New-York tribune., 1907-06-16
NAVAL DISASTERS.
Il Long List of Momentous Ones
Since the CiUH Var.
IFrom rhe TrIhune Bureau.l ]

Washington June 15-The tragedy IN Hampton
Roads last Monday night. resulting in the loss or
the lives of six midshIpmen and hve enhs'eo men
of the navy. Is of the series OF momentous DIS
asters which have cvertaken tho navy In times OF
peace 1t IS of the curious facts IN naval MS
tory that since the Civil War almost all accidents
resulting IN the loss Of life which have occurred
have represented greater fatality than any engage
ment which occurred in the with Spain
OF course. the principal disaster IN recent years
has been the blowing up Of the Maine IN havana
Harbor February Is 1885, an incident that In the
end Rear Admiral (then captain) Charles D. Sigs-
bee L. S. ". IN command OF the I'll fated ship.
says, was the ultimate incident which tmpelled
the people OF the United States to regard Spain
impossible neighbOr." That explosion resulted
in the killing Of two officers and 25S enlisted men.
eight of the latter having died from wounds in the
hospital at Havana. The court Of inquiry OF which
Rear Admiral w T Sampson president.
ported that the Maine destroyed by the ex-
plosiOn of a submarine mine. and that view re-
mains the official conclusion.
Another naval disaster which attracted much at
tention at the time the wreckng OF the Kear-
sarge in February, 1894 The ship went on ths
famous Roncador Reef. but lives were lost II
found impossible. however. to the historic
vessel. the OF which has been bestowed upon
a modern battleship.
Another naval explosion OF recent years which
suggested the Maine disaster in it's effect that
TO the United States ship Bennington In July. 1905.
While the ship at San Diego Cal OF the
and about sixty members Of the crew. The acci-
dent TO the Bennington revived service argument
in favor of the establishment Of the naval engineer
corps That corps had been abolished by the naval
personnel act by the amalgamation Of the engt-
neers with the line, and II was insisted that the
disaster the Bennington was due to the mex
perence of line officers detailed to perform engineer
duty. The agitation led 70 a better system OF the
training of line officers for engineer duty.
Another accident in the navy which taught itz
and II 70 reFOr rh.
board the Missouri This occurred in the forenoon
OF April 13. 1891. while the ship engaged at
record target practice near Guantanamo. The
cident occurred through the ignition OF charge
os smokeIess powder while the gun being
loaded. An appalling disaster resulted. There was
no explosion, but the burning OF about hundred
pounds OF powder filed the handling room. turret
and intervening spaces with suffocatng. burning
gases All persons in the turret consisting OF four
officers and fourteen men. lost their lives. All
those stationed IN the handling room and maya
zines. one officer and eleven men. died from burns
suffocation The accident led 70 an investiga-
ton and the adoption of effective means for bio-
ing the bore of the clear OF all residue before
the breeCh plug is Withdrawn. There was pre-
limnary iastalment all turTet guns % an az
paratus for expelling gases.
Another wreck OF Importance was that Of ths
Charleston, in command OF Captain @ ". Pigrnan.
The ship while IN Philippine waters on November
I, 1899. struck some rocks and was wrecked.
The obstruction was an uncharted submerged rock
, ncrth Of LU-on.
Conspicuous in the list of naval disasters was
that in the harbor of APia. Samoa, in the HURT
cane OF March Is 1893. The Nipsic the Trenton
and the Nandalia were lost Four officers and
forty-seven men lost their lives Among tha5s
who died the captain OF the Vandal!s. Cap
tain c. VI. Schoonmaker. Everything was done az
the time of the storm 10 avoid the disaster It's
force, however could be foreseen. and ne navy
people We're surprised at the violence OF the gale.
The NipSic was enabled 10 reach place Gt
IN he.
a reef where she remained exposed 10 the fary
OF the storm. her officers and men ta6-og refuge
IN the rigging while the swept over her.
Many of the crew were lost in the attempt
swim ashore. The record OF individual gaIlantry
was character OF the naval service. The Tren-
had the misfortune early in the storm 10 Ioss
her wheel and break her rudder. The water put
the fires. and the vessel drfted almost ths
mercy OF the sale. finally coming ashore. the re-
part showing that she escaped total destruction
Only through the excellent Judgment OF her navt-
eating officer. Lieutenant R NJ G. BEowE.
( dead.
three OF her crew when gasket blew OF a boiler
aHd filed the freroom with steam. This occurred
at the League Island Navy Yard. The same ship
I met with accident the year preceding, or
Culebra Island. January ID. 1893 the acci-
dental discharge OF q percussion primer while the
gu~ breech was open. resulted in the killing OF six
men.
The Iowa. when of Pensacola. April g. lSl3.
suffered serious accident by the bursting OF the
port l2-inch gun in the forward turret Three men
were killed ana i've injured This accident was
caused by the explosion OF a shell midway in tho
gun. Twelve days later the Iowa again met with
misfortune by the bursting OF one OF the steam
pipes her boiler room.
The Ericsson met with ruishap or New Lon
don in July. 1885, when a steam cylinder burst.
Five OF the crew were terribly scslded and several
died from their injuries.
TREE FROG A WEATHER SHARP.