The San Francisco call., 1897-10-23
HE WILL NOT
GO TO ALASKA
Engineer Chambers Saved
From a Tedious Cruise by
an Accident.
Was to Have Gone North on
the Gunboat Marietta for
Court-Martial.
Peculiar Way of Disciplining an
Alleged Offending Officer of
the Navy.

4uoy have 4QccE hcluOuS OI Q1SClDll0e
in the navy. Had it not been for slight
accident that delayed the sailing of the
gun bo at Marietta a few days one of the
officers on board would have been taken
to Sitka for trial by court martial for an
offense alleged to have been committed
two weeks ago while the vessel was at the
Mare Island Navy-yarc. As it is, the Ma
rietta is still in port and the officer is now
being tried on board the battle-ship Ore
gon. Why ii was deemed advisable to
>end him 10 Alaska for trial and to have
him continue in the performance OF his
duties pending the trial, with serious
charges hanging over him, nobody con-
nected with the navy on this station seems
to be able to explain.
Passed Assistant William II. Chambers
is the officer in question, and the offense
he is charged with is overstaying his
leave of absence. When the Marietta was
placed in commission Mr.. Chambers was
assigned to duty on her as ranking en-
gineer. 1t is charged that two weeks ago
be was granted three days leave of abb
sence, which he devoted to sightseeing in
the gay metropolis of San Francisco.
Pleasures beset the mariner so fast and
furious that. he forgot all about the Mari
etta Mare Island, the Navy Department,
and in fact every thing but the good time
he was having.
He could not crowd it all into three
short days-and nIgnts-so he helped
him self 10 some more time without ask
ing permission Of his superiors, or even
notifying them how easy things were
coming to him.
But the inevitable end finally came and
the engineer found himself once more at
Mare Island under the frowning gaze OF
Commardant Kirkland and he had moth
ing to say about the overtime that was
chalked up against him. Perhaps he
couldn't, but at any raie he didn't say
anything, that is. anything al all satisfac-
tory to the admiral, so he was ordered
aboard his ship and told to consider him
self under arrest, while Engineer Hart
rath was ordered to take charge of the en-
gines.
Cham bers was not relic we'd from duty,
however, and when the Marietta steamed
down from the navy-yard last Monday he
was performing his usual duties, with the
understanding that his case would be at
tended to later. That meant that when
the Marietta reached Sitka and met the
Concord, sometime during the winter,
court composed of officers from the two
ships would try him.
Whether it was the intention to have
him continue right along after his trial
until the findings could be forwarded to
the Secreiar OF The Navy, and the ver-
dlct, whatever it might be, promulgated
by him and returned 10 the court is not
known, but such course, which, under
the regulations must be followed, would
have taken several months and it was a
peculiar move, to say the least, to send
him so far away for trial instead of hold
ing him at the navv-yard. where his al
legged offense was com united.
But the accident to the Marietta as she
was steaning out through the Golden
Gate last Tuesday, necessiteting her re-
turn for repairs. upset this plan, and it
was decided to hold the trial on board the
Oregon at once. Accordingly, Captain
Whiting, Com ander Book, Lieutenant
Com mander P rkips, Lieutenant Stoney
and Chief Engineers Stevenson, Nauman
and Gage. with Captain Dickins of the
Marine Corps as judge dvocate, were de-
tailed as a court martial to try Mr.. Cham
bers, and began their sittlDgs yesterday.
Little was done beyond the organiza-
ton of the court, and the trial will last
for several days. 1t is likely that the
Marietta will be held in port until the
conclusion, though it is not expected that
the accused officer will go out on her now,
even if ne is acquitted.
Engineer Chambers has an enViable
record In the navy, and this is the first
time he has been involved in any trouble.
He is extremely popular with his brother
officers, all OF whom earnestly hope for
his acquittal. as his alleged offense is con-
sidered trivial at most, and his excellent
record is expected TO have weight with
the court.
Mr.. Cham bers entered the Naval Acad-
envy from Pennsylvania as a cadet Octo-
Der l, 1873. He was promoted to assist
ant en- gineer July l, 1891 and passed assist
ant engineer August %. 1884. He has
seen service in almost every quarter of the
globe.