The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-24
NAVY DEPARTMENT OPEN.
Officials Worked Sunday on Account
of the Disaster.

Washington, July 23.-Oficials of the
bureau of navigation were at the navy
department throughout today to re-
ceive kilograms from San Diego re-
garding the Bennington disaster. Act
ing Secretary Darling of the navy came
in from his country home and was at
the department today He has sent to
the president copies of all kilograms
received from the naval officials at San
Diego and a full account of all that
the department has done.
BY the direction Of the acting secTe-
tary. Surgeons V. Q. B. Means, r. T.
Cullough and 9. P. Kfnd1eberger, Of the
navy were ordered by the surgeon gen.
eral from San Francisco to San Diego
Inquiry Probable.
Rear Admiral Goodrich, commander
in-chief of the Pacific station, who is
expected to reach San Diego Thursday.
is clothed by the regulations with full
authority to order such investigation
a he may deem necessary, either by a
board of officers or by a court Of in
Quiry, which viii determine what
further action may be necessary. With
his flagship, the Chicago, and the Iris
al San Diego, he will have sufficient
number of officers from which to ap-
point an investigating board. It is ex-
pected that he viii enter into COM
munication with Washington, fully ad-
vising the officials here of the steps he
may take.
Warship Will Be FIoated.
In kilograms coming to the depart
ment over night from Captain Drake
that officer announced that he expected
eventually to float the Bennington. He
stated also that he ordered a board of
investigation to determine the extent of
damage done to the hull and machinery.
The captain stated too, that he would
need two more watch officers to relieve
those who have been OH constant duty
since the disaster. The department at
once ordered Lieutenants Mitchell and
LAarinner on the receiving ship Indepen-
dence at Mare Island to proceed forth
with to San Diego. Captain Drake says
the surviving officers and crew have
been doing noble work. and il is shown
by his kilograms that the officers have
remained aboard, but because the
crews quarters are uninhabitable, it
has been necessary to quarter them in
the army barracks.
Acting Secretary Darling has given
Captain Drake full authority to en-
piOy all civilian doctors necessary and
to purchase all medical supplies
needed and to take all measures re-
quired to relieve the suffering of the
wounded and to care for the dead.
Following is one of the kilograms re-
ceived by the department from Cap
tain Drake:
Find Bennington lying easy on mud
bank. Gun deck aft awash at high
water. Centrifugal pump lowered water
so as TO recover bodies in fire room. EX-
pect to plug bottom and eventually
float ship, stopping minor leaks. VIII
ship to Mare Island per Iris all I'M
necessary equipment, ammunition.
guns, mounts, except main battery
Board of investigation ordered TO de-
termine extent of damage to hull and
engines Find all officers and crew do
ing noble work. VIII require at least
two more watch officers to relieve pres
ent exhaustion from constant vigil and
work Officers live on board. Crews
quarters not habitable;- quartered and
fed by contract in army barracks adj
jacent to ship; working parties on
board constantly"
inspection of Wounded.
Another telegram from Captain
Drake follows
Past Assistant Surgeons Peck and
Smith have made inspection of wound
ed in hospitals under my orders. Pres
ent condition of many patients serious.
Strict medical attention urgent Re-
quest authority TO employ such civil
ian doctors as necessary under super
vision Of Smith. whom I have placed
in charge of the wounded: to purchase
such medical and surgical necessities