New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-13
THE GALENA AND NINA WRECK.
THE coURT-MARTIAL IN LIEUTENANT-coM-
WANDER BICKNELL'S CASE FINDS SOME OF
THE sPECI LEGATIONS NOT PRovEN-HE
Is SENTENCED TO ONE YEARS sUS-
PENSION on DECREASED PAY.

Is SENTENCED TO ONE YEARS sUS-
PENSION on DECREASED PAY.
Washington May 1.-THE papers in the courtmar-
tial case OF Commander George A. Bckneii
whose trial upon the charge of suffering the soopoi
war GaIena and the Navy tug Nina 10 be stranded,
through negligence was finished at the New-lork
Navy-Yard a week ago, have been received by the
Secretary of the Navy, and they now under con-
sideration by him and the Judge Acknowledgement OF
the Navy 1t will be recalled that Lieutenent-Conl-
mander Biclnel detailed by RearAdmiIal Braihe
10 the temporary command Of the Galena from the
New-York Navy Yard to the Portsmouth Navy iard'
where she TO be repaired for another cruise tat
she left NcwYork March H. and started up through
Long Island Sound in tow of the Nina and during a
heavy storm and in dense fog both vessels were
stranded at Gay Head, in Vineyard Sound, on the
night of March 49, The Galena was afterward noaeu
of and at Portsmouth, and the Nina was brought
10 the Navy Yard at New-York where she is In the
drydoc being repaired and nearly ready for service
again.
court of inquiry was detailed, and after taking tes
tImony framed the charge quoted above, which was
tried by the general cOurtmariai The substance OF
the specifications was that being in charge and drec-
ton of both vessels and on board the Gaena, from
which vessel he the course TO be steered by the
Nina he neglected and failed to compare the standard
compasses of the vessels to determine the deviation OF
the Galena's compass; that in consequence OF uls
negligence both vessels were lWlCo ny
Gus proximity to Horizons Point and Block Island !;
that during "thick and foggy weather. he neglected
and failed to establish the positions of both vessels by
accurate soundngs and neglected and failed to esao-
sh lookout aloft TO look out over the fog for Gay
Head hight.
The court carefully reviewed all OF the evidence at
the end of the tra and the sentence agreed upon IS
that Bicknel be suspended from
rank and duty for year on "waitlng orders pay
which amounts to S1e3 SO a month. The sentence
Is not so severe as anticipated by many officers,
but they at the same time characterize 1t as more
sevenc than could be expected upon the findings OF the
For instance, the court declares that that part
Of the specification Which charged hazarulng the
vessel at Horizons Point and at Block Island was not
proveno that although the accused failed to verify
BY comparison the Of the Galena and the Nina
he cannot be charged with careless neglect and that
his action with regard IN the compasses In steering was
proper one. Tie court gives special attention 10 the
facts that the soundngs taken on board OF the Gaena
were not accurate they should have been, ana tha
Lieutenant Commander Bchnelf was neglectful IN not
placing lockout aloft The testimony before the
court relative 10 the lnter point showed tha the oS
was as mpeDerable aoft as on deck hence the looh
out there could not have Gay Head any better
nor prevented the srandfng OF the vessel and, In con-
frmation Of this, the keeper OF the lighthouse al Gay
Head testified that the dense fog was as high as l1V
feet above the waters surface. 1t Is not known yet
what will be the action Of Secretary Tracy in the mat
ter but he will promulgate his order in few days.