Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-23
LIST Of DEAD
STEADILY GROWS
At LEAST SIXTY LIVES LOST
ON BENNINGTON
MANY OTHERS ARE MISSING
Investigation Is Ordered by the Navy
Department, and Admiral Good
rich VIII GO to san
Diego at Once

Diego At Once
ship. s. injured who may die, 10; MISS
ing. is. Total, IS. The probable deaths
Of injured men is based upon the opin-
ion Of DR.. M. II. Foster Of the United
states marine hospital service. In
charge Of the medical staff, and the
number Of missing upon the statement
of Commander Young. The commander
believes the missing men we're drowned
and that the waters Of the bay will
give up this number of dead.
Investigation Is Ordered
Today brought other developments
and news Of the most intense interest
and Importance to naval officers. From
washington came information that
Rear Admiral Goodrich, commanding
the Pacific squadron, had been ordered
to san Diego forthwith. This is taken
to mean naval investigation into the
cause OF the explosions aboard the Ben
nington and the fixing of the blame
therefor. Captain Drake and Surgeon
Smith, both from Mare Island navy
yard, are upon the scene, the former
to direct operations on the wrecked
naval vessel and the latter to assist
in caring for the injured and direct
the burying Of the dead. With Surgeon
Smith came four hospital stewards.
whose assistance will be welcomed by
the overworked medical corps now in
charge.
The Bennington tonight lies deeper
than ever in the mud and shallow
water of the shores of the hay and no
apparent progress was made in the
work Of pumping out her flooded COM
partments. Until this is accomplished
the secret Of her horror chambers will
not be disclosed. This much is known,
however, Seven bodies are wedged be-
meath collapsed crown sheets and
bursted bulkheads of the fire room.
Flow many more may be found in the
compartments now forbidden ground
is entirAly conjectural.
Commander Lucien Young was seen
in his quarters aboard the Benning-
ton this afternoon. He was asked to
make statement as to the cause of
the explosion and it's effects upon the
machinery. He said: 46
Commander Young's Statement
ss"As to cause of the explosion I can
not say anything because l do not
know. What I do know is that the
damage was caused by exploding boiler
or boilers. The crownsheet of boiler I3
collapsed and the boiler head blew out,
breaking through the steel bulkhead,
separating it from boiler D, the other
main port boiler Immediately aft.
Boiler D was forced back, the crown
sheet collapsing ana breaking down the
steel bulkhead separating it from the
freroom. Everyone in the fireroom at
the time was killed. Th bodies are
now pinioned down by the collapsed
crown sheet Of boiler d and four more
by the bursted bulkhead. These bodies
we are now trying to release. In order
to do this it will be necessary to cut
the steel bulkhead in two places. One
of the bodies is wedged in in such shape
that it may be necessary to dismember
1t in order to take it out. We are him
dered. of course, by the water in the
boiler and fire rooms and are taking
measures to pump this out as rapidly
as possible. cannot express an opinion
as to when we will reach the bodies"
''The Associated Press has dispatch
from Washington, captain, quoting
Rear Admiral C. W. Rae, chief engineer
OF the navy, to the effect that he can
only account for the damage to the
Bennington by the explosion of high
explosives was suggested.
THAT is entirely wrong. There were
no high explosives in the part OF the
ship where the explosion occurred and
am positive that it will be found that
ali the damage was caused by the
boilers"
what was the condition of the boil
ers. captain?" was asked.
80 far as / know they were in first
class condition. They had been re-
Gently tested to 225 pounds pressure.
At the time Of the explosion we car
ried but 12O pounds
Boilers Recently Inspected
when were the boilers last in
spected?"
Il cannot answer as to the exact
date. but it was within the past few
months"
The arrival OF Captain Drake OF
Mare island was announced at this
point and Commander Young hasteried
to the gang plank to greet him. He
then declined to make any further
statement.
Commander Young stated that eigh-
teen men are missing besides those ac-
counted for at the morgues, the hospi-
tails and In the fire room. These eigh-
teen men he believes were drowned
and that their bodies will be found on
shores Of the bay from time to time
4 am quite satisfied" said he. that
more men were blown into the water