Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-24
TO LEARN THE FACTS
Admiral Goodrich Has Full
Authority.
MAY APPOINT BOARD
1T is HOPED TO FLOAT THE BEN
NINGTON.
More Officers Ordered to San Diego
Caring for the Wounded-Forty-
Seven Bodies Buried.
MAY APPOINT BOARD

Commander George b. Ransom. chief en-
gineer officer at the Mare Island navy yard
has been ordered to San Diego. He will be
able to give Rear Admiral Goodrich yaiu-
able information regarding the boilers OF
the Bennington which exploded with such
fatal results Friday, the last repairs
were made on them at the Mare Island
yard Pending the arrival of Admiral Good
rich he may be able to collect additional
facts, and it was deemed best by the de-
partment to have him on the ground when
Admiral Goodrich arrives
Rear Admiral Goodrich commander-in-
chief of the Pacific station, who is ex-
pected to reach San Diego Thursday. is
clothed by the regulations with full au-
thority to order such investigation as he
may deem necessary, either by a board of
officers, or by court OF inquiry, which will
determine what further action may be
necessary. With his flagship, the Chicago
and the Iris at San Diego, he will have a
sufhcient number of officers from which to
appoint investigating board Ii is expect
ed that he Will be in constant communi-
cation with the department from the mo-
ment he takes hold at San Diego. fully ad-
vising the officials here OF the steps he may
take.
To Float the Bennington
In kilograms coming to the department
over night from Capt. Drake that officer
announced that he expected eventually to
| float the Bennington. He stated also that
he had ordered board of investigation to
determine the extent of the damage done
to the hull and machinery.
Following is the telegram received by
the department from Capt Drake:
Find Bennington lying easy on mud
bank; gun deck aft awash at high water.
Centrifugal pump lowered water so as to
recover bodies IN fire room. Expect to plug
bottom blow and eventually float ship. stop
ping minor leaks. VIII ship 10 Mare Is
land per Iris all unnecessary equipment.
ammunition, guns. mounts, except main
battery BOARD OF investigation ordered to
determine extent of damage to hull and
engines. Find all officers and crew doing
noble work. VIII require at least two
| more watch officers TO relieve present ex-
haustion from constant vigil and work.
Officers live on board. Crew Is quarters not
habitable; quartered and fed by contract
In army barracks adjacent to ship. Work
Ing parties on board constantly"
The department at once ordered Lieuts.
Mitchell and Larimer on the receiving ship
Independence at Mare Island to proceed
forthwith to San Diego. Capt Drake SAYS
the surviving officers and crew have been
doing noble work, and IL is shown by his
kilograms that the officers have remained
aboard, but because the crews quarters
are uninhabitabe II has been necessary TO
quarter them in the army barracks.
Caring for the Wounded.
Acting Secretary Darling has given Capt
Drake full authority to employ all civilian
doctors necessary and TO purchase all medl-
cal supplies needed and to take all meas
ures required to relieve the suffering OF the
wounded and to for the dead
BY direction of the acting secretary Sur
geons V. c. b. Means, F. +. Mccullough
been ordered from San Francisco to San
Diego.
Capt. Drake has telegraphed:
Past Assistant Surgeons Peck and Smith
have made inspection of wounded in hos
pitalS under my orders. Present condition
of many patients serious. Strict medical
attention urgent. Request authority TO en-
ploy such civilian doctors necessity de-
mands under supervision of Smith, whom /
have placed in charge of the wounded; TO
purchase such medical and surgical dress
ings as required. Have visited The wounded
in army barracks. Agnew's and 81. Joseph
sanitarums. Wounded which be moved
will be concentrated in army barracks.
Serious cases left in present hospitals until
able TO be moved. Am at present proceed
ing under above conditions, the nece5-
sity demands 1t.
Recovering the Bodies.
Capt F. J. Drake has reported to the
department from San Diego the recovery
of the bodies of Frank De Curtoni oiler,
and Dwight N. Holland fireman, second
class, from the wreck, and in another
telegram he announced that the bodies of
c. S. Carter. fireman, second class, and an
unidentified sailor had been recovered
from the ships hold.
The revised list as given out at the de-
partment, makes a total of forty-nine
Identified dead officially reported to the
department and one unidentified body.
The moment the department is officially
advised of the finding of an additional
body a telegram is sent to the nearest
relative of the deceased announcing the
\, -rltr thQ fl.lf hu of
department
Yesterdays Funeral Services.
The acting secretary of the navy has
received the following telegram from
Capt Drake dated yesterday:
Attended funeral of dead from Ben
nington this afternoon with naval and
military honors at national cemetery
under control Fort Roscrans Post, Point
Iona. Officers and crew of Bennington
and garrison Fort Roscrans attended
Forty seven bodies inferred, with graves
properly marked for future identification
and such monument as may be decided
upon. Buried A. F. Saunder, A. II.
Schroggre. r. L. Savage. VIM. Kempton.
W. w. Wright, NJ. q. Chambers, j. Ezell,
j. Hunt, e. b. Robinson, Thos. Burke, f.
j. Geiss, l.. B. Archer, III. +. Smith, p. Car
penter, D. c.. Archer. f. w Brown, l.. J.
Gauthier c. Z. Rushing, G. T. Clarke, w.
C. Wilson, ]. Goika, r. A. House, S. w.
Pollock, w. M Parrish. X. F. Morris, w.
G Grant w. Cherry c. H. Stephenson. w.
NJ Taylor II. Mosher. NJ G. Quinn, B. A.
Hughes, c. Haggbloom. W. Staub. G.
Brownlee. NJ. Conway. f. Decourtani. J.
Hilscher, E. c. Hoffman, c. ]. Kuntz, ].
Mckone C. Nelson &C. P), w. c. Wilson,
e. y. Brunson two unidentified and d.
NJ Holland Thousands of the people OF
San Diego attended
Secretary Bonaparte at His Desk.
Secretary Bonaparte arrived at the Navy
Department at noon today. Soon after he
came he had conference with Assistant
Secretary Darling, who laid before him
complete history of the Bennington dis.
aster so far as shown by kilograms and
reports coming TO the department from
San Diego. The secretary also was shown
the plans of the Bennington showing the