New-York tribune., 1905-08-23
WHY THE BENNINGTON BLEW UP.

All uncertainty about the cause of the explo-
sion on the Bennington a month ago is dispelled
by the court of inquiry which was appointed to
investigate the disaster. Two theories were
suggested at the outset One was that the boil
ers of the ship were not in a fit condition for
service For that supposition there was with
out doubt some excuse in the age or the boilers
and in the official reports that need existed
! for repairs The other suggestion concerning
the explosion was that 1t resulted from the fall
ure of the water gauge to reveal the condition
Of things inside the boiler which burst The
second hypothesis had much more to commend
! il TO acceptance than the first. The very vio-
! lence of the explosion discredited the notion
! that boiler "B" was weak. Besides it is not un-
heard of for fireman to close the valve con-
Meeting the gauge with boiler preliminary
10 cleaning the latter and to forget to open 1t
subsequently, Admiral Evans only one of
many experts who surmised what has proved
true in the present instance. So general
the belief in the theory which is confirmed
that the report of the court of inquiry will ex-
cite little surprise.
The three men who were Immediately respon-
sible for the primary mistake-the fireman,
water tender and machlnists mate-were killed
by the explosion, and can be summoned before
no human tribunal. Theirs. however, was not
the only neglect which has been exposed Had
the safety and sentinel valves or boiler b been
in perfect condition they should have averted
any accident as a consequence of overfiring. 1t
was the duty of the line officer in charge of the
engine room TO see that these pieces of mechan-
ism were examined at prescribed intervals. An
order had been given for such an inspection in
March last; and as the court of inquiry could
find no evidence that this had been executed. it
pronounces Ensign Wade negligent and recon-
mends that he he arraigned before a court
martial
Until the trial has been held, perhaps, ii would
not be just TO express an opinion about the case.
The appalling consequences of the offence i'm
puted to Ensign Wade make one hesitate to
pronounce Judgment hastily He should GER
tainly have a chance TO present whatever de-
fence can be offered in his behalf. Still, one
would expect that the merest novice would see
the Importance of keeping a safety valve in
working order; and the incompetency which Mr..
Wade seemingly exhibited is so amazing that
the public will regard it with Indignation. II
is impossible to believe that he did not know
the A, B, of steam engineering; and, whatever
was the ignorance which he displayed, there is
yet a positive disobedience of instructions for
him to explain.
It is by no means clear that this unfortunate
affair is due 10 the enactment of the Personnel
bill few years ago. The expediency of that
/ measure has been challenged, and fresh dis
cussion Of the troubles which it was designed to
/ allay may arise in Congress next winter. What
! seems to be most needed, however. to avert q
/ repetition of an accident like that at San Diego
a few weeks ago is not legislation. but an appli-
cation Of discipline of the sternest kind.