Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-20
RecogniizedD Danger
 fr0mHydrogenCas
COMMANDER OF SUBMARINE E-s
 HAD ASKED FOR DETEcToR.
REQUEST NOT FILLED
Edison Representative Claims Ex- plosion Could Not Have Occurred Had the ventiIatins System Been in Full Operation.

New York, Jan 1s.-Danger> from
 hydrogen gas on the submarine E-2
 was recognized by the commander
 soon after the Edison batteries were
 quest for a hydrogen detector was not
 filled by the navy department, Lieu
 tenant Charles M. Cook, the com
 mander, testified when he resumed
 the witness stand today before the
 naval court of inquiry Investigating
 the recent fatal explosion on the craft.
 Lieutenant Cooke also said he recom-
 mended that each of the 400 cells in
 the two batteries be equipped so that the condition of each cell might be
 detected independently of the others, but the bureau of engineering of the
 this to be done.
 Conditions the Day of Explosion. It has previously been brought out in the testimony of Raymond Otto, an electrician of the second class. that some of the cells were reversed on the day of the explosion. During the pro- cess of discharging. it was later ex- plained, the reversed cells would be recharging and this would cause an excessive amount of hydrogen gas to form. Otto gave his testimony while propped up in bed at the naval hospi- tai suffering from burns and other in- juries received in the explosion. All the Fans Were Running.
 Changes were made in the ventilat- ing systems in the battery compart- ments at his suggestion. Lieutenant Cooke said and all the fans were running during the discharge that was in progress at the time of the explo- sion The printed instructions sup | piled by the Edison storage battery company, which installed the batter ies on the Egg. did not contain any
 reference to the formation of hydro gen gas while the batteries were being charged and discharged, the witness said.
 The commander testifed that there was no open light btirining in the submarine at the time of the explo- sion but admitted that spark could have been struck if tool came into kconzanf With = any two of the bat Itery terminals. He also salq he had no complaint of carelessnessl to make against any member of his crew or Iagainst the civilian workers on the E. Flames Ventilation System. Miller Reese Hutchinson, represent ling the Edison Storage Battery com lpany at the inquiry issued a state
 ment today in which he expressed the opinion that the E-2 was filled with hydrogen gas at the time of the ex- plosion. This would not have hap pened, he said. if the ventilating sys- tenn had been in full operation I Buiiehead Blown Toward Battery. I Tt is a curious thing that the bulk | head between the engine room and
 the after battery compartment, which
 was twenty feet from the battery lproper, was blown toward the bat tery," MT Hutchinson said. There Iwere plumbers working in the engine room, where two men were killed. This Indicates to me that the explosion oc- cured there have an affidavit l that a plumber. a few days before the IexpIosion, was using gasoline torch lin the E-2.
 ssTfe batteries were no more to blame than a boiler that blows ur
 when the water is too low"
 To Be Questioned by Edison Men. Captain William H. G. Bullard, pres ident of the court of inquiry, today
 announced that representatives of the Edison company would be permitted l to intorrogate the witnesses.
 Tle court will take depositions oi injured men at the Cumberland Street hospital tomorrow, after which 1t will meet in the general court martial chambers at the navy yard.
 In direct contradiction to Lieuten-
 ant Cooke's testimony, Mir. Hutchin- 1 son said in his statement that only I one fan was in operation at the time lof the explosion. which was still run- ming when he inspected the submarine | the day after the explosion.