New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-11
CIVIL ENGINEER MENOCAL HOME.
HE HAS RETURNED FROM NICARAGUA TO
ANSWER CHARGES RELATING TO FAULTY
WORK or THE NAVY YARD DRYDoCK.


WORK on THE NAVY YARD DRYDoCk.
Civil Engineer Aneclto c. Mcnocal. who WAS
ordered home from duty with the Nicaragua Canal
Commission to stand trial before n naval court
martial on charges connected with the faulty work
on Drydock No g. arrived Mt tho Navy Yard yester-
day afternoon. having come from Nicaragua on the
Atlas Line steamer Adirondack. F. T. DAVIS OF
the Commission. also a passenger on the
steamer.
Civil Engineer Menocal. on his arrival at the yard.
reported at once to Admiral Bunce. and notice OF
his arrival was forwarded TO Washington After a
brief stay In the ONCE Of the commandant the cl'H
engineer went at TO his house, IN oihcers
Row." on the Flushing-ave side OF the Navy lara
inclosure
II ls expected that the members OF the court VIII
be named at once and that the trial VIII begih
early next week Civil Engineer Menocal refused
TO discuss the causes which led TO his return or 20
say anything in connection with the charges made
against him.
Tribune reporter who tried to see the civil en-
gner his house last evening was told that ne
could be seen because he was seriously III
This Information was given by boy about six
teen years old. who came down stairs In response
to the request for tho civil engineer.
when can Mr.. Menocal be seem was asked
"Oh. don't know; but not for long time" was
the reply
as he seriously ill7'
what Is the nature Of his illness-has he
cold?'
"Oh. We don't know abou, that lie Is Just sick,
that's all"
Mr.. Mcnocals physician. the boy said, was Dr.
Hawke who lives next door az No. Is FLUSHING
ave Dr. Hawke who is the medical Inspector at
tached the yard said that the civil engineer
Illness was partial paralysis Of the left arm. Mr.
Menocal had been in perfect health while In Mica
ragua and while on his voyage home. While writ
ing n letter yesterday morning. DIT Hawke said
Mr. Menoca had suddenly discovered that he could
not use his left arm The doctor said that the
paralysis was due to nervous disorders but that
Mr. Menocars mental faculties were in no degree
affected and that no serious results need be ex-
pected
The work which has been declared to be faulty
and fraudulent on the drYdOck Ia confined 10 the
tiGewatcr end OF the big hole and II Is III repair
ing this work that Naval Constructor bo"les mas
been engaged since last fall When me COCK "hs
declared completed. and vessels had been taken out
Of water into H. serious leaks showed that there
was trouble somewhere The eastern side or the
structure, and 1t was only by quick work 'naL me
battle-ship MASSACHUSETTS was saved from serious
dana An investigation by n board showed thdt
tho outer edge OF the apron, or sioplnS approach
the sill OF the dock. had apparently been torn
aWav and that through the cavity formed water
As a last resort the dock was flooded and. when
divers had located all the weak spots. the present
Golfer dam was built. and the water behind II
pumped out The revelations made by the uncov-
ering Of the apron provoked great deal OF com
ment. It was found that short pillnG had been
driven where long piling was called FOR by the
contract. and the assertion was made that /
4. Wash. the contractors had been guilty OF gross
civil engineer had been culpably negligent in per
hitting the work 10 pass its inspection AS Mt
burden Of the blame was cast his shoulders. and
the coming court-martial is the result.