The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-31
TRIAL At MARE ISLAND,
Two Naval Officials to Be Court
Martialed on Serious
Charges.
The Bennington Departs for Homo
lulu-A Dueling Exhibition
In Prospect.

VALLEJO, CAL, May 30.-Several
boards are to convene at the navy-yard
next week, the principal one being the
court-martial to try Lieutenants w. w.
Buchanan and J. J. Dorm. The detail OF the
court is as follows: Captain A. s. Barker,
president; Captain Frank Wildes, Com
manders @. E. Clark and H. z. Nichols,
Lieutenant Commander G. T. Hutchins,
and Lieutenants Nicholson, Clarke, Bur-
nett, Sewell, and First Lieutenant II. L.
Draper, United States Marine Corps, as
Judge Advocate. The charges against the
officers named are for culpable inefficiency
in the performance of duty, resulting in
an accident to one of the rapid 5-inch
guns, by which John Johnson, the cap
tain of the gun, had his skull crushed.
killing him instantly. None of the officers
appointed on the board are from the
cruiser Olympia, on board of which the
accident occurred. The board will con-
vene on the Sd or 5th of June, and it is
expected will have completed their labors
in time for the cruiser to leave the yard
shortly after the 10th Of June for sea.
The specifications are said to be very
strong, and charge that while serving as
senior watch and ordnance officer on the
cruiser Olympia, off San Diego, April "a.
Lieutenant Dorm was responsible for the
efficiency of the ships armament, and it
was his duty before every firing to examine
each recoil cylinder of the battery to see
that it was properly filled with liquid.
Lieutenant Buchanan, who was imme-
diately in charge of the gun which jumped
from its mount because its cylinders were
empty, is also held responsible, and will
have to answer to the same charge. This
will be one of the most important trials
held in the court for some time, and its
outcome will be watched with interest by
all the officers, as it will develop wherein
the responsibility lies.
The Bennington left the yard Tuesday
for Honolulu direct. She is expected to
arrive there the 5th of June. Commander
Thomas, who had been appointed a men,
Der of the court-martial to try Lieutenants
Dorm and Buchanan, was at the last
moment relieved and his place filled by the
appointment of Lieutenant Nicholson of
the Thetis. 1t is not known whether the
Bennington carried any orders to Admiral
Beardslee for the return of the Philadel-
phia to this port or not, but it is generally
supposed that she did not.
The board to examine applicants for
master joiner at the navy-yard concluded
the examination Wednesday afternoon,
and as soon as the papers are made up
they will be forwarded with its recon-
mendation to the Secretary of the Navy
for his final action. Each one of the par
Elephants feels that he stands as good a
chance as his neighbor. There appears to
be divided opinion as to the one to be
appointed, though should the one men
toned the other day happen to prove the
victor there will be an earnest protest
entered against it by the rest.
Considerable interest is awakened among
the officers on the warships at Mare Island
over an exhibition with dueling rapiers to
take place at an entertainment TO be given
by Miss Helen Kelleher and her pupils,
Tuesday evening, June 4, at Eureka Hall.
The exhibition is to be between Professor
Louis Tronchet Of the Olympic Club OF
San Francisco and Charles Dannenbaum
OF Vallejo, also a member of the Olympic
Club Of San Francisco. The officers OF the
ships who are practical and expert swords
men are anxious to witness the perform
ance of Professor Tronchet, and some of
them have already come over and tried
conclusions with Mr.. Dannenbaum and
have each time been Worsted in the conflict,