The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17
investigating LEAKY
BOILER ON YORK TOWN
Board of Naval Officers
Confronted by Passing
of the Buck
CAUSE IS UNKNOWN
One Story Is That Rlvets
Were Removed by
Engine Crew
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE GALL
VALLEJO, Feb. 16.-The board of
naval officers now in session at Mare
Island to investigate the condition or
the boiler of the gunboat Yorktown,
which recently returned to the navy
yard in a leaky condition, are guard
ing the tenure of the testimony very
closely. The Yorktown was recently
placed in commission at this yard and
sent to join the Pacific squadron at
target practice in Magdalena Bay. The
ship was passed as being in f1rst-class
conQltlon. but it is reported that the
boller-maker attached to the gunboat
round after days journey out from
San Francisco that one of the boilers
was leaking, and on investigation that
thirteen of the rivets had been removed,
causing the water to escape.
The gunboat continued south and
joined the fleet, continuing her target
practice, while a report of the AFFAIR
was sent to the Navy Department at
Washington. About ten days ago the
yorktown returned to this yard, and
the story then gained publicity, but as
no notice was taken in the matter by
the department it was thought that
the incident was of such small impor-
tance~that no further action would be
taken. Suddenly orders came from
Washington for a secret inquiry The
testimony in the case developed gem
eral passing of the buck. The yard
authorities, of which Foreman Edward
Kavanagh of the boiler shop is the
chief witness, claim that the ship was
in good condition when she left the
yard, and that thirteen rivets could
not have been left out by the yard
workmen. The testimony of those
a,.1 =, II, ,@Ia -
blame on the yard employees.
Another opinion which has little
foundation, is that some one of the en-
gine-room crew, not desiring to make
the trip to the Central American coast.
where the Yorktown was ordered,
sawed off the rivets in order to have
the ship sent here for repairs. There
was no danger of a repetition of the
Bennington disaster in the case of the
Yorktown.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Naval Off
GERS are inclined TO belittle the stories
that there has been a plot to destroy
the Yorktown, or that there has been
any explosion on the Chicago. The de-
partment heard from the latter ship to-
day, and the dispatch merely sad that
she had arrived at Acajutla. She mas
not been at Magdalena Bay fer two
weeks. Had there been any disaster
aboard they say that they surely would
have been notified.
In the case of the Yorktown they
say that ship was repaired in Noven-
ber and heavier guns in Stalled. They
are inclined to think THAI these heavier
guns told upon the gun foundations
and it was necessary to send here to
the yard for the purpose of strength
ening the deck beams. At the same
time they say it is probable that ad-
! vantage was taekn of her lying UP to
/ go over her boilers. Had there been
/ any serious defect in this quarter she
would have blown UP a long time age
! It is admitted at the department that
! there has been great difficulty IN get
| ting efficient workmen on the Pacific
| Coast ever since the calamity of last
April. The catastrophe created de-
mand which has been fQed at four oI
five times the normal price for skilled
| workmen.