The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-22
REPORT ON
 BENNINGTON Court Says Boilers Were - Good. PRESSURE NOT RECORDED All Those Blamed for Accident
 Dead Save One.
PRESSURE NOT RECORDED
Board of Inaairy Recommends That En- sign wade Be Summoned Be-
 fore Generai courtmartiai
 on NesiIkence Charge.

Washington, Aug. 21.--Secretary Bonaparte today received and as soon as he had himself read, made public the proceedings and findings or the court of inquiry which investigated the explosion on the gunboat Bennington at San Diego, Cal, on July 2l. The findings were complete surprise, for they set at rest the stories that had been circulated to the effect that the Bennington's boilers and perhaps those of other naval vessels of the same age were defective.
 As a matter of fact. the court found the explosion resulted from the closing of a valve which connected the ex- ploded boiler with It's steam gauge so that the pressure on the boler may have been several hundred pounds to the square inch when the accident oc- cured.
 While praise was accorded to the officers and ships company for their conduct during the narrowing scenes following the accident the officers and men who were responsible, in the optn- ion of the court, are pointed out and courtmartial proceedings suggested n the case of the only one of them sur viving, Ensign Charles T. Wade. The court consisted of Commodore Steven son. retired, and Captain E. J. Moore and Captain Thomas s. Phelps The nnOlnBS IGClNo tnG d4AiFAA oA thS 9Sh- nington at San Diego and says;
 The ship was In an excellent state of discipline and in a good and effi- cient condition with the exception Of her boilers which were in fair conji- tion and efficient. considering their age (about four years) and the use to which they had been subjected"
 The opinion of the court follows:
 "The court Is of the opinion that the hu xaTa sure in boiler B. which came about first. by shutting the valve connecting the boiler with the steam gauge instead of the valve on the asr-cock alone as was intended. so that the steam gua9e did not indicate the pressure in the boiler; second. by unusf ; and heavy irfns In the boiler to get up 6 pressure which the boiler failed to show; that because the failure of the sentinel and safety valves to lift at the pressure for which they were set and the pressure In- creased without relief until 1t was be- yond the strength of the boiler which gave way in its weakest part. after wards found to be the corrugated flue of No. 2. the lowest or middle furnace. which collapsed.
 shut or Steam Valve.
 'The court is also of the opinion that D. N. Holland. fireman. second class. United States Navy, who was the fire- man on duty firing boiler B at and be- fore the time of the explosion did, by mistake, shut off the steam valve con- meeting boiler B with its steam gauge instead of the air cock as intended thus preventing the gauge from registering the steam pressure on It's boiler: that | Frank de Courtaini. acting water ten ] der United States Navy, on watch in | charge of this boiler from about 9:1b until the time of the explosion, did fall to observe that this steam gauge was l not recording and did continue pushing | the fires on this boiler, and further. when leaks developed from excessive pressure. did fall to relieve the pressure which should have been done at once; that E. B. Ferguson. chief machinist's mate. United States Navy, on watch 1 in charge of the engine and fire rooms. | did fail to inspect boiler under his l charge, while steam was being raised. and did fail to cause this steam gauge | to be connected with the boiler; the said D. N Holland. fireman second class, United States Navy. Frank de Courtaini oiler, United States Navy, and E. B. Ferguson. chief machinist's mate are all now dead and therefore no further proceedings can be taken against them.
 The court Is of further opinion that further proceedings should be had ! United States Navy. who was in charge of the engineering department of the United States Ship Bennington at the time of the explosion and since October 22, 1904, in this. that he. the said ensign Charles T. Wade, United sttaes Navy did fail in his person to see that the safety valve on boiler B was overhaul cd at the proper time and kept in good working order, but did accept the yer bal statement of his subordinate or su- bordinates that 1t had been overhauled in March. 1905. and that the said En- sign Charles T. Wade. United States Navy in charge of the engineering de- partment of the United States Ship Bennington was negligent In the per recommends that he, the said Ensign Charles T. Wade, United States Navy. he brought to trial before a general court martial"