Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-06-18
MANGLED SEAMEN.
A Shell Explodcs at the Mare Island Navy
Yard, Killing Fourteen Members of the
Cruiser BostOn's Crew.

Shell Explodcs at the Mare Island Navy
Yard, Killing Fourteen Members of tho
Cruiser Boston's Crew.
VALLEJO, CAL, June IA report
which shook the town like a sharp
shock of earthquake was heard here at
1880 o'clock Monday morning, and was
followed Wy the ringing of alarm bells
at Mare Island navy yard. When
great volume of smoke at the
yard cleared away it was found
an explosion had taken place at
the shellhouse of the naval maga-
zine. The burned and charred bodies
of two apprentice seamen were found
on the beach 200 yards from the scene
of the explosion. A third body, that of
n German, was at the same time on the
way to the hospital. In the midst of
the ruins and all around on the hill
sides were seen bodies and remains
scattered here and there. 't
When collected together the dead
numbered fourteen, with Gunner Hit
finger, of the cruiser Boston, at the
head of the list The bodies were
greatly disfgured, some being cut in
two and nearly all were minus limbs.
Three wounded men were taken to the
hospital in dying condition, two of
the number being the apprentices
picked up on the beach. The force of
the explosion had thrown them into
the bay and boat from merchant
vessel picked them up.
The list of dead is as follows:
William Hecliel, apprentices II. d. George
Hillinger, gunner, U. s. N; j. II. Holton, ap-
I
man; w. Ostrander, apprentice; r. Reincke,
| seaman; William Rush, seaman; Thomas Sey-
mour, chief gunner mate: G. w. Smith, lands
man; Col. Sundberg, gunner's mate; Villa m
| Washburn, seaman.
Fatally injured j. Briscoe, apprentices: Il. II.
| Johnston gunner.
| No one seems able to tell exactly how
the explosion occurred. working
| party of fifteen men from the United
States ship Boston, which was in the
stone dock near by, had been sent to
prepare ammunition and fill shell for
| the ship. All were at work in the
filling room of the magazine under
charge of Gunner Hittinger. 1t is sup
posed one of the party dropped shell
and the conclusion caused the explo-
sion.
| Gunner johnson was making his
rounds, and precisely at 1880 n. m.
stopped behind the filing house. At
that moment a terrific roar and rush
| of air lifted him off his feet and hurled
him to the ground. Before he could
realize what had happened there was
another explosion, followed instantly
| by third and then still another. With
the last deafening report mans body
flew through the thick smoke and dust
over Johnson's head.
In the main magazine, only 1000 feet
away, was stored 800 tons of powder
aud in another building, 40 feet distant,
were $50 tons of powder. The wrecl,
of the filling house was a blazing vol
cano, and johnson staggered and STUN
bled over mangled bodies and dying
sailors to hose reel. The watchmen
worked like heroes to check the flames
and prevent another explosion that
would have wiped Mare Island off the
earth. Blazing fragments had been
scattered all about the greater maga.
zines and to eXtinguish them was no
small task, to say nothing of the dam
ger. The main force of the explosion
tore out the wooden roof of the filling
house and the brick walls fell outward.
Watchmen Collins, Burns and Dam
studt We're on duty in other parts of the
grounds. Though injured all will live.
Watchman Collins had narrow es-
cape. A piece of shell glanced the top
of his head and left an ugly confusion.