The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-17
HUNTING FOR PRECEDENTs.

ment and calmly await decision
(Signed) LEE"
HUNTING FOR PRECEDENrs.
Maine Disaster Recalls Many Similar
Occurrences.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE department
within recent years has been greatly
troubled by complaints of spontaneous
combustion of coal in the ships bunk
ers which have endangered the lives of
the crews and the safety of the ships
The Cincinnati twice at least, has been
obliged to flood the magazines to pre-
vent their blowing up during fires of
this kind and the cruiser Boston has
been in the same condition. In some of
these cases shelving in the magazines
which separate the powder charges
have been charred by the heat caused
by the burning coal in the adjacent
bunkers. Although the bunkers are in
spected under the regulations at fire.
quent intervals, so numerous have been
these cases of spontaneous combustion
that the navy department only recently
had the special board investigate the
subject with the view to applying pre-
VentiVe measures. Unfortunately this
board was prevented from making the
thorough investigation necessary be-
cause no funds were applicable to the
purpose.
Even empty bunkers have exploded.
In the case of the Atlanta some years
ago the bunker exploded with great vi
Olence and the only explanation that
could be given was that it probably
was caused by the igniting of the va
pOrs arising from the new paint APP
piled to the lining of the bunkers.
The theory advanced by the Spanish
authorities that the disaster might
have been caused by the explosion of
the boiler is accepted at the depart
ment as within the bounds of credible
ty- The Names boilers was separated
from the powder magazines at the
nearest point by a space of about four
feet, usually filled with coal. At least
one boiler undoubtedly was kept under
steam in order to run the dynamOS and
move the ship in case of need. The ex-
plOsion of such a boiler might easily
drive through the bulkhead and fire
the magazine.
Inasmuch as suspicion exists in some
quarters that torpedo was used
against the Maine, it may be said that
the majority of naval officers believe
that the character of the explosion was
hardly such as could be attributed to
torpedo. The latter charged with about
100 pounds of powder or gun cotton it
is believed, would have torn a large
hole in the bottom or side of the Maine
was scarcely likely to fire the magazine
which is not near the bottom.
1t is said at the navy department
that there is no lack of precedent for
such disasters as that sustained by the
Maine, all of which can be traced to
accidental causes. In 1885 the United
States man of war Missouri, then lying
at Gibraltar, was totally wrecked by
er case famous in naval history is that
of her majesty's ship Doterel. In 1887
she was lying at anchor off Punta
Arenas. in the Straits of Magellan. An
explosion wiped the ship from the face
of the waters and left almost none of
her crew alive. This was another case
of magazine explosion, though it may
have originated in the coal bunkers or
boilers.
Probably not since the wreck of the
American fleet at Samoa has so much
excitement been exhibited at the navy
department as was shown yesterday.
The beautiful model of the battleship
Maine standing before the door of Sec
rotary Long was surrounded all day by
crowds. At intervals telegraph mes
sengers appeared bearing messages.
Upon the delivery of each message
there was a rush to the secretary's
room to learn the latest news.
Up to the time Secretary Long went
over to the White House, the news was
free and promptly given out. After
that the messages were sent directed
to him at the White House and the
crowd was obliged to wait for the
knowledge of their contents until they
had been returned to the department.
The navigation bureau was beseiged
with inquiries from the friends of the
ships company seeking news as to the
mortality. All the officials were able to
do was to cause to be prepared copies
of the muster rolls of the men and as
soon as these could be prepared, the
list was given to the press.
The two officers unacCOunted for and
whom it is feared are dead are Lieu
tenant (junior grade) T. w. Jenkins
and Assistant Engineer Darwin d.
Merritt.
Mr. Jenkins was born in Alleghaney
City, June &c, 1865, and appointed nav
al cadet September %, 1882, by Repre-
sentative Thomas NJ. Bayne of the
Twenty third congressional district.
After a short cruise on the Atlanta, he
was graduated June, 1888. after which
he served successfully on the Galena.
Kearsarge and SWatara. He was next
attached to the coast survey and served
with it until February, 1890, when he
was again ordered to sea on the gum
boat Bennington. From June, 1893, to
September, 1895, he was on ordnance
duty at the naval proving grounds, In
dian Head, Md, and in September, 1895,
he was ordered to the Battleship Maine
and has since been attached to that
vessel. He reached his present grade
of junior lieutenant in January, 1897.
Assistant Engineer Merritt was born
at Red Oak, Montgomery county, April
r. 1872. He was appointed to the ma
val academy September 10, 1891, gradu~
ating at the head of his class four years
later. He went to sea on the Amphi-
trite and was subsequently transferred
to the Indiana, serving his final gradu-
alton July 1, 1897. After a short service
at the New York navy yard, he was
ordered to the battleship Maine Sep
TENDER 10, 1897 1t is said at the depart
ment that his service has been extreme
ly creditable.
Acc cnrrr TT