Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-08-26
BENNINGTON REPORT.
Court Finds Explosion Due
to Failure of a Valve.
PRESSURE IN BOILER WAS HIGH.
Bat Gauge Didn't Show II - Court
Martial For officer In Charge of
the Engine Room of the Dis
nbIed Warshfp.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22-Secretary
Bonaparte received and as soon as he
had himself read made public the pro-
ceedings and findings OF the court of
inquiry which Investigated the explo-
sion on the gunboat Bennington at San
Diego, Cal, on July y. The findings
were a complete surprise, for they at
once sat at rest the stories which had
circulated to the effect that the Ben
ningtons boilers and perhaps those of
other naval vessels of the same age
were defective. As matter of fact,
the court found the explosion resulted
from the closing of valve which con-
nected the exploded boiler with its
steam gauge, so that the pressure on
that boiler may have been several hun
dred pounds to the square inch when
the accident occurred.
While praise was accorded to the OFF,
GERS and ships company for their con-
duet during the narrowing scenes fol-
lowing the accident, the officer and
men who were responsible in the opin
ion of the court are pointed out and
court martial proceedings suggested in
the case of the only one Of them sur
viving, Ensign Charles /. Wade.
The court consisted of Commodore
Stevenson, retired, and Captain e. j.
Moore and Captain Thomas S. Phelps.
The finding recites the arrival of the
Bennington at San Diego and says:
1.-THE ship was in an excellent state
Of discipline and in a good and efficient
condition, with the exception of her
boilers, which were in fair condition
and efficient considering their age
about fourteen years. and the use to
which they had been subjected
Continuing, the court says:
about $40 on July 81, after both
boilers had been filled and the furnaces
started, it was observed that the steam
gauge on boiler b showed about five
pounds Of steam pressure, and at this
time Oiler Frank De Courtani, acting
as water tender, directed d. N Hol-
land, fireman, second class, to close the
air cock on boiler B. that the said
Holland climbed up and closed valve,
and almost Immediately the steam
gauge on boiler b failed to register
any pressure; that this was apparently
not noticed by either the water tender
or the fireman, and no attention ap-
pears to have been paid to the fact
that the steam gauge failed to register,
but they kept on working the fires and
firing heavily; that when the steam
gauge on boiler A showed 135 pounds
there was no pressure showing on the
steam gauge of boiler b."
The finding then goes on to state
that about 1890 O'Clock small leak
was found in boiler b. A request had
been sent to the boilermaker to come
and attend to the leak, when the ex-
plosion occurred The court says:
1.-THE court is of the opinion that the
explosion was caused by excessive
pressure In boiler b. which came
about first by shutting the valve con-
Meeting the boiler with the steam gauge
instead of the valve on the air cock
alone, as was intended, so that the
steam gauge did not indicate the pres
sure in the boiler; second, by unusual
and heavy firing in the boiler to get up
q pressure, which the gauge failed to
show; third, by the failure of the SEN
tinel and safety valves to lift at the
pressure for which they were set and
the pressure increased without relief
until it was beyond the strength of the
boiler, which gave way in it's weakest
part. afterward found to be the CORFU
gated fiue of No. 2, the lowest or mid
die 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 steam valve connecting boiler
B' with its steam gauge instead of the
air cock, as directed, thus preventing
the gauge from recording the steam
pressure on its boiler; that Frank De
Courtani, oiler, acting water tender,
II. S. N, ON watch in charge Of this
boiler from about 9:l5 a. m. until the
time of the explosion, did fail to OBJ
serve that this steam gauge was not
recording and did continue pushing the
fires on this boiler and further when
leaks developed from excessive pres
sure did fail to relieve this pressure,
which should have been done at once,
that r. b. Ferguson, chief machinists
mate, IT, 3. ~, on watch in charge OF
the engine and fire rooms, did fail to
inspect boiler B., under his 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
u. S. N; Frank De Courtani, u. s. n.
and Il. b. Ferguson, chief machinist's
mate, u. S. n, are all now dead, and
therefore no further proceedings car
be taken against them.
1.-THE court is of the further opinion
that further proceedings should be had
In the case of Ensign Charles i. Wade
u. S. N, who was in charge of the en-
cheering department of the United
States ship Bennington at the time OF
the explosion and since Oct. %, 1904