The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-31
Secretary Bonaparte Reviews Inquiry
Into Bennington Disaster.
WADE NOT ALONE TO BLAME
COMMANDER YOUNG TO FACE
COURT MARTIAL.


the safety valves: orders Commander
Lucien Young before a courtmartiaI TO
clear himself of the Charges of neglect
of Official duty directs the courtmar-
tial of Ensign Wade. on the charge of
neglect OF duty and disa pproves the
court of inquiry's finding that the Ben
nington was I'm an excellent state of
discipline and in good and efficient con-
! dillon
ensign Wade was in charge Of the
machinery. The action as to Comman-
dsr Young was taken in view of the
TACT that the court of inquiry IN its
findings and opinion did not pass ex-
pressly upon his conduct and the ques-
tlon or his responsibility for the expIo-
sion. Secretary BOnaparte. however.
approves the court Of inquiry's en-
dorsement of the creditable conduct of
all of the survivors OF the officers and
crew of the Bennington, after the ex-
plosion occurred"
Secretary's Opinion.
Secretary Bonaparte's endorsement of
the courts findings is as follows:
The department has very carefully
considered the findings and opinion OF
the court of inquiry, the testimony and
eNhlblts thereto attached and the en-
dorsement of the commander in chief
OF the Pacific squadron thereon. 1t has
also considered the letters of the court
of inquiry commendatory Of Lieutenant
A f. H. Yates, L. s.. N. and Ensign
Charles T. Wade, L S N, and the
endorsements thereon by the COM
mander in chief of the squadron afore-
said, the questions involved in this in
qulry being deemed by the department
of exceptional interest and Importance
to the service, have been weighed with
more than ordinary da1iho~o
ton.
Findings Disapproved.
THE department approves the sew
eral findings of fact by the court of
inquiry with the exception of so much
thereof as in the words following:
That the Bennington Con July
10. -so5) was in an excellent
and efficient condition with the excep-
ton of her boilers. which were. in fair
condition and efficient considering their
age Cabout fourteen. years. and the use
to which they had been subjected
The department does not consider
this particular finding sustained by the
evidence the proof tends strongly to
show that the enlisted force of the
engineering division hau been permit
ted to fall into habits of Iaxity and in
attention in the discharge of their du-
ties, and that at least some of this force
NCAC cAoO 4ipCtAECNlN AllSlIuCl IG-
garding their duties In the view of
the department the evidence esta bIishes
further that certain appurtenances to-
Wit. the safety and sentinel valves of
at least one of the boilers. were not in
an efficient condition at the date men
toned and had not been in sDIch cOndi-
ton for a considerable time previously
and in the judgment of the department
this evidence renders the statements
that the ship was in a good and eff
cient condition and that her boilers
were in fair condition and efficient in
appropriate TO the facts disclosed by
the proof
Concurs as to Causes.
The department approves and con-
ours in the opinion expressed by the
court Of inquiry respecting the causes
of the deplorable calamity one
which the said court was constituted
to inquire and the responsibility and
consequent culpability of the several
persons mentioned in the said opinion
of the said court
The secretary then discusses GER
tain portions of the evidence, which.
he says. were sufficient to Justify the
court in advancing another charge Of
neglect Of duty against ensign Wade,
and proceeds:
The department approves the re-
commentator of the court OF inquiry
that Ensign Charles T. Wade. United
States navy. be brought to trial by
court martial upon the charges con-
tanned in the opinion of the said court
of inquiry. Such court martial is
hereby ordered, but the judge advocate
general is instructed to include in the
charges and specifications the further
charge hereinbefore set forth
Commander Young Arraigned.
''Inasmuch as the court of inquiry
did not pass explicitly in its findings
and opinion upon the conduct of Com
mander Lucien Young, United States
navy, commanding the United States
steamer Bennington and the question
of his responsibility for the explosion
thereon and consequent loss of life
and injuries TO persons and property,
the department. must treat this silence
as an implied finding that he was not
thus responsible After very careful
consideration the department is COM
PEELED to disapprOve this implied find
ing"
The secretary then cites and COM
ments upon the various provisions of
the navy regulations and concludes as
follows:
'sThe foregoing provisions OF the
regulations and the facts disclosed by
the national court of inquiry and by
the testimony and exhibits thereto at
tached, make il the duty of the de-
partnent to require Commander
Lucien Young, United States navy, to
clear himself before a general court
martial of the charge of neglect Of his
official duty above indicated. Such
court martial is therefore ordered and
the judge advocate general will pre-
pare charges and specifications in &C
cordance with the views OF the de-
partment hereinabove expressed.
Words of Commentator.
.In view of the many painful fea-
lures of this lamentable affair, it is a
source Of especial satisfaction to the
department TO approve the findings of
the court of inquiry, the endorsement
of the commander-in-chief of the Pa
cific squadron and the letters of the
members Of the court of inquiry with
the further endorsement OF the COM
rnander-in-chief respecting the highly
creditable conduct of all the survivors
OF the officers and the crew of the
Bennington after the explosion oc-
Cured
1T is but just TO mention and include
in this commentator Commander
Lueien Young, United states navy,
and Ensign Charles T. Wade United
States navy, and also TO note that
special reference in the letters afore-
said is made to Lieutenant A F.