Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-29
A SAMOAN INQUIRY.
Officially Investigating the Conduct
Of Lieut.. Davenport.
DID he ABANDON The NIPSIC?
The Outline Of Procedure Deter
mined at Today's Session.
POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS

The naval court Of inquiry ordered by
Secretary Herbert to investigate the con-
duct Of Lieut.. r. G. Davenport at the
wreck Of the U. s. s. Nipsic in the Samoan
cyclone in March. 1889. met at the navy
yard at noon today. The court is composed
OF Capt. F. B. McNair. president; Com
mander Chas. H. Davis and Lieut. Com
mander Richard Rush, with First Lieut.
Chas. H. Laucheimer marine corps as
Judge advocate. Lieut.. Richard VAIN
wright was recognized as Lieut.. Daven-
ports counsel. The court decided to sit
with open doors The sessions were held
In the large room in the civil engineers
ONCE. where the court of inquiry upon the
wreck Of the steamer Despatch was held
As Lieut.. Commander Rush had an engage
ment with the House committee on appro-
priations at l 30 the first session was not
very long nor very interesting.
The Method of Procedure Settled.
When the formalities Of organization were
concluded, Lieut.. Wainwright read a brief
statement in regard to the method Of pro-
cedure. He argued that it would be more
expeditions for the court to call first such
witnesses as might prove the identity Of
the people who have anonymously circulat-
ed reports about his clients conduct ever
since the cyclone. In this way the court
would be brought face to face with the
charges. their authors. and the denials Of
Lieut.. Davenport. This would prevent sur
prises. The judge advocate objected. and
con tended that the better method would be
to examine into Lieut.. Davenports conduct
from the beginning Of the period covered by
the precept of the court. Then the accusa-
tions could be developed and met
The court was cleared for elaboration,
and when the doors were opened it was an
nounced that the plan proposed by the
Judge advocate would be followed. Then
the court adjourned until 1890 o'clock Fri
day morning. when Lieut.. Hawley, who
was attached to the Nipsic at the time of
the disaster, will be examined.
The First Court of Honor.
This Is the first court of honor that has
ever been held in the history of the navy.
The only precedent for 1t Is the court that
investigated the conduct of Gen. Warren,
who was suspended from duty on the field
by Gen. Sheridan. Years after the event
he applied for court, which Investigated
all the circumstances. In the present in
stance there has been lapse of four and a
half years. and Lieut.. Davenport has in the
meantime suffered nothing but the annoy
ance of being made the subject of uncompli-
mentary rumors. He claims that it was
through his endeavors that the Nipsic, of
which he was navigator, vaavsay1d from
wreck. He has also contended that he Was
the only coolheaded man on the beach after
the landing. and contributed to the general
safety and comfort Of the ships company
by his management.
The rumors that have been circulated
have tended to cast doubt upon this claim
and have mostly been to the effect that the
lieutenant, instead Of sticking by the ship,
was among the first to strip off his clothes
and swim for safety. There has been a
good deal of i'll feeling developed. but no
charges have ever been made on either side
Lieut. Wainwright said this morning that
it was probable there would be some highly
one may get hurt" The inquiry covers a
period Of two months. including the time of
the cyclone. and until the Nipsic left Apia
Lieut. Davenport desired that 1t should
cov-- the entire three years Of the cruise
of the Nipsic. but this Secretary Herbert
refused to grant.