Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-21
CHARGE WAS UNJUST
COXSWAIN Tackles REMAINS
WERE SUITABLY CARED FOB.
Findings of a Naval Court of Inquiry
at San Juan-Testimony
of the Surgeon.

SAN JUAN, p. r., April IA, 1903.
An important court of inquiry convened
by order of the United States Navy De-
partment and presided over by Surgeon
Charles H. T Lowndes. L. S. navy. at the
San Juan naval station. finished its sit
tings yesterday. The proceedings have
been secret and comparatively few per-
sons know of even the existence of the
court.
The investigation was an echo of the
tragedy on the United States battle ship
Massachusetts, off Culebra. on January 10
last when the shell in the breech of an
eight-inch gun exploded, fatally wounding
nine men. One of these men was Cox
swain Albert Stephen Tackle Of St Louis.
Mo-, a son of Mrs. Mary Magel Of that
city. Tackle was transferred to the Mill
tary Hospital in San Juan. where he died
on January II, at about the hour that
five of his comrades were being buried
with military honors in Santurce ceme-
terry.
A month later, in response to the petit
lions of relatives and friends of the dead
men, the United States government ar
ranged to disinter all the bodies and have
them sent to the United States.
Charges of Neglect.
When Tackles body reached St. Louis
the trouble which led to the investigation
In San Juan was begun. Tackles family
had the coffin opened and then rushed into
print with series of complaints and ac-
eusations. A st. Louis newspaper article
alleged, on the statements Of Tackles step
father, Louis Magel of st. Louis that the
body was wrapped In coarse sheet and
not clothed, is usual, in uniform: that
the box was of the toughest possible sort
and was probably made for few cents
by a workman in one of the islands," that
and that the body was in a cramped con-
dition in consequence; that quantity OF
lime was between the coffin and the outer
case, with the intent to destroy the body
quickly; that the government showed lit
tie gratitude in the manner In which 1t
sent home the bodies of its fallen heroes;
that Tackles stepfather paid 500 for a
suitable caSket to reincloSe the body; that
Difference was shown in the Philippines by
placing the bodies of soldiers and sailors
In metallic caskets, and that generally
Tackles corpse was not properly treated.
Mr.. Magel went further. He complained
to Representative r. Bartholdt, who wrote
to the Navy Department, giving all the al
legations made by Magel, and asked the
department to take action
Court Of Inquiry Convened.
Commandant A. Dunlap of the United
States naval station, San Juan. convened
a board of inquiry. of which Surgeon Chas.
H. T. Lowndes United States navy, was
senior member, and Captain T. P. Kane,
United States marine corps; Passed As
sistant Paymaster D. v. Chadwick. United
States navy, and First Lieutenant F. M
Wise, United States marine corps, were
members.
army, testified substantially as follows:
That the body was not embalmed in the
first place, because there was no intima-
ton from the Navy Department at the time
Of burial that it would be shipped to the
states, and, Furthermore, there is no pro-
fessional embalmer in Porto Rico; that 1t
was not dressed in uniform because 1t
was so badly burned it was not thought ad-
visable to remove the surgical dressings,
and 1T was wrapped in a bleached sheet,
such as is used in the hospital. and the
sheet was not cheap and coarse, as stated
In the newspaper clipping, but neat and
clean at the time the body was buried.
Nal. Prick did not remember just what
sort of a coffin was used, but thought If 1t
had been anything out of the ordinary the
fact would have been impressed upon his
memory, and he was sure 1t was of ample
length for the body. At the time of the
burial the body was In a conventional po-
stion in the coffin, and 1t was not strange
that 1t was found in a cramped position,
after having been buried and disinterred,
hoisted and off steamships and trains
and going through the incidents natural
to a travel of several thousand miles, The
body was not placed in a uniform for the
reason above stated
To prove that every honor was shown the
victims of the sad accident on the Massa-
chusetts, Maj Frick asked permission of
the board to introduce a photograph with
his testimony. Permission was granted,
and photograph Of the room IN which the
funeral services of Tackle and others were
Eeld was produced, showing the room finely
decorated with palms and flags and the
collins lying in state covered with the
American flag.
Maj. Prick then introduced a sworn state
ment by Charles II. Rumley a member Of
the Army Hospital Corps who had imme
date charge of the preparation of the body
of Tackle for burial, in which lie confirmed
the testimony of Maj. Prick.
Commandment Dunlap and Surgeon
Lowndes then testified as to the care and
attention given the men wounded in the
explosion the Massachusetts, before
death and the extraordinary military hon
ors at their burial
The Findings of the Court.
The board then closed and its findings and
conclusions were to the effect that the
newspaper article was without foundation
and that everything possible was done by
the authorities here to prepare the bodies
of the men who fell In their cOuntry's serv-
ice for shipment home.
From outside source 1t is learned that It
cost the government S45 each for the ship
ping cases, and the collins cost $50 each in
addition. a total of SIS for each man.
If the facts of the case were known to
the people of San Juan there would I'M
doubtedly be a strong protest against the
action of Tackles relatives in trying to dis
credit the local naval aMfhoriffec