The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-08-01

.S.S.S.c.: ...<o.@S.&c.DS.-S.-S.-c
meet the crippled Wyoming at Port
Hartford and CONVOY her to this port.
Early Friday morning steam was got
ten up in boilers B and ID. 1t was
the intention to steam outside the
Heads and fill boilers A and G with
water. At the time of the explosion fresh
water was running into boilers b and
ID. These boilers underwent repairs
not long ago at Mare Island and were
tested there for 200 pounds pressure.
AT the time of the explosion the gauges
marked 100 pounds.
On July 9th the Bennington left Ho-
nolulu. She made very quick trip
to this port, arriving fully twenty
four hours before she was expected.
One reason for speed may have been
the serious illness of Lieut.. Victor
Blue of Spanish war fame.
Mr.. Blue was threatened with appen-
dicitis and they were hurrying him
to San Diego for an operation.
Over half the trip the boilers were
upder an unusual strain. Then the
Bennington ran out of a gale, and
after that the> boilers were nursed
carefully. Firemen say that boiler
leaked continually, and this leak was
not reported to the proper authorities
Commander Young says he can give
no reason for the explosion, and also
claims that he did not knuw that one
of the boilers was in leaky condi-
tion.
OF course, the affair will be investi-
gated In a thorough manner, and the
l. L
The pity is that most of the men who
are in a position to know will never
be able to give evidence.
At IL o'clock the crowds are thin
ming out in the down town district,
and San Diego, worn out with a day
of excitement and horror, has gone to
bed
The telegraph offices have been be-
sieged all evening by crowds of jack
les, all anxious to send word home.
Tomorrow can bring no fresh horror.
The worst is over and nothing remains
but to put the pitnul reminders of the
national calamity out of sight as soon
as possible. Most of them will be
buried in the military reservation here.
The wreck of the Bennington lies in
the shallow water of San Diego bay.
She is grimed and blackened and
| bloodstained from bow to stern, but
naval discipline still lives on board
| that battered wreck OF what was once
| United States gunboat, and the flag
is still flying at the stern.
| Before persons on shore and aboard
the moving bay craft awoke to the
catastrophe enacted before their eyes
this morning, men We're leaping over
the sides of the Bennington. Then all
were moved to action. First fisher
mans rowboat, then the launch Nc
Kinley, upon which Commander Young
had just embarked to board his vessel,
rushed to the rescue, followed by the
tug Santa Fe and the Government tug
De Russey. The struggling sailors,
some of whom were scalded and other
wise injured by the superheated steam
and terrible concussion of the explo-
sion, were quickly taken out of the
water and hurried ashore. Even the
ferryboat Ramona, with her crowd of
morning passengers from Coronado,
turned out of her course Immediately
and came to render assistance.
Commander Young boarded the Ben
nington but few minutes after the
explosion. While there was much con
fusion among those who escaped un.
harmed, the officers had already sci
about TO care for the injured and look
for the dead. The Bennington began
to settle rapidly, listing heavily to
starboard Fearing she would sinh
Commander Young ordered the vessel
taken in tow by the tug Santa Fe and
one or two smaller craft.
ATTEMPT AT RESCUE.
; As early as it was possible for mer
to go below, willing hands were turn
ed to the work o. rescue. Twice band:
of brave workers were forced to aban
: don their sickening task and come
above decks by the inflow of water
that filed the engine and boiler rooms
Every pump was set 10 work to lowe
the water. The offer of Mayor SehoI
to lend aid was accepted to the exten
of fire engine, which was loaded up
, on lighter and run alongside the Ben
A nington, where it is to be used to puml
A out the vessel s engine rooms.
Y The reseuers faced terrible spec
Q tacle beneath the main deck in tn
forward part of the vessel. Here tn
: crews quarters are located, and here
0 too, the greatest loss OF life occurred