The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-22

could do for his injured shipmates and the safety of his ship; that volunteer aid of every kind from the shore was promptly given and the injured remov- ed to impFovised hospitals, where all was done that material could do to al- leviate their sufferings and aid in their recovery, while the dead were taken to the various undertaking establish ments, where they were prepared for burial; that after an examination of the collapse of the furnace fiue and physi- cal tests that we have made the matter of this furnace fiue was of good quail ity; that the ship was found to be fill- ing and settling, and when tug was obtained and the ship lowed into shoal water until she grounded; that subse- quently the sea valves were closed, the ship pumped out and returned to her , anchorage; that the ship is practically uninjured except in and about the en- ' zine and boiler rooms. The opinion of the court follows:
 The court is of the opinion that the explosion was caused by excessive pres sure in boiler B, which came about first by shutting the valve connecting the boiler with the steam guage instead of ! the valve on the air cock alone as was intended, so that the steam gauge did not indicate the pressure in the boiler:
 Second-By unusual and heavy firing under the boiler to get up pressure, which the guage failed to show.
 Third-By failure of the sentinel to left at the pressure for which they set and pressure increased without relief until it was beyond the strength of the boiler. which gave way in it's weakest part afterwards found to be the corru- gated flue of No. 2, the lowest or middle 1 furnace which collapsed.
 '"The court is also of the opinion that D. N. Holland, fireman, second class. U. s. N., who was the fireman on duty firing boiler B at and before the time of the explosion did by mistake shut off the valve connecting boiler B with it's steam guage instead of the air neck cock as directed thus preventing the gauge from reording the steam pressure on it's boiler; that Frank DeCourtenay, oiler, acting water tender, U. s. N, on watch in charge of this boiler from about 9:15 a. m. until the time of the explosion, did fail to observe that the steam guage was not recording and did continue pushing the fires on this boiler and further, when leaks develop ed from excessive pressure did fail to relieve this pressure, which should have been done at once. that E. B. Furgu- son, chief machinists mate U. S. N., on watch in charge of the engine and fire room did fail to inspect boiler B under his charge while steam was}being raised and did fail to cause this steam guage to be connected with the boiler, The said D. N. Holland, fireman, sec ond class, U. S. N., Frank DeCourti1ey, oiler. U. $. N, and E. B. Furguson, chief machinist's mate, U. S. N, are all now dead and therefore no further pro- ceedings can be taken against them.
 "The court is of the opinion that fur ther proveedings should be made in the case of Ensign Charles T. Wade, U. S. N,s who was ia charge of the engineer ing department of stl1ess U. $: ship Ben- 1nington at the time of the explosion, and since October 2, 1904, in this that he. the said Ensign Charles T. Wade, ] U. S., N.. did fail in his own person to see that the safety valves on the boiler EB was overhauled at the proper time and kept in good working order, but ldid accept the verbal statement of his subordinate Or subordinates that it had been overhauled in March, 1905 and 1 further that he the said Ensign Charles T. Wade. U. s. N, did fail to keep the sentinel valves on the boilers in good working order and further that he, the said Ensign Charles T. Wade, U. s. N. did fail to cause the safety and sentinel valves on all the boilers to be tested in accordance with article 1909, paragraph 12, United States navy regulations, 1905, in all of which he, the said Ensign Charles T. Wade, U. S. N, in charge of the engineering depart ment of the U. S. ship Bennington, was negligent in the performance of his duty and the court recommends that he. the said Ensign Charles T. wade, U. s. N, be brought to trial before a general court martial"