not have to 

 make it. I do not know. 



Senator Stennis. To have returned it to port would have been the 

 way to have completely repaired the damage, isn't that right ? 



to achieve original strength, repair WOUI^D HA\Ti: TO BE MADE IN PORT 



Mr. DeLong. To restore it to its original state, you could only have 

 done it by bringing it back to the port. 



Senator Stennis. That is the point I was going to inquire about. 

 Was there any way to restore it to its original strength without taking 

 it back to port ? 



Mr. DeLong. In my opinion, there was not. To restore it to its 

 original state, you would have to take it back. They were working 

 under water and using Dardelet bolts and things like that are all 

 temporary repairs. We use them in temporary repairs and work like 

 that. 



Senator Stennis. All right, you proceed if there are other points 

 in connection with that question which you want to discuss. 



Mr. DeLong. No; I just think that, listening to the testimony and 

 what we know of it, this probably, if there were other fractures or 

 anything loose, was one of the main contributing factors for it to 



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