The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-22

shoaI water until she grounded; but
subsequently, the sea valves We're
closed, the ship pumped out and re-
turned to her anchorage; that the ship
is practically unirjured except IA anu
about the engine and boiler rooms
Placing the Blame.
The opinion OF the court follows:
The court is of the opinion that the
explosion was caused by excessive
pressure in boiler b which came
about, first by shutting the valve con-
gauge, instead of the valve on the air
cock alone as was intended, so that
the steam 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 until it was beyond the
strength of the boiler. which gave way
in its weakest part, afterwards found
to be the corrugated fue of No. ?, the
lowest or middle furnace which col
laDsed.
1.-The court is also of the opinion that
ID. w. Holland. fireman, second class.
L s N, who was the fireman on duty
firing boiler b at. and before the
time of the explosion, did, by mistake,
shut off the steam valve connecting
boiler b witt its steam gauge in
stead Of the aireook, as directed thus
preventing the gauge from recording
the steam pressure on its boiler; that
Frank De COurtani, oiler, acting water
tender, L. 5. N, on watch in charge of
this boiler from about 9:f5 a m until
the time of the explosion, did fail to
observe that lis steam gauge was not
recording and did continue pushing the
fires on this boiler and further when
leaks developed from excessive pres
sure, did fail To relieve this pressure
which should have been done at once:
EoTsrl1cnn oh oh -.
mate, L, :. n, on watch, in charge
or the engine and fire rooms did fail
to inspect boiler b under his charge
while steam was being raised, and did
ran TO cause this steam gauge TO be
connected with the boiler; the said u:
y. Holland, L. S. n. and y. B. Fer
suson, chief Inachinist's mate. L. S. N,
are all now dead and therefore no fur
Their proceedings can be taken against
them.
Failed to Do His Duty.
THE court is of the further opinion
that further proceedings should be had
IN the case of Ensign Charles II. Wade
u = N. who was in charge of the en-
gineering department of the L. 5. S
Bennington at the time OF the explo-
sion and since Oct %, 1904 In this that
the said Ensign Charles IT, Wade, u.
). N, did fail in his own person to see
that the safety valve on boiler 'B' was
overhauled at the proper time and kept
in good working order, bat did accept
the verbal statement of his subordinate
or Subordinates that had been over
hauled in March, 1865. and further that
he, the said Ensign Charles T. Wade
L. :. n, did fail to keep the sentinel
valves on the boilers in good working
order; and further, that he said En-
sign Charles II, Wade, L. 8. N, did fail
20 cause the safety and sentinel valves
on all the boilers to be tested in accord
anoe with article 1909, paragraph 12
u :. n regulations 1905, in all of
which, he, the said Ensign Charles T.
Wade, u 5. N. in charge of the en-
cheering department of the Z. 5. S.
bennington was negligent in the per-
Torrance of his duty and the court
recommends that he. the said Charles
T. Wade, L, s, N, be brought to trial
before general court martial"