New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-11
PUTS E-2 BLAME
ON EDISON CO.
Neglected to Warn of Bat
terry Peril, Says Com
mander'S Counsel.

The investigation conducted By the
special board Of inquiry 20 determine
the cause Of tho explosion on the sub
marine -. az the navy yard, IN which
five men lost their lives, on January -,
WAS concluded yesterday with the tes'i-
mony Of l.. /. Miles. chief electricians;
Lieutenant ]. o. Fisher, judge adj
vocate, and an address 70 the court
By Lieutenant G. y. Nimetz, coun-
sel for Lieutenant Charles W. Cooke,
the commander Of the E-2. The
finding Of the board will be for
warded 90 the Navy Department at
Washington The result OF It's labors
will be announced there.
Lieutenant Fisher tried 20 show that
the Edison Storage Battery Company
failed 20 carry out its contract with
the government in that II neglected 20
give complete instructions for the use
Of the ventilating apparatus Of the
submarine
Lieutenant Nim,tz, in addressing the
Beard, said:
The Edison Storage Battery Com
rany supplied q set OF instructions for
The care and operation of the battery
70 H.. .L.u. .,,,.r,,c.iore rere
q" '"' H--' ""' ''''''
INCOMPLETE ~ regards ventilation OF
batteries IN all other conditions EXCEPT
10. 80 ,horo,ir, Tbev contained no
.,.f..;o, .,.s.e,,
reference To me 'e"'''"-''"
while the battery ~ idlc or while II Is
..,,..,..,"
1.. .., ,.,.,,,.,,i;,,e,
ii' -.
officer Of the =, daring the lnstaiIa-
ton o. the batter, made efforts -
obtain o hydrogen detecting ceFloe 10
warn himself ~ dangerous 'ccHlnui "a
tons % hydrogen gas ana 10 oo'"ln US
installation of det. zee "ni'" "o1.u
enable nam 10 get indl'iouai g." 'o''-
age readings, the object oi sucn ueVice
being 20 detect AZ the earnest po's.pie
moment low capacity cells OF the exist
ence Of abnormal conditions IN any
particular cell. A request for this de-
vice was al first authorized ty the IN
dustrial manager and the Bureau or
steam Engineering. but was soon after
ward held Up by objections irom The
Edison Storage Battery Company
Lieutenant Nlmitz asserted thst the
discharge Of the storage battery from
zero voltage on the dag OF the accidch1
was made at the express desire oi tne
Edison Company. He SAID that a sub
marine operating submerged IS away 8
dlscharging its batteries. ana mat IN
thie condition nc must OF necessary
ventilate inbOard II 10 veEtilates al al
and that in . submarine operating SUD
merged there IS Always Possloil,,4 -
complete discharge on D"''ei r. a"u' ~,
Consequence, the danger o. 'e'ei'eo
cells. Fill.
That the Edison Company was !uiiy
aware that the e. battery was 10 De
watercd OF January -. the day o. me
discharge TO zero voltage. was ms con
tention, and that TINS company idileN
20 warn the commanding omcer OF u"h-
gers. f any, Of watering the storage
battery at the same tiile ''"' 'He
battery was discnafglns' H.,
In conclusion, ne SAID mar dsy or
40 after the accident NiIleI i.ee' '
hutchinson OF the T-''0" Ia
published interview, stated that ne
had in his possession an arldavlt Oh
an Edison employe TO the enect th"t
prior to the accident gaso'vn.e VI"
was IN use ABOARD the - o,vere ms" NJ
aufnpl IN the court NONtFtif "a
was mas'' not lighted at the time. Mr..