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Show ENSIGN BLAMED FOR THE BENNINGTON EXPLOSION Report of the Court of Inquiry on the Terrible Disaster Causes Complete Com-plete Surprise. Washington. Secretary Bonaparte on Monday received, and, as soon as ho had himself read, mado public tho findings of tho court of Inquiry whloh Investigated tho explosion on tho guu-boat guu-boat Bennington at San Diego, Cal., on July 21. Tho findings wero a complete com-plete surprise, for they at onco sot at rest tho stories that had been circulated circu-lated to tho effect that tho Bennington's Benning-ton's boilers and perhaps thoso ot other naval vessels of tho samo age wero defective. As a matter of fact, the court found the explosion resulted from closing a valvo which connected tho exploded boiler with its steam gaugo so that the pressure on the boiler may have been several hundred pounds to tho squaro Inch when the accident occurred. Whllo pralso was accorded to tho officers and ship's company for their conduct during the harrowing scene following the accident, acci-dent, tho officers and men who were responsible, In tho opinion ot the court, arc pointed out and courtmar-tial courtmar-tial proceedings suggested In tho case of the only one of them surviving EnBlgn Charles T. Wade. |