Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01
Sequel to a Fatal Explosion.

In the opinion of Gen. Grant. command
ing the Department of the East. seri-
GUS error of judgment was made by the
court of inquiry, of which Col. Charles
d. Parkhurst Coast Artillery Corps. was
president, appointed to investigate the
responsibility of First Lieut.. Joseph E.
Myers. 9Th Field Artillery, in the matter
of the premature explosion of charge OF
black powder in 6-tnch gun at Fort
Terry, N. Y, In July last, causing the
death of one soldier and the serious injury
OF another. The court expressed the opin-
that Lieut.. Myers, the battery officer
was diligent and attentive to his duties
the day In question. and that ne was
not alone justly censurable for the acct
dent. 1t was in evidence that the desire
was "to fire as fast as you cam, and
that the guns were not properly sponged
''in the foregoing case" says Gen
Grant in his review, "a careful study OF
the evidence convinces the reviewing au-
thority that the court erred in transfer
ring the responsibility for the non-com-
pliance with specific duties pertaining &c
the battery officer and gun commander to
any other person. and to having given
undue weight to the fact that the battery
officer had no station from which he
could observe both guns. the evidence
further shows that all assumptions on
which the War Department based its let
ter of admonition to Lieut.. Myers were
correct and the opinion of the court that
Lieut.. Myers should be rehabflitated' is
not deemed we'll founded. 1t has never
been held that Lieut.. Myers is the only
one on whom was the responsibility and
the blame for this sad affair. On the
contrary. the one primarily responsible
paid with his life the penalty of failing tC
sponge the gun. The sergeant in charge
of the gun who was next In direct re-
sponsibility, received such severe in
jures Immediately from his negligence
that any further official censure would be
entirely superfiuous. Subject to the fore
going remarks. the report OF the court IL
approved. In order that there may not be
such deplorable accidents in the future,
due to such combination of negligence.
all artillery officers in this department
are directed to fully explain to their COM
mands the orders now extant relative to
sponging and the serious consequences
sure to follow from carelessness in the
observance of such instructions"
To Increase Efficiency Of Machinists.
With view to increasing the efficiency
in performance of the motive machinery
of ships of war. both as to economy and
speed. and also to prevent minor break
downs, the Navy Department has ap-
proved an order put I'm force by Admiral
Evans. by which cash prizes are to be
offered every year to the extent of 81 400.
Admiral Evans in writing to the depart
ment from Rio on the subject said: 1.-THE
performance of the ships of this fleet as
TO economy of steaming at moderate
speeds. has so far been eccentric and I'M
satisfactory, showing serious lack Of
personnel. and. in my opinion, ii is abso-
lutely necessary that steps should be
taken to increase the interest and knowl-
edge shown by officers and men in this
whole subject. TO do this better
method can be devised. to my mind. than
to ADOPT some method of competition
star 10 that which has worked SO well
in advancing the performance of ships in
gunnery.'
Torpedo Boat Base at Charleston.
The Secretary OF the Navy has APP
proved the recommendation of the gen.
eral board that the new navy yard at
Charleston. S. c., be made the base for
the torpedo fotilla. 1t is held that in
time of peace the training of the crews
of torpedo craft in commission and re-
serve can best be accomplished under one
head and at one place. 1t is the opinion
of the board that Charleston possesses adj
vantages which render IL desirable for
selection base of the nature indi-
Gated. The general board recommended
that the Charleston yard be equipped for
torpedo boat repair work of all sorts:
that sufficient number of ships be built
TO provide for torpedo boats in reserve
and for submarines, and that as soon as
the yard is ready all the reserve torpedo