The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-23
BENNINGTON DISASTER
The Mystery Of an Awful Tragedy
Observation-Disclosures Boilers
Not Defective, but the Disas-
ter Due to the Careless
ness of Number
of Men.

Washington, Aug. 2l-Secretary
Bonaparte today mace public the pro
ceedings of the Court of Inquiry which
investigated the explosion un the gun
boat Bennington, at San Diego, CAL,
on July 81. The findings were a COM
plete surprlsa. for they at once set at
rest the stories that had been circulet-
ed to the effect that the Bennington 8
boilers. aud pernars 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
hundred pounds to ths square inch
when the accident occurred.
While praise was accorded to the
officers and ships company for their
conduct daring the narrowing scenes
following the accident. the officers
and men who we're responsible. N the
opinion Of the Court, are pointed out.
and Court martial proceedings sugges-
ted in the case of the only one of them
surviving, Ensign Charles 7. Wade.
The finding of the Court says, IN
part:
"About $50. on July 2lst, sitter
both boilers ha6 been filled aud the
furnaces started it was observed that
the steam gauge on boiler "B" show
ed about i've pounds of steam pres
sure, and at this time Oiler Frank
de Courtani, acipg as water tender,
directed D. N. Holland, fireman,
second class, to close the air cock on
Boiler "B," that the said Holland
climbed up and closed a 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 regis
ter, but they kept on working the
fires and firing heavily; that when
the steam gauge On Boiler ga" show
ed one hundred and thirty five pounds
there was no pressure showing on the
steam gauge of boiler "B.''
The finding then goes on to state
that about 10. 80 o'clock small leak
was found in boiler "B." A request
had been sent to the boiler maker to
come and attend to the leak when the
explosion occurred.
The opinion of the court follows:
"The court is of the opinion that
the explosion was caused by excessive
steam pressure in boiler 3d." which
came about, first, by shutting on the
air cocks alone, as was intended, so
that the steam gauge did not indicate
the pressure III tie bpoiler; second,
by unusual and heavy firing in the
boiler to get up pressure which the
gauge failed to show; third by the
failure OF the sentinel and safety
valves to lift at the pressure for which
they were set, and the pressure in
creased without relief until it was be-
yond the strength OF the boiler which
gave way III its weakest Fart, after
wards found to be the corrugated fue
of No 2, the lowest or middle fur
mace. which collapsed.
"The Court is also of the opinion
that D. n. Holland Fireman, second
class. who was the fireman on duty
firing boiler b at and before the
time of the explosion, die, by mis-
take, shut Off the steam valve connect
ing boiler b with its steam gauge,
instead of the air cock, as directed,
5nus preventing the gauge from re-
cording the steam pressure IN its
boiler; that Frank de Courtani, boil
er, acting water tender, on watch in
charge of this boiler from about 9.15
a. M, until the time OF the explosion,
did fail to observe that this steam
gauge was not recording and did con-
tinue pushing the fires on this boiler.
and, further, when leaks developed
from excessive pressure, did fail to
relieve this pressure, which should
have been done at once; that 3. b.
Ferguson, chief naachinist's mate,
on watch in charge of the engine aud
fire rooms, did fail to inspect boiler
b under his charge while steam was
being raised, and did faS to cause this
steam gauge TO be connected with the
boiler. The said D. N. Holland, fire.
man. Frank de Cou.rtani, oiler, and
E. B. Ferguson, chief macninist's
mate, are now du ucdO auu, tuoI01Olo'
no further prosecution can be taken
against them
.'The Court is of the further opinion
that further proceedings should be had
in the case of Ensign Charles T. Wade,
in that he did fail in his own person to
see that the safety valve in boiler b
was overhauled at the proper time and
kept in good working order, but did
accept the verbal statement OF his SUBJ
ordinate or subordinates that it had
been overhauled in March, 1905, and
further, that he did fail to keep the
sentinel valves on the boilers in good
working order, and to cause the safety
and sentinel valves on all boilers to
be tested. in all of which be was neg
ligent in the performance Of his duty,
and the court recommends that be be
brought to Trial before general Court
martial.
PAYING DARGAN INSURANCE.
Darlington, Aug. 21.-It is author
itatiyely stated that the unpaid insur-