New-York tribune., 1908-06-07
No DEFECT. SAYS DIXON.
Thinks Ertrane0us Matter Got an
Tubc-Inquiry Planned.
fFron III. Tribune Bureau

uexbs,S.on Jun. ct was recalled IN Washing
I'm to-day IN connection with the boiler tube ex-
,sscou O. the cruiser Tennessee that in Novem-
ss- Ise Il wzx charged that the boiler tubes in
..,sed ror THAT vessel and several other waTshipS
yer. detective and had not been properly In
r7e1sd n. charges were made by e former en-
,la~s os the Shelby COMPANY, and, according 10
usrzl authorities. were never substantiated. The
chsrss however. gave rise TO considerable dis
esyjon 81 the time and Jed 10 special inspection
ef us-y tubes accepted from that company, which
r.rs found u every TO be IN excellent condi-
ton snd In 10 way detective
L is The opinion OF Captain Dixon acting en-
sirec .a CHEF tha. the explosion was caused ty
scu. ext-sneous matter lodging IL a tube. He
vcu.s particularly 20 the fact that the Tennessee
hss been q commission than year and a
halt saa has always shown great efficiency of en-
rles and boilers
IF there we're q radical defect in the boiler
tubes & slight defect" he says. 1T would
sg-ely hTs been discovered by this time during
tbs eighteen months hard work the tubes have
been put 70. II il had not been discovered during
sre Fz1ous inspections which all parts of the
machinery undergo. A tube is q sensitive part Of
u. nler, snd even the finest made is subject
eznxer. In my opinion some grease other
fos.sa substance lodged in the tube. which be
ezns sveThested, bulsed and gave way The board
VII determine the exact Of the accident, and
an confident IL Will find that the accident was
o.. Of those which occur on board vessels OF war
oss,.e the most exactinE regulations and the most
nsetsuSible precautions
1t IS true that in 1906 charges were made
thss Shelby tubes were defective" Captain Dixon
csntinued These charges came from dis
rruntlea euaploye Of the Selby Tube Company
Eho declared that the tubes had never been IN
rpected and that the stamp Of inspection had
heen procured by fraud of some sort These
charges were not substantiated. L must be re-
r.nbered that the inspection at the workshops
Is but preliminary one and that those TUBES
rsre carefully examined by the officer IN charge
n building the ship. and also subsequently sun
'scted the careful scrutiny OF the engineers IN
ohsrgs Of the vessel when she was repeatedly
Under steam IF there had been any defect il
would have been found out long ago for the
strain 70 which tubes are subjected utterly pre-
-uo.s the possibility Of defective ones remaining
operatfve for any great length Of time
The Incident IS not regarded bE officers IN the
Navy Department as destined to reflect IN any
-sy on ne s-s+ern or o<acialE Of the Bureau or
Steam Engineering on the contrary. similar a'-
1dents occur frequently IN the merchant service,
~h.-e there are no such exactng inspection reg
Gstous and interchangeable preca utions against
defects there are IN the navy
Tn. cause OF the accident on the Tennessee
vii b. thoroughly examined into by board Of
Investigation or court Of inquiry 20 be appointed
~ Adn1ira! Sebree. Upon the results or TINS
roury viii depend the question whether any OF
10 officers arc responsible for the accident. ana
nese results Hil also serve as q HSbsiS iol ai'S
inp-orernert or the machinery necessary 70 pre-
Vent recurrence Of the accident
After conference with Secretary Metcaif re-
EsrdBg the accident on the Tennessee, Presloeh1
Roosevelt to-day sent the following telegram 70
ths coTnr1an der-in-cHfer Of the Pacific feet:
An greatly concerned over accident on fcnnes-
'se hopc the wounded arc doing we'll
hc.etsrv Metcalf sent = dispatch to-day 10
admiral DAYTON. commander in chief OF the Pa
r'fc feat. directing that everything possible be
soEe for the comfort and care Of the wounded
ner
The ofhcial board Of inquiry tn determine INC
'ause Of tho explosion convened on board the Ton
nsssee This afternoon. The board Is composer -
zptaIn 9. z Fox OF the South Dakota; Lleuteh-
an onmander ofey. feet engineer. and LAeuteh-
an s 3 Raby chief engineer of the South Ia