The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-24
JAP TAIN DRAKE : WORKING HARD Explosion on Bennington Will
 be Investigated MESSAGES ARE EXCHANGED Captain of Wrecked ounboat Says More Doctors Are Needed to Care
 for wounded-Navy De-
 partment Is Alert.
MESSAGES ARE EXCHANGED

Washington, July 2S.-oficials of the department throughout today to receive telegrams from San Diego regarding the Bennington disaster, and were prepared to meet any requests that might come from that city, where so many sailors are In hospitals as a result of the explosion. Acting Secretary Darling of the navy came in from his country home and was &. the department today. He has sent to the President copies of all telegrams received from the naval officers at San Diego, and all full accounts of what the department has done
 Commander-in-chlef Goodrich of the station. who Is expected to reach San Diege Thursday. is clothed with full au- thorty to order such investigation as he may deem necessary, either by board of officers or by court of inquiry, which will determine what further action may be necessary. With his flagship, the Chi cago. and the Iris at San Diego he will have sufficient number of officers from which to appoint an Investigating board. Tn teiegrams coming to the department over night from Captain Drake that off
  tually to float the Bennington. He stated also that he had ordered a board of in- vestigation to determine the extent of the damage done to the hull and ma chlnery
 Doing Noble Work. 1 Captain Drake says the surviving off, cers and crew have been doing noble work and 1t Is shown by the telegrams that the officers have remained aboard, but because the crews quarters are un- irhabitable 1t has been necessary to quar- ter them in the army barracks. Acting 1 Secretary Darling has given Captain Drake authority to employ all civilian doc l tors necessary and an order to purchase al. medical supplied needed, and to take al, measures required to relieve the suf- fering of the wounded and to care for the dead.
 | Following Is one of the telegrams re- oeived by the department from Captain l Drake:
 | q 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 1 plug bottom below, lad eventually float 1 ship stopping minor leaks. Will take ship | to Mare Island, where all necessary equipment ammuntions, guns, mounts (except main battery) can be had. A board of investigation ordered to deter mine extent of damage to hull and en- zines Find all officers and crew doing noble work.
 "Wlll require at least two more watch officers to relieve present men from ex- haustion. Crews quarters not habltable, 1 quartered and fed by contract in army barracks adjacent to ship. Working l parties on board constantly" Wounded Need Attention. 1 Another telegram from Captain Drake follows:
 Past Assistant Surgeons Peck and Smith have made inspection of wounded in hospitals under my orders Present | condition of many patients serious. Strict medical attention urgent. Request author l ity to employ such civilian doctors as necessity demands, to purchase such med l ical and surgical dressings required. Wounded who can be moved. will be con- centrated in army barracks. Serious pa- tients left in hospital, unable to be moved. Am proceeding under above conditions and as necessity demands"
 The following telegram was sent to Captain Drake:
 You are given full authority to employ civilian doctors. purchase such medical
 
 any measures in your discretion for al- leviating the suffering of the wounded and caring for the dead
 "CHARLES IT. DARLING,
 Acting Secretary"
 Captain Drake today reported from San Diego the recovery of the bodies of Frank De Curtoni, oiler, ard Dwight N. Hol- land, fireman second class. from the wreck. and in another telegram he an- nounced that the bodies of c. S. Carter, fireman second class. and unidentified sailor. had been recovered from the in hold. The revised list as given out today. makes total of 49 unidentified dead of- fcially reported to the department. and one unidentified body The moment tro department is officially advised of tha finding of an additional body, a telegrn -, is sent to the nearest relative of the de- ceased announcing the death and ev- pressing the sympathy of the depart ment.
 The list of dead, officially announced makes these corrections:
 Edward Brewster Ferguson. instead of B. Ferguson; Frederick K. Geiss, in- stead of C. J. Geiss; Oscar Fredericle Nelson. not c. F.. Michael George Quinn, not N. G.; and Harry Fay Saunders, not A. F.