The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-26
NO WHlTEWASH- -BONAPARTE.
BENNINGTON TNvEsTxGATION TO
BE VERY STRICT.

Promises tho Service That There VIII He
No Scapeg oat-Capt. Drake Makes .
Report Of the Work Done on the Wreck
Of the GunbOAt-No Moro Deaths.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-No matter what
the result Of the investiga CATION OF the dis
aster on the gunboat Bennington may be.
or whom II may hit, there is to be no white
washing. and whoever is found 10 have been
at fault will be punished. So much was
emphatically promised in statement issued
to-day by Secretary Of the Navy Bonaparte.
who said
\ promise the public that nobody shall
be whitewashed, and the service that no
body shall be made a scapegoat.
In this same statement Secretary Bona
parte urged that judgment as to the cause OF
the accident be withheld until something APP
pears which could be used az substantia-
ton. He asks that there be no conjecture
or wild talk, and promises to Get an OK.
ample OF the proper attitude by not dis
GUESSING the situation until he has something
upon which his statements may be based.
Following Is the statement Mr.. Bonaparte
made to-day:
THE Department Is not yet ready TO
make any statement az to the probable
or possible cause Of the disaster. When
the facts shall be better known and rea-
sonable basis for an Intelligent opinion
may perhaps exist the Department Will
hold back no information In its possession
to which any fairminded man could think
the public entitled. But for the moment
wish to urge by example as well a. BY
precept on every ono, whether IN or out
Of the service, the advisability and even
duty Of refraining from loose, unwise and
unchadtable talk on subject % delicate.
10 hard to understand and 90 painful. ]
ask all good citizens to have patience,
and II It ahall appear that there has been
failure In duty on the part Of any one. l
promise the public that nobody shall DO
whitewashed. and the service that nobody
shall be made q scapegoat-
Several dispatches cans to the Navy
Department to-day from Capt. Drake
commanding officer ct San Diego. In
despatch made public late this afternoon
he says that the work on tho wreck 70 pro.
ceeding rapidly. Plans for putting the
vessel in such condition a. to permit towing
to the Mare Island navy yard have been com
expected that within few days tho repair
ship Iris will take the Bennington IN tow
San Diego, viii make northward for the
Mare Island yard. Holden A. Eyans. naval
constructor, who vas sent TO san Dego
OF the BENIN ton's hold inside and found
NO leaks through the hull plating. All
other leaks, those through the sea valves
and broken pipes, have been closed. The
free water now in the hold will be taken out
according to.Capt. brakes despatch, with
hand pumps
No more deaths were reported to-day
When the wounded improve enough to be
moved, they will be taken to Mare Island.
Some Of the wounded are still In serious
condition and It is possible that more
deaths will be reported within few days
Pacific station, reported his arrival at San
Francisco to-day. The Chica go, will take
on coal and proceed Immediately to San
Diego. Admiral Goodrich Is due there
on Thursday. All the facts that have been
gathered by officers on the grol1nd VIII pc
will have charge Of the investigation.
Capt. brakes latest despatch to-day.
telling Of the work on the Bennington. was
constructor Evans has made prelim-
mary examination Of Bennington , inslde
all leaks through sea valves and broken
pipes stopped Present list to starboard
due to shifting Of boilers B and D and some
free water below deck In intercostal spaces.
Will pump this water out by hand pumps;
then trim even keel; transfer unnecessary
equipment to the Iris: make examina-
ton outside hull with divers; secure boilers,
clean up living quarters. then. II oonstruc-
tor ia satisfied, will tow Bennington with
Iris to Mare Island. Fortune eecorting.
Wounded remain In charge naval surgeons
until transferred to naval hospital, Mare
Island Surgeons McCulloch Kindleberger,
Mitchell and Latimer reported last night;
will relieve civilian doctors as soon as pos
Assistant Secretary Darling to-day re-
ceived the following Jdespatch from Ben
nington, Vt. the town after which the
wrecked gunboat was named,
.In behalf OF the citizens OF Bennington,
1 tender you heartfelt sympathy and sorrow
for the suffering and death caused by the
grievous disaster to the good ship Ben
manned by heroic souls whose fortitude
and bravery has just been so fully shown.
We have always regarded this gallant ship
with more than ordinary interest, and this
terrible misfortune calls forth deep ex-
pressions OF sorrow. coincidence and SYM
pathy. "A j. COOPER.
President OF Bennington village
Secretary Darling replied as follows.
.In behalf of the sufferers and the friends
OF those who died in the terrible accident
on the United States gunboat Bennington,
OF the town after which the vessel was
named for their expression of sympathy.
Coming from you as the representative
Of my fellow townsmen. the message was
especially touching to me-"