The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-18
MARE ISLAND MAYNARD.
OFFICIALS WILL NOT TALK OF
THE BENNINGToN'S
MISHAP.
The FACTS MAY BE AsCERTAINED
BY THE NAVAL BOARD
OF INQUIRY.

VALLEJO, March 17.-Within a couple
of days will be learned exactly the cause
of the dropping down of the crown-sheet
of the gunboat Bennington's boiler. The
vessel steamed quietly by Sal Francisco
early Saturday morning, came directly up
to the navy yard and ran up to the wharf
abreast of the steam engineering boiler
shop.
So far no one cares TO say much about the
accident to the boiler, pending the report
of the board of inquiry to convene at the
yard Tuesday to examine into the facts
leading up to the injury. This board will
consist of Captain Louis Kempff, Lieuten-
ant Commander F. P. Gilmore, Chief En-
gineer F. A. Wilson and First Lieutenant
II. i. Draper, q. S. NJ. c., as Judge Advo-
cate.
The Bennington will remain at the yard
for at least two months to come.
The officers state that the burning out of
the crown sheet is an accident liable to oc-
cur at any time on the type of boilers such
as are in the Bennington, Yorktown, Con-
cord and that class of vessels.
The officers and seamen of the war
vessels here are much pleased at the prob
ability that there will be no patrol service
this year in Bering Sea. It is considered
the most hazardous duty ever assigned to
the vessels of the squadron of the Pacific
Outside of few minor alterations to be
made about the mpass-stapds, fixing up
racks for the ships library, and such other
little odd jobs, the Olympia is ready for
Sea. Within few days it is expected she
will go out on her preliminary trial. Pres
'ent indications point to the fact that the
Olympia will be made the flagship of the
Pacific squadron, in place of the Philadel-
phia, now at Honolulu.
About Wednesday or Thursday the Mon
terey will steam down from the ward and
out into San Pablo Bay. While there her
compasses will be adjusted and steering
gear tried. Several alterations have been
made to the gear turing her recent stay.
From there, if everything works satisfac-
torily, she will go to San Francisco and Law
for few weeks.
The Fish Commission steamer Albatross
is still in dock, and will be for another
week. A number of sheets of iron amid
ships about the water line have been re-
moved on account of pitting and are being
replaced with new.
y
completing repairs to the Boston. Neither
has any word been received as to the date
of commissioning the Marion, which is all
ready for that event at days notice.
The friends of Lieutenant and Mrs. Ed
ward F. Qualtrough will no doubt be pleased
to learn that they are likely to come to
the coast in the near future, as the lieuten-
ant has been assigned to the Mohican as
her navigator in place of Lieutenant John
B. Collins, detached.
The quarters for the new naval construc-
tor, Mr.. Baxter, are being put in order for
occupancy upon his arrival to take charge
of the department of construction and re-
pair. Naval Constructor w. ]. Baxter will
occupy the house.
No official news has yet been received at
the yard as to who will be assigned to the
yard as general storekeeper vice Paymaster
A. w. Bacon, ordered to the Olympia.