New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-20
DEATH IN THE ENGINE-ROOM
A MENACE TO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE
NEW NAVY.
MANY NAVAL. ENGINEERS HAVE BROKEN DOWN
AND DIED UNDER THE TERRIBLE STRAIN
OF THEIR DUTIEs-TIIE CORPS

AND DIED UNDER THE TERRIBLE STRAIN
OF THEIR DUTIEs-THE CORPS
SERIOUSLY CRIPPLED
WASHINGTON. Nov ia serious menace to the
efficiency OF the Navy which. though existing TOT
some time has recently become intenslheu' ~ the
condition Of the Engineer Corps, whose numbers
u ia said are now wholly Inadequate to perform
the arduous duties exacted from them. While the
number Of ships wholly dependent on steam
power has steadily increased for the last ten
wears the number OF commissioned engineer Oh
1cers has actually decreased From the facts d.
hand It would appear that the duties demanded
In overheated engine-rooms nave PasSeu ''0 "
durance limit.
Chief Engineer w. w Heaton was sent home
from the flagship Newark OF the South Atlantic
SQUADRON to the New York Naval Hospital. where
several months treatment failed to restore ms sha'
tered health When the Newark was hurried down
TO Brazil during the Mello rebellion, Heaton was
well and strong His death last May was attrio-
uted TO what is known In the service as hremeh
heart trouble, a fatal disease when the iahu uoc-
tors ascribe simply 10 overwork
For nearly six months this year Chief Engineer
r. b. Letch was treated at the same hospital
having succumbed to exhaustion on the guhDoa'
Nachlas He was needed for sea duty, and as soon
az tho hospItal authorities discharged him he was
ordered 10 the Alliance, where after few weeks
OF unremittlng strain, he again coHapseu' Inc
gunboat Machlas also caused the prosuatoh oi
Chief Engineer ID. c. Gow.ng. who, alter d ioi's
period of convalescence. was forced on the retfeu
list the severe responsibilities which ne mad TO pea.
on the Machias having completely hcapao'a'eu
him for further active duty.
The fleet engineer of the North Atlantic squad
ron chef Engineer John Lowe, although a man
OF exceptional physique went to pieces AFTER DITCH
period OF duty the cruiser New-forK' anu was
sent TO a naval hospital at Norfolk last January.
Down in the sitting atmosphere or the Amph'-
trte with sometimes a temperature or 100 degrees
and alternating with a single assistant engineer
in caring for the complicated machinery OF thdl
vessel Chief Engineer John H. ID. Borth"cN was
crazed and driven to attempt suicide last jury. iS
able officers strength was undermined III HIS al
tempt to perform his duties under circumstances
which II unremedled, may some day cause as
aster by which an American warship and her en-
tire complement of officers and men VIII disappear
mysteriously leaving no one to tell the tale'
Protracted ceaseless labor ana worry in fitting
the Texas for her trial trip ruined the health OF
Chief Engineer Absalom Kirby, who had ser'eu
on the Pacific coast an equally unfortunate state
of affairs prevailed. The chief engineer OF !, tne
Ranrer had no assistant to share watches with him,
So he was compelled alone TO MAINTAIN the oid snip
repair shops. Although vigorous man not pass mo %
die age he became physically wrecked ana hau "
The prostratlon of Chief Engineer E. A. Magee
occurred in May on the coast defence &c CaiIsn He
was sent to the NewYork Hospital where after tered
homeless attempt his health he was iorceu
To retire from active service. 1t Is said nat on the
Monterey there five men to pull the engine
I'm heiI and only one to answer II. 1t may be
added that this Is a current saying applying to most
of the warships. 49,, ,,., - Chtof
The Bennington broke down the health OF cnei
Engineer A. Il. Bates, who Is now on shore duty IN
the expectation OF recovery in order that ne naS
again attempt the duties pertaining TO ms sralee'
bn although his tour is long overdue MS physi-
c,an will not allow him TO accept IL; -, =.
Two weeks ago Chief Engineer ii. HerWlg mao 70
be detached from the Marion and sent 10 me MdTe
Island Hospital for treatment over "oih as"'"
being the dia gnosis .. , A,.o
A. an Indication OF how reluctant engineers nave
beer to avail themselves Of the roll OF honor as
the call the retired list well of the distressing
phv steal conditions to which they descend before
n medical boards relegate them TO obscurity three
denlora BILE cases are cited The condition of Chief
Engineer Ezra Whitaker so pitlable that Com
modore Melville forced him from active employment
in an effort to save his life, but three months after
ward he died. In the of Chief Engineer teaton
the Retiring Board delayed action so long that his
death occurred before President Cleveland had APP
proved the proceedings. Chief Engineer Hine. who
dled in June OF the ablest officers the corps
ever possessed. man OF wonderful endurance who
pluckily stuck to the throttle long possible
His vitality had become low that his death
quickly followed his retirement.