The sun., 1894-03-23
THE COURT STRIKES A SNAG.
CoMMaSDER BEYERMAS's TRflE
s1OPPED BT A BLUNDER.

n wrsus oNssr Rspertes eu The Court
Nartisl-Isstruetisas Askes Fer-Ths
Kesrssres's Capitals Gives up uis Sword.
In accordance with the orders Of Secretary
OF the Navy Herbert the general court martial
appointed to try Commander Oscar +. Heyer-
man for the loss OF the corvette Kearsarge on
Roncsdor Reef on Feb. 2. 1894. convened at
noon yesterday in the court-martisl room Of
the equipment building OF the Brooklyn Navy
Yard Before this q preliminary scene took
place In the ONCE OF Admiral GhsrardL Pur-
suant to naval regulations Com msnder Heyer-
man lwent to the commandant OF the yard at
10H O'Clock to deliver up his sword until the
| trial should terminate The KearsarRe's Cap
| tain said very little ns he extended the sword.
and II was with great reluctance that the Ad-
mlral took IL. Then both officers bowed and
the Conn d der;withdrew.
The ofIlcers who reported for duty % the
court were: Commodore Charles q Carpen-
ter. President; Lieut. Commander James u.
Jsrrold Kelley, Judge Advocate; Capts. Mont
gomery Sicard Albert Eautz, James O'Kane,
BENJAMIN +. Day. and John J. Read: Com
mnnde,s Frank Wildes. Ncoll Ludlow. and r,
+. Ieety. The arrival OF Commodore Carpen-
ter was recognized by a salute Of eleven Runs.
The room is the same that the court OF inquiry
met in. but the flags and strips Of gay bunting
that lined the walls and festoonsd the ceiling
had bsen removed. Nothing broke the mo-
notony Of the room but the long table for the
eheckered with the squares Of biottine paper
and books OF regulations: The only bit Of
Msa.sasess sSfE thstisy .cie:: Is. spoltsp. able
As the ofIicsrs entered, many hearty hand
Sod va.
crested by all. The court opened at II o'clock.
sssr.t sna tef dsco when the door Tss opensd
Judge Advocate Kelley turned to Commander
Commander. do YOU desire this court post
no. sir" he replied leaning forward.
BY which Secretary Herbert convened the
-, DO you desire tS challenge any officer sit
Il do not" was the commanders brief an
In response to question as to counsel the
Commander said he desired the services OF
9hs AdGBh a Wh II n
troduced to the court He took seat beside
cred that there. was a mistake in the precept
ss wa. sas
the detail; while Com mander Frank Wildes
subject S oi smother eiesina of the court When
court reopsned Commodore Carpenter ,ap-
ns as pgSSs. sssd not 3:
structed to communicate With the NAVY Do
partment Tor Instructions. The following telo-
gram was sent to Secretary Herbert:
In preespt ordering court appears name Of Gem.
mAndet George ?. Wilde Among the ofcers who have
reported for duty In obedience TO orders from tho De-
pArtmsnt 10 Comm andsr Frank Wndsk Tne court de-
sirss instructions from the convsning suthortN
G. q. CARpKSryR,
Commodore Z. 8. Navy and President OF Couf..
As nothing could be done until . reply had
been received, the President adjourned tho
court until q o'clock this morning.
At the mention Of this early hour, all the Of
fcers turned to one another. and Conn ander
Kelley. who had been twirlInR his eyeglasses.
smiled feebly anc said:
"Commo modore-I-I-think you will find q
great deal can be transacted IL We meet at
after 10 o'clock"
Every ofiicer at the table looked relieved at
this suggestion. And 1t was finally decided to
meet at 10 o'clock Before the officers had
left the room the President reconvened the
court and took q vote as to whether lt should
meet again at o'clock in the afternoon In the
hope OF hearing from Secretary Herbert This
was agreed to. At 2 o'clock no reply had
come. and the court again adjourned until
this morning.
The charges and specific ,tions OF charges
against Commander Heyerman were not read
and the court was not organized. This cete-
mony will he performed to-day. The Judge
Advocate said Yesterday that the trial OF Lieut.
Charles H. Lyman. the kearsarges navigator.
would be held separately. owing to a sew
srance OF the charges from those against
Commander HeyermAn.