The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-08-08
MARE ISLAND THINKS
NO ONE is TO BLAME
WHEN THE BENNINGTON WENT OUT OF COMMISSION
THREE YEARS AGO IT IS SAID HER BOILERS WERE
THEN IN UNUSUALLY EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR
A VESSEL ORDERED OUT OF COMMISSION.

VALLEJO July a-Oaca records navy yard that
$50 has been done here the boilers of the
Bennington the What work has been done
in connection with the boiler has been chiefly connection with
boiler floors time been
made the Mare Island authorities which would lead to the belief
that the boilers i'll anything but good condition.
1t the in the navy ship coming to yard to make
the work necessary be done by the ship department the
ships boilers The report is made by the steam
engineer upon such report that the yard
authorities do the work is supposed that the officer OF the ship
requiring the repairs knows all the work to be DONE and the
engineering officials OF the navy yard make further surveys Oh
the ship
In the Bennington placed of commission here and y
that time her boilers found be in almost perfect condition II
lis said at the yard that far as the boilers themselves were concerned
1.-THE Bennington could with perfect safety have been Kept IN commits
sion for three years longer Only thirteen her tubes
found be leaking of which three boiler b. Some twenty
five or thirty OF the ordinary tubes IN each OF the boilers were showing
signs of leaking, but the work these remarkably small
paison with that ship generally ordered out OF commission
Officers Mare Island oah express any opinion regarding
boilers explosion but from conversation held with
mot consider the result OF the ship being with unsafe
boilers Neither they inclined place the blame the officers
merous and the least popular OF these that running the waite
into the boilers preparatory up the full allowance
necessary that the shall be least three inches above the high
est heated portion of the boilers and considered possible here that
getting the up absorbed quickly than
known When the above the sheet of the boiler had be-
come exhausted there was nothing to prevent the heat striking the
Sheet which accordingly burnt until finally collapsed causing
the explosion 1t is supposed to be the duty the water tenders or
hremn this portion Of the boiler but officers Mare Island
say that would possible lay the blame for the affair
ny party and fact the opinion that the
will be known Both officers and be OF the opinion
that the explosion the boilers due lack and
proper precauon defects boilers
themselves The that Commander Young his log stated
they tested pounds but had been found
unsafe than pounds regarded
here as any special significance 1t is the custom at navy yards to test
1.-THE boilers third and hall
what will be required OF them under According
Ito this theory the boilers the best should have been able stand
ony about pounds although the yard who we'll
such unofCiay that boiler should always be
stronger shown by the the pressure put
lon them being determine only leaking not what will result in an
Explosion.
1t Yorktown which the companion ship OF
1.-THE Bennington of pounds has been
placed upon the boilers This the pressure it claimed which
the vessels boilers exploded but engineers say that add
tona1 FIVE pounds pressure should signify.
Little credenCe placed here the that Commander Miles
November reported the department that the boilers
Both Commander Niles Commander Young regarded
Through and is believed that
report modified by the of
remed aboard the ship itself accident would have
Hong before this
Disbelief also felt regarding the boilers being cond
ItOn last April No inspections made aboard manOfwa
by except the officer OF the ship OF the fleet which he be-
longs Had the boilers been deemed last
April unquesonab requested done when she
Mare Island in May which time absolutely repairs
reported this portion OF the ships machinery 1t
the department frequently dsapproves Of
recommendations made repairs deemng them unnecessary and
Inedlessly expensive
More officers are being rushed from the
dent the gunbOat the being Lieutenant A. n Nit
ce Lieutenant f. b. Lane and Surgeon Charles p Kndebeger
a Of the Independence left last night in accordance with tee
Graphic orders
WASHINGTON, July 24Commander George B. Ransom chief
engineer Mare Island Navy Yard where the last the Ben
nngton boilers today ordered proceed San
Diego is expected he will be able give much valuable noma
ton regarding general condition of the vessels boilers that time