Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-17
Officials Inquiring Into E-2
Explosion Reported to Have
Reached Conclusion.
NO CREOENCE IN RUMOR
OF OUTSIDE AGENCIES
Edison's Engineer Confident Batter.
les Were Not Responsible-Sec-
retary Daniels New Rule.

NEW YORK, January 17.-Officials
conducting the two inquiries-civil and
naval-into the cause of the internal
explosion Saturday on the submarine
E-2 at the New York navy yard, which
caused the death of four men and seri-
Gus injuries to ten others, were con-
vinced today, it was learned at the
yard, that the accident was due entire
ly to natural causes. They were CIV
that outside agencies might have been
responsible. it was said.
Three Men in Critical Condition.
Three of the six enlisted men who
were injured were still in a critical
condition today at the Naval Hospital
The four civilians in a city hospital
were sufficiently recovered to be ques-
toned by Coroner Wagner. Three OF
them told the coroner they were suf-
fering from colds last Saturday, and
were therefore unable to detect the
possible presence of gas within the hull
The fourth man, however, said that he
smelled only the usual odor of gas and
oil previous to the explosion.
Statement by Reese Hutchinson.
A statement. declaring that the new
Edison storage battery could not in
any way have been responsible for
the explosion has been made by Mil
for Thomas A. Edison, and a member OF
the naval consulting board.
The statement also says:
L-t
the facts and conditions before me. l see
no reason to recommend to Mr.. Edison
any changes or alterations in the
theory, construction or method of in
stallation of the Edison submarine
type storage battery. The battery in
the E-2 does not appear to have been
injured in the least"
The preliminary inquiry into the ex-
plosion was held in secret yesterday
by the board of inquiry appointed by
! mandant of the navy yard. Neither Ad.
miral Usher nor any of those present
would discuss what occurred at the in.
quiry. Persons on board or near the
questioned at length, however.
Rear Admiral Usher made the follow
ing formal statement last night:
THE board of inquiry met today and
went aboard the submarine, where they
conducted thorough investigation.
The investigation was not finished and
therefore the board will again meet to-
morrow. No conclusion was reached.
More Thorough Inspection Ordered.
i Batteries, engines and other vital
parts of submarines hereafter will be
tested more thoroughly in laboratories
before they are placed aboard the un-
derwater boats. That policy, an
nounced by Secretary of Navy Daniels
today. will be inaugurated with Il view
of preventing, as far as is possible. the
recurrence of such an explosion as that
which destroyed the submarine E-2, in
the New York navy yard Saturday.
The battery of the e." Mr. Daniels
said. was placed aboard the vessel as
an experiment. there being at the time
no other way in which it could be test
ed The vessel was prepared especially
for that purpose.
Il have asked an initial appropria-
tion of s1.00O.000 for the erection of a
naval laboratory where batteries, en-
gines and other mechanical parts of
the navy's ships may be tested and eX-
periments conducted to assure their
safety. This ought to be done before
they are installed on the boats, and
what resources the navy now has will
be used for that purpose"
Report From Board Not In.
The board of investigation in session
at the New York yard examining the E-e
had not reported to the Navy Depart
ment today, and no further informa-
tion concerning the explosion had
reached officials here. Rear Admiral
Usher, commandant of the yard, how
ever. is expected to send prelmi-
nary survey of the findings to Sec
retary Daniels either today or tomor-
row.
1t was announced that Secretary
Daniels would designate a board of
inquiry composed of naval experts to
make a searching examination of the
wrecked vessel and ascertain. IL possi-
BILE, the cause of the explosion. which
so far-is unknown to officials here. The
board will be composed of officers
especially familiar with submarine
construction and equipment, and their
appointment will be announced AS
soon as Secretary Daniels completes
the selection.