The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-14
Re port of the Naval Court Of Inquiry Int
the Conduct Of Capt. Stockton &c.


The Naval Court OF Inquiry convened by order Of the
Secretary OF the Navy by precePt under his hand bear
curing into the conduct OF Captain Robert Stockton
and officers, in relation to the experiments and proofs
which preceded the construction and the proof and sub
sequen explosion OF OF the great guns OF the Prince
ton occasionng the awful and distressing catastrophe
which has recently occurred board the said ship and
to report the opinion Of said Court the matters thus
referred to it, respectfully submit to the consideration OF
the honorable the Secretary OF the Navy the evidence
which has been laid before il in relation the premises
In further performance OF the duty imposed il, the
Court further respectfully report:
That, in pursuing the Investigation with which It has
been charged the Court limited to the facts and cir
cumstances Immediately connected with the captain and
officers Of the Princeton anterior to and Immediately at
tending the explosion of of the large guns on board
that the 2sth February last The investigation
has satisfied the Court
That in the year 1889 Captain stockton being in Eng
land his attention attracted to the extraordinary and
important improvements which had recently been intro
duced into the manufacture of large masses of wrought
iron substitute for cast IRON for objects which requr.
ed combination of strength and adhesiveness tough
Large shafts for steam engines had been thus abri
Gated which experience had demonstrated to be superior
those qualities which desirable to the arti-
cles manufactured of cast iron.
These circumstances appear to have led Captain Stock
consider the question how far the material
might be employed in the construction OF cannon of a
large cabre He appears to have been animated by mo
ves the patriotic stimulated by the audabe desire
of being himself instrumental in promoting the honor OF
his country and of elevang that branch of the service
tent his inquiries carried the Court has not been
adsised but in evidence that he did advise and con-
requirements and practical experience on such subjects,
very superior qualifications in questions OF this character
and whose opinions entitled to high respect Mr.
VIM Young Capt Ericsson, and Francis b Ogden, Esqs.
the gentlemen to whom allusion IL made. Al
ter much deliberaon and several consultations with cal
culatoDs furnished from the same quarter Captain Stock
ton determined upon the construction OF gun Of the
posed dimensions for the purpose of testing the opinions
of scientific men by the results of experience cannon
accordingly made at the Mersey works, of Yorkshire
iron which being approved Of shipped to the United
rieIf IN ted IN w hat
deemed the proper test After the first firing prepar
atoms made 10 mount the gun In doing this crack
perceived opposite the chamber, which induced Cap
Stockton to have the breech strengthened by putting
bands around it. These bands are represented as beng
three and half inches in thickness With this additional
strength given to the defective part Of the the expe
riments renewed and the result was decided con-
vctisn upon the minds all connected with them that in
general the anticipaons of Captain Stockton were
fectly realized; and secondly that gun Of this
strucon should yield to the force ofthe trial. it would be
by simple opening and not as in cast iron, violent dis
ruption and scattering Of the fragments.
The success of these experiments such to decide
Captain Stockton forthwith to direct the construction of
another gun of similar character be made of Amer
iron which is usuay regarded superior in strength
and tenacy to the English iron This second gun Che
same which exploded on board the Princeton) was con
structed with chamber similar to that of the first gun,
with additional thickness OF twelve inches at the breach
"a difference even if the metal were only of equal good
for than sufficient compensate for the bands
by which the first had been fortified
Application made to Col Bomford of the Ordnance
department Of the Army who is well known has been
professionally occupied in experimenting upon guns of
large cabre and his opinion requested to the proper
proof to which such gun ought to be subjected The
proof suggested by Col Bomfod suitable will be
found in his letter Of November 5 ls40 appended to the
record The gun constructed by order of Captain
Stockton eded in dimension and weight consequent.
y should also have surpassed in strength that contem
plated by Col Bomlord they being Of the cabre,
and the proof to which this cannon was subjected was
much more severe than what was proposed sufficient
by that experienced officer.
In view OF all the circumstances thus briefly adverted
to, but infinitely detailed in the evidence which is spread
upon the record the Court enerains distinct and conf
construction OF large guns, Captain Stockton proceeded
wellestablshed practical facts that in coming to
decision upon the feasibility of the contemplated project
he did not rely upon his theoretical opinions but
sorted to Of science and practical skill for advice
and that he fully sustained by their judgment in every
particular that series of experiments and trials with
the two guns fully sustained the deductions of the gentle
men whose advice sought and justified the most
sured confidence in the durability and efficiency Of the
gun.
In regard to the mode of loading and firing every
casion and emphatically that which followed by the
explosion it is established by the fullest proof to the
entire satisfaction of the Court that every and
ton which prudence and professional capacity could die
tate was observed No shadow of in this
can be attached to any officer or any OF the crew of the
Princeton. Nt3's' 20
In regard to the conduct and department of the Captain
and officers of the Princeton the occasion Of the de-
porabe catastrophe which occurred the 2sth Febru
airy last the Court feels itself bound to express its opinion
that in all respects they such be expected
from its gallant and welltraned officers sustaining their
personal character and that Of the service marked
with the most perfect order subordnation and seadi
In conclusion the Court is also decidedly Of opinion
that not only was every precaution taken which skill
regulated by prudence and animated by the Hottest
tves, could devise, to guard against accident but that
Capt Stockton Lieut. Hunt, and Mr. King, the gunner,
had attended to and directed all the experiments and
trials OF these guns exhibited only due confidence in
what they had witnessed in placing themselves every
occasion and particularly that of the explosion almost
IN contact with the gun and in position apparently not
only more dangerous than any other but that which
might nationally have been deemed the only perilou stu
alton on board the vessel
The Court, having thus completed its business, ad
journed sine die w: G. BOLTON, President.
RICHARD $. CoxE, Judge Advocate