Ensign Newman K Perry and the USS Bennington Disaster

Second Edition 2012

Only twenty-four years old, and married less than two years to his sweetheart, the author's great uncle Ensign Newman K. Perry, of Columbia, South Carolina, was the only officer killed, when sixty-five sailors lost their lives in the 1905 explosion of the gunboat Bennington in San Diego harbor.

This book uses the author's narrative, unique family photos and memorabilia, actual newspaper articles and postcards, and documents to tell of Perry's naval career, of the love story of Perry and his beloved young wife, Vipont, and of the horrific and tragic peacetime ship explosion. There are also several special eyewitness accounts of the event. Details are included about both turn-of-the-century San Diego and Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Vipont's hometown.

Through the descriptions of the injuries and death of Perry, and of the suffering and loss of life of the other men, one can comprehend the magnitude of this disaster. It caused the US Navy and other government officials to make important changes in navy standards and procedures that led to greater safety for future sailors. Perry was regarded as a gallant and brilliant young officer, who was expected to have a fine naval career, thus, his untimely death, which he faced with great courage, was met with deep sorrow by his friends and family.

Contents

Introduction

Newman Kershaw Perry

Perry Serves at Sea...

... While Vipont Waits at Stockbridge

Formal Engagement and Wedding Invitation

Military Wedding

St. Paul's Church

Merwin House

Marriage and Move to California

USS Bennington

Fatal Boiler Explosion on Gunboat Bennington

Lt. Newman K. Perry Died a Hero's Death

Mrs. Perry Prostrated

President Roosevelt Shocked by Bennington Disaster

Burial of Forty-Seven Dead

Eyewitness Account

The Funeral of Ensign Perry

Perry's Widow Thanks San Diego and Departs for Stockbridge

Perry is Buried in Stockbridge

Mrs. Newman K. Perry

Mare Island Naval Shipyard

USS Bennington Monument

USS Newman K. Perry DD 883

Epilogue

What Happened to the Bennington?

Full Color

133 photos, illustrations, documents

The Author

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Mrs. Riddle now resides in North Carolina with her husband Joe. Their two daughters, son, son-in-law and grandson live nearby. She graduated from Mary Baldwin College and worked for over a decade for the Federal Government in Washington, D.C. Her interests are history, photography, travel, genealogy research in France and Great Britain, and music. She sings in both a large symphony chorus and in her church choir. A distant relative of Theodore Roosevelt, she is a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.