The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-02-21
SENSATIONS ARE
EXPECTED IN
COURT MARITAL
Friends of Lieut.. Mcintyre AL
lege Attempt TO Shift the
Blame for Explosion
Inquiry Behind Closed Doors
ArOuseS Feeling Among
Men of Fleet

Interest throughout the Pacific feet
has centered in the court martial
aboard the cruiser Pennsylvania in
which Lieutenant Frederick w. Nc
Intyre appears as the defendant. The
proceedings have been hedged about by
unusual secrecy. but according to re-
ports freely circulated among the men
of the navy the inquiry has progressed
along Unprecedented lines. Friends of
Lieutenant Mcintyre have obtained
counsel to protect him from what they
regard as an attempt to shift upon him
fun responsibility for an accident with
which. they assert. there is no shred
OF evidence to connect him.
Tt is common talk in the fleet that the
case viii bring forth surprising reve-
latjons. 1t is stated that Lieutenant
Mcintyre was given no representation
before the board Of inquiry that passed
upon the accident; that he had left the
ship three months before it occurred;
that he was brought before the court
with little warning. and that he has
had but small opportunity TO investi-
safe the charges against him.
TWO KILLED ON COLORADO
The present court martial grew out
of a double tragedy on the cruiser Col
oradO on September of last year. The
colorado was on its way TO Honolulu
from san Francisco, when a tube blew
ont and two men were scalded to death
in the bunkers. At Honolulu a board
of inquiry convened and Lieutenant Nc
Intyre was named in its report.
Advices from Washington stated last
night that this report had been sub
mitted to the navy department. The
dispatches said that Lieutenant McIn-
tyre was neither a witness before this
board. nor was he given an opportunity
10 examine the evidence taken at that
time.
While the Colorado was en- route to
Honolulu Mcintyre was on special duty
1T Mare island He had been chief en-
sineer of the Colorado, but the vessel
had been taken TO Bremerton and Nc
Intyre had been relieved. His relief
preceded the accident three months
Washington reports also brought the
Information that il had been arranged
20 hold the court martial at Manila,
but for some unexplained reason this
was changed and the proceedings were
ordered postponed until the return of
the Colorado 10 California waters.
The Colorado had been in port but
few hours when the court was con-
Vened and Mcintyre ordered TO appear.
It is stated that he is charged with
neglect of duty on the ground that he
had not given the boiler adequate in
spectiOn.
FRIENDS MAKE DEFENSE
In contradiction. il is claimed by the
friends Of Mcintyre that repairs were
made to the Colorado after he was de-
tached. that the vessels machinery was
inspected and passed as satisfactory
after he had relinQuished the position
of chief engineer.
The trial has created some feeling
aboard the vessels in the harbor. A
number of witnesses have been sum
mOned for the prosecution. Mcintyre
viii present his case at the end of
this week.
At the time Of the accident aboard
the Colorado, Admiral Sebree was in
command Of the fleet, Captain c. B.
r. More was in charge of the Colorado
and Lieutenant H. d. s Wallace was
chief engineer.
MUST PLACE BLAME
The question TO be determined will
be the division of responsibility for
the faulty condition of the boiler. On
behalf Of Mcintyre il will be con-
tended that Inspections subsequent to
his retirement from the position of
chief engineer of the vessel showed
that the boilers were unimpaired. For
Wallace it viii be argued that he ac-
cepted the machinery as it was turned
over to him.
The court is composed of the follow
iug officers. Captain H. z. Mayo Of
the California, Captain Charles +. Pond
OF the Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Com
lnander n. o. Stickney Of the South Da-
kota. Surgeon G. S. Evans of the Penn
sylvania, Lieutenant Commander 3. B.
I3ierer Of the Colorado, Lieutenant c. S.
Freeman of the California and Captain
A. r. O'Leary of the marine corps. Lieu
tenant Commander L. Z. James navi-
gator OF the West Virginia, is acting
&c judge advocate.
All the interested parties refused
yesterday TO discuss the proceedings.
The trial VIII be resumed the latter
part Of the week