Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-22

from San Diego only the day before the
Bennington arrived at that port on it's
way to San Francisco. The monitor, when
near Port Hartford dropped one of its
propellers and became almost unmanage-
able. 1t made it's way TO a sheltered cove
at Port Hartford and the Bennington, then
at San Diego, was ordered to go to the
aid of the disabled monitor and tow 1t to
this port. 1t was expected that the gun
boat would sail from the southern port on
its errand today.
The Bennington had four cylindrical
straight-way boilers commonly called loco
motive gunboat boilers. Each boiler was
II feet inches long and feet 8 inches in
diameter. They were originally designed
to carry 100 pounds of steam, but the last
log shows that the safety valves were set
for l45 pounds and that it carried from 1856
to 40 pounds of steam in cruising. The
boilers were fifteen years old, according
to records in the department, but were
retubed in 1S03-O4. The admiral of the Pa
cifc fleet in October, 1904 reported to thu
Navy department that the boilers we're in
need of repairs. hut that the repairs were
not urgent A report from the engineer
officer of the ship received at the depart
Tent about the same time was that the
but the internal conditions OF the boilers
were good. A detailed report on the condi-
ton Of the boilers was received by the de-
partment last March. In May last the
Bennington was sent 10 Mare island yard
when temporary repairs were made on it's
boilers to put It in cruising condition. 1t is
stated at the bureau OF steam engineering
that there has been nothing in the reports
coming to the department to show that the
boilers were in an unsafe condition.
News Mt Washington.
WASHINGTON, July 21.-Ofciais of the
Navy department and naval officers or
duty in Washington were appalled, today
when the news came from San Diego, tell.
ing OF the disaster which overcame the
gunboat Bennington. Their first informa
ton was received from press dispatches
Later a telegram came from Commander
Lucien Young, captain Of the Bennington
announcing the explosion and stating thai
nearly everybody was killed or wounded.
Lieutenant Commander ii. b. Wilson OF
the bureau of navigation, who has charge
OF the assignment of enlisted men, upor
learning of the explosion Immediately sci
about to prepare a list of the ships crew
which subsequently was made public,
The Bennington was under orders fol
Panama, where 1t was being sent to reliev,
the Princeton, and was to have SAILED
direct from San Diego for the isthmus, bu
q report was received at the department
announcing that the Wyoming had dis
abled a propeller and orders were sent fol
the Bennington to proceed to Port Hartford
and convoy the Wyoming from that por
to San Francisco. Just as a press bulle
tin was taken Into the bureau of naviga
ton today announcing the explosion, q
telegram was received from Commands
Young that he was about to sail northwarC
as directed.
Partial List of Crew.
OF the official list Of the crew given out b!
the department, the following are from Ne
braska and adjoining states.
Archer, Leroy Brewster, able seaman
Maggie v Archer, Fowler. Colo, mother.
Bodwen, Burke e. able seaman; F.. ]
Bodwell, Omaha, Nsb.. guardian,
Anderson, Amos j., yeoman, secoud class