The sun., 1891-06-16
xxPIosros ON rns rHILADxLrHrA.
The Crews ON All the War Vessels uest
TO Qusrters-One Man Hurt.

Ths Crews ON All the War Vessels Best
60 Qusrter--One Man Hurt.
The army Of employees and the nava, and
marine forces at the Navy Yard heard q loud
explosion soon after o'clock yesterday after.
noon. followed by the ringing OF the FIRE alarm
bell and the calling to quarters OF the crews on
the vatious vessel. ut the Yard.
The explosion occurred on the Philadelphia,
ona of the new cruisers Of the white squadron.
which was lying OF the long dock at the foot OF
Main street Tho four fire engines at the yard
were manned almost rs expeditiously as those
of the regular city department would have
been. and In few minutes were at the dock.
The Catalpa. tho steam tug at the yard, was
also alongside the Philadelphia in quick time.
while oil the sailors and marines In the various
war vessels. in RESPONSE to the beat to quar-
ters. were mustered on their quarter decks
ready FOR whatever service might be required.
The explosion. although startling and mys.
tcrlous Ia its origin. was not very serious In
its effects. Only one person was injured, and
the damage was not anprcciable so far as tho
vessel itself Is concerned. The explosion oc-
CURED In the starbonrd forward hold. over the
magazine Oh the lower deck, one OF the thirty
or forty compartments into which the ves-
eel ia divided. In this rart OF tho hold
there wero stored barrels Of tar aud
pitch. provisions OF various kinda and odds
and ends OF the sores usually carried on Gov
ernment vessels. In view OF the closeness Of
the magazine. near which guard is stationed
night ,and DAY; no person Il allowed t9
authority, and no lights unprotected arc
allowed to bs carried there under any circum-
The explosion was sharp and 30 loud that It
could be heaid at the rem est part OF the yard.
1t hardly. however, shnok the solid cruiser AMI
officers and crew. The beating to quarters
instantly brought each man to his post on tho
AS The eynct p'pee oi thss exnlosion was
the hose lines .as the wers
in o the hold. and IN q few minutes two other
e, st. cams were thrown IN the same direction by
In issa han ,hree minutes after the explo-
sion several members OF the crow made their
dragged out Joseph James. the captain OF the
hold. who It was known had gone there d.
burned. b and would probably have he been Killed
by sufiocation had he not been 80 promptly
James vas badly burned on the arms and
and and althousS still TOO weak aud , shocked isst
@ Sas he was would 'S eeer Hs 'aqa a.uoaaG Gsp
ssssEs ad CART 'Af Rass ssmTa"dsa The Gspsn ~ %
who. was acting as. eommapdant # the
yard IT, the BE-, absen' sen Of Capt Erbsn did not
imperilisd. the four. streams Of water were
poured into tho hold for nearly an hour. and
whatever damage wns snstai ed was caused
reveal the cause Of the explosion. but that 1t
was caused by a shell IL not believed by Can't
Kane or the officers OF the vessel. Capt. Kane
said;
Just how the explosion occurred is q mys-
terry. The Captain Of the hold In probably the
he Is not yet in condition to talk. The vessSP
has not been injured. The only dsmaae Is by
1t is my opinion that the expl' slon and fire
were caused by spontaneous combustion. but
this orinion may be changed b the, .ul Sc:
be made As to the rumor that some dscon-
ten ell sailor had attemr!e ed to blow uD the sh p
through revenge. there Ia no ground whatever
for such suspicion. There Is no man Of wa
which has n happier or moro contented Grew
than the Philadelphia"