New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-18
THE INQUIRY GOES on.
TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE
ACCIDENT TO THE CAIssON.

TESTIMONY OF CHIEF ENGINEER MENocAI-A
LETTER FROM FRANK BowLEs CHIEF OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL con
sTRUCTIoN AND REPAIRS. LAYS
THE BLAME ON THE HEAT
The Naval Board Of Inquiry appointed by the
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy to study the
causes of the accident to the casson In Drydock
No : in the Navy Yard on August continued
its session yesterday. At the morning session
Chief Engineer Menocal was the only witness
called. Mr.. Menocal had been on the stand once
before
Lieutenant Barnett who - acting as Judge
Advocate. asked Mr.. Menocal Yesterday with
particular reference to the computations that had
been made TO determine whether not the work
Of removing the ballast would be safe and he
also tried to find out who was responsible for
the work at the time Of the accident In the
course OF the examination the engineer was re-
quested to answer this question:
IF YOU had been In The yard on the Saturday
OF the accident would you have put water bal
last In the casson?'
Mr.. Menocal asked If he was obliged to answer
all questions. Lieutenant Barnett Informed him
that ne was, and the engineer then said that he
did not wish in his testimony to say anything
which would appear To shift the responsibility
for the accident. but he said that if forced TO
answer the question he would reply that he
would have put water ballast in the cassor He
would have done this in order to provide against
damage from storms. high tides. and the waves
of passing steamers. and also because the dry
dock was TO remain empty over Sunday. with no
assurance that work would be resumed on Mon
day. and that ir this time the weather might not
be entirely favorable
Mr. Menocal was then asked if in his order
for the work he told TO remove all the bal
last. His reply that the wording Of the order
did not give precisely that command. but the or
der said that the object OF the operation was to
remove the ballast. that the cassOn could he
thoroughly cleaned. In order to accomplish this
it was necessary to remove all the ballast we'll
the mud and water.
Had you ever done any work of this kind be-
FORE"
NO"
Had you ever heard of similar operation?
NO"
Gould the work have been done 10y taking
out the ballast and putting it on the upper deck"
The work could have been done that way but
it would have been expensive. and. think.
necessary"
Mr.. Mcnoca presented a letter which he had
received from Frank Bowles the Chief Of the
Department of Naval Construction and Rcpa irs
in which Mr. Bowes said that he thoroughly
agreed with MIR. MenOcal that the accident had
been caused by the intense heat. Mr.. MenOCal
also presented carefully prepared tables of fig
ures. made out before the accident. intended
To ascertain whether or not the work would
be safe. The weights used in the tables had
been estimated by Messrs. Bowles and Memo
cal and the measurements of the caisson and
its various parts were taken from plans. The
engineer said that he had means of
tanning the exact weight of the casson. After
the accident Mr. Menocal had made another set
of calculations. because he said he had
feared that his first might need verification.
The second set Of calculations had resulted in
figures which differed slightly. but not ma
terially. from those Of the first set. Mr.. Memo
cal also presented figures showing that the
estimates upon which he had based his calcula
tons correct.
Mr. Menocal said that he was on duty in the
Nard for the last time between noon and !
o'clock on the Friday preceding the accident
He had gone to the yard on Saturday morning,
but stayed only long enough 10 leave his ad-
dress before going away for his leave Of alb
sence. He did not know whether Engineer
White. who left in charge OF the work,
knew that The caisson practically empty
Friday afternoon. lie had given Mr.. White
no instructions on the work. because, he said,
Mr. White is an engineer. and While in charge
is responsible. Mr. Menocal had consulted the
Naval Constructor regarding the safety Of the
work. and had been told by the Naval Con
struCtOr that in his estimation, the operation
would be safe
The afternoon session which opened at ]
o'clock was brief NJ. MenOcal present
again. and the testimony which had been given
by Messrs Prindle and White at previous hear
ings was read to him. Their testimony differed
in some respects from that which Mr.. Menocal
had given in the morning. Mr.. Menocal. how
ever, had no objections 10 offer to what they
had said, because he explained the opinions
Of engineers often differ widely on such points
as those involved in this case.
At this mornings session +. w. Hibbs. As
sistant Naval Constructor, and Mr.. Bowles will
testify Mr. Hibhs will present expert testi-
mony. based upon carefully prepared figures,
intended TO show the advisahility Of undertake
ing the work which was done the caisson.
4 message was sent to Mr. BOwles yesterday Al
Barnstable Mass. instructng him to he pres
ent at this mornings session. in order to tell
what he knows about the case