The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-10-29
ATERRIRLE DISASTER.
Further Details OF the Fatal Ex-
pIOsiOn ut the Nnvy-ynrd Ycstcr.


day. ..t. r|e,ff
The terrible disaster at the Navy-yard
yesterday, an account of which was pub
lishcd in THE CRITIC, and In which MIR.
George Lawrence lost his life, and Marion
Thompson and George Il. Gates were
seriously injured, is the all-absorbing topic
to-day. n
The rockets" which caused the terrible
accident are what are known rs " Week
rockets" and are in fact, submarine tor
pedoes. Those under manipulation yester-
day were inches in diameter aud just
SO inches long. The shell is made of
one-quartcr-inch boiler iron, and, when
made into q rocket (which is the Week s
six-inch submarine torpedo), is loaded,
under hydrostatic pressure, with fifty one
pounds of meal powder.
After the rocket or torpedo is filled tn Q
cap is placed securely and the case is then
placed in frame, which hangs 1t over an
upright drill and reamer, which borcs an
inch hole through the whole length Of the
compact mass of powder inside. This hole
is then filled with Illuminating powder, so
| that the sudden combustion shall ignite
and explode the whole charge of powder at
once and add to the violence of the explo-
sion. Lawrence Thompson and Gates had
up to 2:30 drilled out two tubes, and the
drilling out of the powder in the third had
been nearly completed when a loud, kissing
noise was heard and Gates. remarking,
ssThat Things a-Firc.''
started to run. The rocket then exploded,
passing out through the roof. Poor Law
renee was found lying across the threshold
of the west door dead His clothing was on
fire. The whole of the right rear portion
of the head had been cut off. Gates was
blown through the east door and landed
several yards from the building. Gates
was severely burned about the body, hands
and arms. Thompson was severely burned
about the Ihend and neck and both arms,
and it is feared inhaled the deadly mer-
curial gases of the explosion. Thompson
made his way out of the building. his
clothing on fire, and rushing up to his father
MI. John w. Thompson, who has charge
of the department in which the men vert
at work when the terrible explosion oc
Cured, dropped ut his feet and cried out:
s.Father. Put the Fire Outr'
Mr.. Thompson, who is one-armed man
succeeded in smothcring the flames, which
threatened TO destroy the life OF his son
and knowing that there were two large
torpedoes or "war rockets" left in tho burn
ing building, CALAMITY rushed in and sue
ceeded In getting the deadly missiles out.
These rockets each weighed 100 pounds
and had they exploded the slaughter Womb
have been frightful, as fully 300 men wer
/, at the time in the immediate vicinity of tn
building. Mr.. Thompson had his hand Sc
verely burned while putting out the Or
of his sons clothing Mr.. Thompson, TO
the past thirty three years, hns been con
-, nccted with this department Of the Navy
yard the most of the time being in charge
+; He is d studious and careful man, and nqvc
) failed to impress upon the men under III
= charge that there was danger always mt
!. tending the work in which they were en-
!; gagged.
children in almost destitute circumstances
1t would seem that the family of maj
/, who loses his life while in the service of tn
+ Government ought to be pcnsioned. Her
! Is a man in the very prime Of life, being
, only 40, stricken down while serving TN
tGovernment, and no provision made for hi
destitute family. lf
Marion Thompson is about twenty-thrc'
years old, and an upright and correct young
man. Gates is about five years his senior
D and is regarded by his superior officers IL
the yard as a Woodworking, cOnscientiou
young man. Gates was approached so0i
after the accident, which occurred at 2;3'
o'clock by an officer of the yard, who aske'
!. if he was badly hurt. ltt
"Ycs, SIR said Gates My wounds ar
very painful but have the satisfaction
knowing that if am not dockcd for tn
: time between now and A o'clock--quittinl
time-I will have made Sl.25." This it'll
statement speaks volumes in itself. !
5 u MECHANIC in the Navy-yard loses 10 min
: utes' time, even if the time lost is cause'
! by accident to himself, he is docked
The Coroner's jury met at p. IN. at DO
i telers undertaking establishment and, OF
: being informed that several important wit
= nesses could not be present, they agreed t
: >pystponc the inquest until Monday at
c o. m. tt