The Princeton union., 1892-06-16
'FOUI RTEElNI KILLED.
Seamen Of the q. S. Steamship
Boston Blown to Atoms at
Vallejo, CAL,
While Engaged in Filling
Shells, One Presumably Hay-
ing Been Dropped.

VALLEJO. CAL, June 14.-A report which
shook the town like a sharp shock OF earth
quake was heard this morning and it was
followed by the ringing Of alarm bells at
Mare Island navy yard. When the great
volume of smoke at the yard cleared away
it was found that an explosion had taken
place at the shell house of the naval maga-
zine.
1t burned ard charred the bodies Of two
apprentice seamen found on the beach 200
yards from the scene of the explosion The
third body that Of German. was at the
same time on'the way to the hospital In
the midst Of the ruins and all around the
side hills We're seen the bodies and remains
of bodies scattered here and there. When
collected together the dead numbered
twelve, with Gunner Hettinger, Of the
cruiser Boston, at the head. The bodies
were greatly distigured, some being
cut in two, and nearly all minus
limb. Three wounded men We're taken TO-
the hospital in dying condition, two Of
the number beng apprentices and were
picked up on the beach. The force of the
boat from merchant vessel picked them
up. No one seems able to tell exactly how
the explosion occurred. A working party
OF fifteen men from the United States
steamship Boston. which was in the stone
dock near by, had been sent down to pre-
pare ammunition and fill shell for the ship
All were at work in the filling room of the
magazine under charge Of Gunner Hittin-
ger. 1t is supposed that one Of the party
DRo PPED A SHE'LL a
and the conclusion caused the explosion
One of the first to get to the scene was Dr..
Lewis, OF the naval hospital, who Drawing
any probable dangers. rushed into tine
midst OF the ruins to rescue any Of the liv-
ing. He found one body possessed oflife,
but filled with pieces of wood and burned
| and bleeding. There were three mag ga zines.
Three watchmen. named Collins Burns
and Damstudt. were on duty in the other
parts Of the grounds. The injured will all
live.
Doctors Magruder, Crane, Page, Moore
and Lewis, all OF the navy, were soon on
the scene. The work of identifying the
dead is not yet completed as the energies of
all were for some time devoted to getting
the remains together and the crew Of the
Boston, 10 which ship the dead and wound
ed belonged. worked hard in the ruins un-
der the direction Of Lieutenants Blaz. Rob-
inson and Hughes Among the dead
partially identified are the un-
fortunate gunner Hittinger Scamen
ketDille, Johnson. Henry Joos and
Ha>ckle. From the body one OF the
three whose lives are despaired OF, DR..
Lewis extracted piece OF wood six inches
Ion! by an inch thick out Of the right side
Beliu> this the bones of the lett leg are
shattered. and. with the cuticle burned of,
the better part Of the body is in a Horrible
| state. Just opposite the magazine il Stars
mills. The windows in the mills We're all
broken. The men lie t their work and
rushed to the mills, not knowing what
might happen. g..
The following is list of the killed:
L. d. George Hittnger, gunner, U. S. n: Col,
Sundber5 gl.r..ers mate: Thomas seymour;
chief guners mate: WI lam Herkel, apprellt ice:
A. ketye. SEAMAN: {. j.. Smith. la tlsman;
William Wa-hb I'll. seaman: +. L.gat. seaman;
W. OStraander apprentices; II. JoeS; apprentice
Nlllam K(l>n. Stdnlall; Johnson, sea-
mau; K. Reli.cke, se;.mdn; J. Ii. Hoitul. ap
prentice.
o. the three men taken to the hospital
two have died. The onesurvving is named
S. &. Rscoe.