Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-14
BLEW THEM To BITS
Twelve Men Caught in an ex-
pIosion
or A PACIFIC NAVAL MAGAZINE
Horsbis MutlArion Of the Bodies From
the Force Of the Terrible shock
The Cause

sAs FaAsclsco, June l3.-Ressdents
OF Vallelo were startled the morning
A. lz.30 O'Clock by = report which
shook the town like sharp shock OF
earthquake and immediately the fire
bells a. the navy yard were rung and
the concIuslou reached MAS tfat there
wos fire on Mare Island. But down
Al the magazine there belcned forth
into the sky al immense cloud OF
smoke, aad for half an hour
retort after Tepors was heard as the
SHELLS exploded. Immediately the en-
tire navy yard force rushed to the mag
szine and horrible sight presented II
self. The burned and cnarred bodies
of two apprentices seamen were found
on the beach 200 yards from the scene
OF the explosion. Ia the midst of the
ruins and all around on the side hills
are found bodies aud pieces of bodies
scattered here aud there.
scene es Terrible Carnage.
The bdies were taken out as fast
as possible, ana when all were put
along side OF each other, they
counted twelve, with Gunner Hit
tinger OF the Boston at the head. Some
wtre cut ia two, others were minus
leg or an arm or head. Twelve men
were killed outr ght a1d three were
ttken u the hospital wounded but
dying Two of the three latter were
apprentice. aud were cked up on the
beach. Tne explosion nad thrown
them into the bay. aud = boat
from merchantman IN port
rescued them and then went
through the smoke and ruins for others.
Que OF tue party dropped q shell and
that toe eoncusslon caused au explo-
slon. One of the first TO go to the
scene was Dr. Lewis of the Naval hos
pltal. Though heanng now ana then
an explosion of shell ne braved the
danger and went into the midst of It to
awe life IT possible. but the ex.
plosio. nad finished its work.
Bisw Their skins or.
The cuticle of almost the entire
bodies of these two, as well as their
Clothes. were blown od and yet they
were conscious aud able to move, but
they cannot recover. A working party
OF fifteen men from the United States
steamship Boston were preparing am
muninon and filling shells for the ship.
All were At work IN the filllng room OF
of Tn. magazine under charge OF Gun
ner Hetting.r. 1t Is supposed that
There were three magazine watchmen
named Collins, Burns and Demsedt on
duty in other parts of the grounds who
were severely injured. watchmsn
Collins had narrow escape. A piece
ot shell glanced fron the top of his
hetd and lett an ugly confusion. The
first one had shaken him almost sense
less, and alter ne was struck he walked
for an hon bout the ruins.
BIowa Through . Roof
Gunner iiisGi1ger was blown onto the
root OF she'll house No. !, having been
blown clear through the roof of she'll
house No. ?. Mrs. McDougal of the
lighthouse, with her daughters Misses
Bessie and Carrie, was early IN giving
assistance 90 the wounded, bring
ing bsndsgss and doing much
taat WAS necessary AZ the moment.
Magrude. Crane, Page. Moore aud
Lewis. al OF tile navy, we're on the
scene but there was not much for them
g. do TIE work of identifying the
dead has not vet begun, as the ener-
gies ot all have been devoted to
getting the remains together and
quenching the ire. Almost the
entire crew of the Boston to winch
ship the dead and wounded belonged.
worked hard ia the runs under the
direction of Lieutenant Pease w. Rob-
lnson and Hughes.