The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-15
Fatalities.

Vallejo, Cai., June ia report Wnlcn
shook the town like an earthquake was
heard at IL 80 this morning and was fol-
lowed by the ringing of alarm bells of the
Mare island navy yard. When the
great volume OF smoke at the
yard cleared away it was found that
an explosion had taken place in the she'll
house OF the navy magazine. The burned
and charred bodies OF two apprentice sea-
men were found on the beach two hun
bred yards from the scene of
the explosion. In the midst OF the
ruins and all around the side hills
could be seen bodies and remains scat
tered here and there. When collected
together the total numbered twelve. The
bodies were greatly disfgured, some being
cut in two and nearly all we're minus
limbs.
The wounded men were taken to the
hospital in a dying condition, two being
the apprentices picked up on the beach.
The force of the explosion had thrown
them into the bay, whore they were
picked mp by a merchant vessel. 1t
is lot known exactly how the explosion
occurred. working party of fifteen
men from the cruiser Boston, which was
in the stone dock near By, had been sent
10 prepare ammunition and fix shells for
shipment. All were working in
the magazine. 1t is supposed that
one of the party dropped a
shell and caused the explosion. DR.. Lewis
of the naval hospital was the first on the
scene. He found one body possessed
of life, but filed with pieces
of wood, burned and bleeding.
Waterman Collins had a narrow escape.
He has an ugly wound on the head,
caused by a piece of shell, and is in
jured internally. The body of Hettinger
was found on the roof of the shell house,
having been blown through the roof of the
house, which was sfterward destroyed by
fire. Mrs. McDougal, of the light house
with her daughter were early to come to
the aid of the wounded, bringing bandages
ana doing much that was necessary. Doctors
Msgruder, Chane, Page, Moore and Lewis,
all of the navy were soon on the scene.
The work of Identification is not yet COM
pleted, as the energies OF all were for some
devoted to getting the remains together,
and the crew of the Boston, to which
ship the dead and wounded belonged,
were hurried to the scene under the
direction of Lieut.. Blaze, Robinson and
Hughes. Among the dead partially iden-
titled are the unfortunate Gunner Hittin-
ger. Seamen Ketbile. Johnson, Henry,
Zones and Heackle. From the
body of one of the three
whose lives are despaired OF
the German. DR.. Lewis extracted a piece
of wood six inches long by an inch thick
out OF the right eide. Beside this the
bones of the left leg are shattered and
with the cuticle burned of tho better
part of the body il in terrible state.
Opposite the magazine IS Starts mill.
The windows in the mill were broken.
The men lett their work and rushed from
the mills, not knowing what had happened.
The following is the list of the killed:
7. ID. GEORGE HITTINGER, q. S. navy.
THOMAS SEYMOUR, chief gunner's mate.
WILLIAM HEKEL apprentice.
A. A. KETYELL. seaman.
c. W. SMITH, landsman.
WILLIAM WASHBURNE, seaman.
+. LEGAT. seaman.
w. OSIRANDER, apprentice.
J. J00cE. apprentice.
WILLIAM RUSH, seaman.
= JOHNSON. seaman.
r. REINCKE, seaman.
j. II. POTION, apprentice.
OF the three men taken TO the hospital
two have died. The one surviving ID
named j. Briscoe.