Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-08-26
THE BLAME IS FIXED
Result of Official Investigation Info
Bennington Explosion
RESPONSIBILITY IS NOW SETTLED
One Only Of the Men Responsible Now
Lives. Ensign Charles T. Wade Who
May Be Court Martialed-NO De
feet in Bennington Boilers.

IcCL IN bennington boAels. ID
washington. Special - Secretary n
Bonaparte made public the proceed b
ings OF the court OF inquiry which
Investigated the explosion ON the guu-
boat Bennington at san Diego. Cali O
f0rria. and they af once eef az rest D
the stories chat had boon circulated % .
the eject that the Bcnn.ngfon's boli-| D
ers. and perhaps those 90 other vos- '
sells OF the same age. were defective
AS matter Of fact the court found tho
explosion resulted from tho closing of
a valve which connected the exploded
boiler with stem gauge. $50 that Che
pressure of that boiler may have bctn
several hundred pounds 90 the square
inch VIXEN the accident occurred
While praise was accorded to the
officers and ships company for their
conduct during the narrowing scenes
following the accident. the officer and
men who were responsible. In the
T opinion OF the court. are pointed out
and court martial proceedings sug-
. gested in the case OF the only one OF f
them surviving. Ensign Charles r. /
Wade
The Findings OF the Court.
The finding fin the court says fin
part.
About $500 ON July 21st after both
boilers had been filled and the fur
uaces started &C. was observed that the
steam gauge on boiler 'B showed
about FIVE pounds OF steam pressure
and at this time Ollcr Frank H. Cour-
tania. acting ass water tender. directed
s. ID. y. Holland fireman. second
class. 90 close the air cock on boiler
! b. that the said Holland climbed mp
2 mediatcly the steam gauge ON boiler
'B failed 90 register amy pres sure.
that this was apparently not noticed
by either water tender or the fireman
and no attention appears 20 have been
, paid 90 the fact that the steam guago
failed 20 register. but they kept ON
working the fires and firing heavily.
p showing on thcs team gauge OF boiler
l. A showed one hundred and thirty
n five pounds there was no pressure
4, gauge instead Of tho valve on the air
.B'
e The finding then goes on 90 state
e that about 1880 O'Clock a small lcak
e was found in boiler %, A request
-, had been sent 90 the boiler maker tC
come and attend 90 the leak when the
~ . explosion occurred
IT. The Opinion Expressed.
I'D THE court is OF the opinion that th'
ne explosion was caused by excessiv,
steam pressure In boiler 3D. which
or came abolt. first boy shutting the valy
ca connecting the boiler with the steam
'e, gauge instead OF the valve ON the al
OF cock alone as was intended. So tina
the steam gauge did not indicate On
Pr pressure in the boiler second by ur
usual and heavy firing I'm the boiler q
ca get up "a pressure which the gaug
it- failed 10 show. third. by the failure q
ed tho sentinel and safety valves 90 li
nc at the pressure. FOR which they WeI
set. and the pressure increased witt
out relief until 10 was beyond Oh
strength OF the boiler. which gave wa
in it's weakest part. afterwards fouu
~ 90 De the corrugated nue of numh'
two. the lowest or middle furnac
-o' which collapsed.
lY- THE court IL also % the opiniC
.Is that T. ~ Holland. fireman. secoi
.- class. who was the 6reman on du
ins firing boiler 'B' at and before. q
VI" time of the explosion. did. by mistaR
shut or the steam valve connectu
boiler 81 with its steam gauge,
stead OF the air cock. as directed. Ia
90 preventing the gauge from recordi
80 the steam pressure i'm it's boiler. th
- Frank DeCOurtenay. Oiler. acting "
- ter tender. or Waterman In charge
tbe this boiler from about S:15 am an
,~o tht time of the explosion. did fail
rbe observe that this steam gauge was
INV recording and did continue pushi
tbe the fires on this boiler. and turth
when leaks developed from eXcess'
pressure. did fail 20 relieve this pr
sure which should have been done
once. that T.. b. Ferguson. chief Z
.nut chinist's mate on watch In charge
~. the engines fire room. did fail %
spect boiler b under his cha
eng while steam was being raised, and
arge fail 10 cause this steam gauge TO
died connected with the boiler. The said
y. Holland fireman; Frank DeCou
-, nay. oiler. and +. b. Ferguson. Cd
sho4 machinist's mate. are now all de
or,a and therefore no further proceed
can be taken against them.
Let Wade be Tried.
The court is Of the further opiI
that further proceedings should
"a had in the case of Ensign Charles
Isth- Wade. that he did fail in his pe-so
the see that the safety valve on be
men b was overhauled at the proper I
lhs and kept in good working. but did
cept the statement OF his subOrdi
$40. or subordinate that it had been q
Z va hauled in March. 1905. and fur
that he did fail TO keep the SEN
valve on the boilers In good wOr
iSlns order. and 10 cause the safety
carry sentinel valves on all boilers TO be
oeau ed in all of which he was negli
in the performance OF his duty.