The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
THE INVESTIGATION.
Admiral Goodrich VIII Have Control OF
the situation.

WASHINGTON. July 22.-The investigation
OF the causes Of the accident on the benning..
ton is already under way, and 1t Is expected
at the Navy Department that report VIII
soon be forthcoming from Capt j. +. Drake
Captain of the Mare Island Navy Yard VINO
was last night ordered to proceed with one
surgeon and three nurses to San Diego.
Tonight Capt. Drake reported his arrival
at San Diego and said that he would at once
proceed to investigate the condition OF the
Bennington and make report to the De-
partment.
Orders were issued to-day to Holden A.
Evans, naval constructor, stationed az the
Mare Island yard. directing him to pro-
coed at once to San Diego. He Will 60
aboard the Bennington and make a thorough
inspection of the vessel, at the same time
endeavoring to ascertain the cause OF the
explosions which destroyed her.
Rear Admiral Goodrich, commanding the
Pacific station. arrived to-day at belling-
ham Bay, Puget Sound. He is aboard MS
flagship, the cruiser Chicago, and has just
completed a cruise in Alaskan waters
He received his first news OF the disaster
at San Diego when he arrived Mt beiiing-
ham Bay and found orders awaiting MIN
there from Washington to go directly 10
San Diego. He has not reported his ae par
ture, but it is probable that he will start
very soon. 1t Ia quite possible that the
Chicago just at this time ia short OF coal
and accordingly will have to take on iue'
before proceeding south
Admiral Goodrich will, upon his arrival
concerning the accident that, has SO far
been gathered by the officers already there
He will have absolute control Of the situa-
ton, and one of his first steps viii. probably
be the appointment of board OF INQUIRY
This will come after preliminary inVesusu,
ton, which will be practically comPleted
by the time Of the arrival OF Admirai
Goodrich.
Ii The court Of inquiry, after taking ev-
dence from the officers on board the Ben
ningt on, and making deep and thorough
Investigation of the accident, finds that
there was negligence on the part OF any
one, q court martial will then be ordered.
FUNERAL TO-DAY.
The funeral of the dead sailors OF the
Bennington will be held, according to the
adviceS received at the War Department
from Commander Young, tomorrow alter
will be made in the National Cemetery at
San Diego, and the ceremonies Will ~, pc
conducted with full naval honors. me
troops from Fort Rpsecrans will probably
participate. But one allusion to the funeral
ARRANGEMENTS has been made by Com
mander Young in his dispatches. In a
messag e received at the Department during
the night he said:
Arrangements are being made to bury
the dead at Fort Rosecrans, Sunday after
noon. at 2 O'Clock" :.
The dispatches TO the Department in
dictate that the hold of the Bennington is
full of water. Commander Young, in the
despatch received late last night and made
public this morning. says that he mas en-
ployed the services Of a fire engine to, pump
out the water. Several bodies are known
to be under the boilers, covered with water,
and every effort Ia being made to recover
them.
The steel bulkheads surrounding the
boiler room are being cut away as rapidly
as possible so that the searchers car set
to the bodies. The remainder OF Comman 'er
Young's despatch. aside from that part
concerning the funeral arrangements. Is
as follows
BODIES UNDER BOILERS.
Several bodies penned in under boilers
covered by water. Have engaged IRE en-
CINE to pump out so as to assist in their re-
covery. Also cutting away steel bulk
heads to get at them. Expect several
men to die during night. VIII wire Depart
ment in the morning. Everything that Is
possible to be done Is being done 1or poth
the living and the dead. Only able to
identify one man on board 80 far. He is
r. B. Carr, apprentice seaman.
The Navy Department received many
requests to-day for permission to bring
the bodies of dead sailors away from San
Diego: Nc. decision will be reached until
something further comes from Commander
Young, giving details as to the condition
Of the bodies.
Many dispatches from anxious relatives
and friends of those on board the Benning-
ton poured into the Navy Department to,
day. Some of them the officials ooulo
answer. while others gained only a response
that the Department had'not been informed
whether the man was living or dead. II
is presumed that a great many OF the rela
lives and friends have telegraphed directly
to Commander Young for information.
The Department Is doing all II its po WEI
the death Of sailor, or the fact that he wa
injured, Is reported, dispatches are i'm
mediately sent to the nearest relative
In the files OF the Navy Department tn
next Of kin of every person In the navy 1
alphabetically arranged.
nrSDATCH From Y0JvNG