Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-16
THE DISABLED PINTA.
Commander Books Testimony Before
the Court Martial.

Can commander order himself to proceed
all the way from Alaska to Washington without
violating the regulations? That is the question
with which naval court-martial is wrestling
IN room in the civil engineers Office at the
navy-yard. 1t is conceded by all the authori-
ties that commander is permitted to order
himself away from his vessel for period Of
not more than one week on duty, but the judge
advocate questions the right of Lieut. Com
mander George VI. Book to order himself
from Sitka simply because the boilers of
his vessel, the Pinta, were valueiess except
for old iron. The court is composed of Rear
Admiral David B. Harmony. Capt. JOS. S. Sker-
rett, Capt Oscar +. Stanton, Capt Leslie A..
Beardslee, Capt. I. 0. Selfridge, Capt. Francis
VI. Bunce, Commander Philip II. Cooper. Com
mander Yates Sterling, and Commander VIM.
Il. Hof, with Lieut.. Philip Garst as Judge advo-
cate. Lieut. Philip Wainright is counsel for
the accused.
Commodore Walker testified Yesterday after
noon that the accused left his ship without first
securing the permission Of the Navy depart
ment, and ex-Gov. Swinetord of Alaska, stated
that the Pinta afforded no protection to the
people OF Alaska, because she was entirely dis
abed. He had needed the services of the
linta during the past winter. but could not get
them because of her disability.
Engineer-in-Chief George w. Melville told
the court what he knew about the needs of the
PInta, as reported to him.
THE PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY.
This morning the court met at 1890 and for
nearly an hour listened to the reading of pre-
vlous proceedings and other matters of interest.
The courtroom was then cleared so as to allow
an untrammeled discussion as to the admissi-
blllty of certain documentary evidence and the
formulation of decision to who should put
Ii i'll.
When tho doOrs wara raopcpad +ba fr,t r;t
ness for the day was called 1t was Max
Spratt, collector of the port of Sitka, Alaska.
He recognized the accused Witness said he
was Obliged to call for the services of the
iInta III 1887 to prevents threatened out
break OF natives at the mouth 81 the
Unuk river. The presence of the vessel was
necessary to the safety of the citizens at that
time and the necessity for the presence of a
man-of-war was just as apparent now. Quite a
number OF white American citizens are en-
gagged In the salmon-canning industry on Bur-
rough's bay. into which the Unuk and two
other rivers flow
STATEMENT OF THE ACCUSED OFFICER.
The accused was then sworn. He testified
that the after-boiler of the Pinta, when he took
charge of her, was disabled. The Pinta's bot
tom very foul. and the commander who
preceded witness wrote to the department last
spring for permission to beach the vessel so
that she might be cleansed. The cleansing
process would result in increased speed of :
or knots per hour. Witness assumed COM
mand on January of the present year. and
shortly after made similar application to the
department., but received no answer. He then
told the story OF his endeavors to have the
boilers repaired or replaced by new ones, and
at 1850 the court took recess until 1:l5
AT THE AFTERNOON SESSION
the examination OF the accused was continued
without bringing out anything novel or start
ling.
a number OF papers-cOrrespondenc be-
tween the accused and the Navy department.
were identified by J. W. higgins, clerk in the
detail Office OF the Navy department.
The case will be argued tomorrow, and a
conclusion will probably be reached before the
court adjourns III the evening. Progress is
somewhat slow, because the court has no Ste
nographer, and the judge-advocate is COM
PEELED to take the testimony in ng-hand
During the long intervals thus created the
members of the court chat over bygone days,
and refer proudly to such achievements as
taking the Old sailing ship -, which drew II
feet, through 7-foot channel "a most
wonderful affair, which never can be explained,
SIR