The evening times., 1895-11-19

pAVN tnt
them with sufficient and efficient assist
ance, are the CHIEF factors in bringing
about the dcpiorahle condition of affairs
now existing.
HOW IT AFFECTS THE CORPS.
few INSTANCES are here given:
The first is that OF Chief Engineer W. W.
Heaton, who was sent home from the flag
ship Newark OF the South Atlantic squad
ron to tie New York Navy Hospital, where
several months treatment failed 10 restore
his shattered health. When the Newark
was hurried down 10 Brazil during the
Mello rebellion, Heaton was well and
strong. His death last May was attributedt to
what is known in the service as firemans
heart troubie-a fatal disease which Land
doctors ascrbe simply to overwork-
For nearly six months this year Chief
Engineer 4. R. Leitch was treated at the
same hospital, having succunibed to ex-
haustion on the gunboat Machias. He was
needed for sea duty, and Us soon as the hos
pital authorities discharged him he was
ordered to the Alliance, where, after a
few weeks OF unremitting strain he again
collapsed.
The gunboat MachIas also caused the
prostratioI of Chief Engineer d. c. Cow
iEg, who, after long period of GONZALES
cence, was forced upon the retired list,
the severe responsibilities which he had
to bear on the Machias having completely
incapacitated him for further active duty.
The fleet engineer OF the North Atlantic
squadron. Chief Engineer John Lowe, al
though a man OF exceptional physique,
went to pieces after a brief period OF duty
on the splendid cruiser New York and was
sent to the naval hospital at Norfolk last
January.
BORTHwICK WAS CRAZED-
Down IN the sitting atmosphere of the
armored Amphitrite, with sometimes
temperature of 16O degrees, and alter
mating with a single assistant engineer in
caring for the complicated machinery of
that vessel. Chief Engineer John L. d.
Borthwick was crazed and driven to at
tempted suicide last July.
THIS able officers strength was under
mined in his attempt To perform bis duties
under circumstances, which. unremedied-
may some day cause disaster by which
an American warship and her entire COM
plement OF men will disappear mysteriousiy
on the high seas, leaving no one to tell the
tale.
Protracted. ceaseiess labor and worry
in fitting out the Texas for her trial trip
ruined the health OF Chief Engineer Absahm
Kirby, who had served unsca thei aiithruugh
the civil war. Vertically from the bridge
to the fire rpom the distance is sixty feet on
this battleship.
All these brcakdowns occurred on the
Atlantic station in the winter and spring.
when work aboard ship is least trying.
The chief engineers were all veterans OF
the late war. and the excessive work which
the necessities of the service forced upon
them deprived those that survived of such
hog"rs through eventual promotion as were
their due. because compulsory retirement
prevented their reaching the highest grades
which continued health wuuh have enabled
them to attain
On the Pacific coast an equally unfor-
tunate state of affairs prevailed The chief
engineer of the Ranger had no assistant to
share watches with him, SO he was COM
pelled alone to maintain the old ships ma
chinery in good order when far removed
from repair STOPS. Although vigorous
man. not past middle age, he became
physically wrecked, and had to be placed
on the retired list last January.
FORCED To RETIRE.
The prostration of Chief Engineer E. A.
McCiee occurred in May on the coast de-
fense vessel Monterey's voyage from San
Francisco to CallaO. He was inyalided
home to the New York hospital, where. after
a hopeless attempt to restore his health, he
was forced to retire from active service.
1t Is said that on the Monterey there were
five men TO pull the engine-ro room bell and
only one to answer it, 1t may be added
that this is current saying applying to
most of the warShIpS.
The Bennington broke down the health
of Chief Engineer A. b. Bates, who is now
on shore duty, in he expectation of recov
cry, that he may again attempt the duties
pertaining to his grade, but although his
sea tour is long overdue. his physician viii
not permit him to accept it.
Two weeks ago Chief Engineer II. Her
Il L. o.t..~
and sent to the Mare Island Hospital for
treatment, "overwork" again being the
dag nOsis.
As an Indication of how reluctant engi-
npcrs have been to avail themselves of
the roll OF honor as they call the re-
tired list. as well as of the distressing
physical conditions to which they descend
before the medical boards relegate them
to obscurity, three depiorabie cases are
cited.
The condition of Chief Engineer Ezra
Whitaker was SO pitiable that Com
modore Melville forced him from
active employment in an effort
to save his life. but three months after
wards he died. In the case Of Chief Engi-
Deer Helton the retiring board deiayed ac-
tion SO long that his death occurred be-
fore President Cleveland had approved the
proceedings Chief Engineer Hine, who
died in June, was one Of the ablest officers
the corps ever possessed. a man of wonder
full endurance who pluekily stuck to the
throttle until entirely wrecked. His vi
taiity had run SO low that his death quickly
followed his retirement.
AN OFFICERS COMMENT.
prominent officer of the line who has
comman nded several OF the modern cruisers
commenting on these casualties today said:
With more ships going into commission
thefew remaining naval engineers will have
still harder duties thrust upon them, and the
list of breakdowus from now on will be
progressive one. Itis not the engineers alone
who are being sacrificed. The interests of
the navy and nation are being imperiled,
and the contingency OF a fleet OF crippled ves-
sells may be the sequence OF the collapse
Of the engineers
"Itmust be recog nized that there is no one
on board our naval vessels who can take
the place of the engineer. 1t is tru that
there are plenty of officers to ring the bell
signal. but the number Of men who under
stand the mechanism of the engines, which
must be worked to respond to these calls, is
very few.
Heretofore with an appropriation Of
$50. 900 900. the engineer-in-chief has
managed TO keep the ships going alta cost