The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-14
FOURTEEN MEN SLAIN.
Terrible Explosion of Powder
at Mare Island.
THE BODIES TERRIBLY TORN.
Twelve Killed ut Once and Two Appren-
tices Picked Up Dying-No One to Tell
How the Disaster Happened.

VALLEJO, Cal. June 13.-Peopie here
were startled this morning at II 30 O'Clock
by report which shook the town like a
sharp shock of earthquake. Immediately
the firebells in the navy yard were rung
and the conclusion reached wasSthat there
was a fire on Mare island, but down at the
magazine there belched forth into the sky
an immense cloud of smoke. For half an
hour report after report was heard as shells
exploded. Immediately the entire navy
yard force rushed to the scene, and when
the true facts came to light horrible scene
presented itself.
The first spectacle to greet the eyes was
the burned and charred bodies Of two sea-
men on the beach, 200 yards from the
scene of the explosion. Further along a
horrible sight met the gaze. In the ruins
and around on the sidehills were seen
bodies and pieces of bodies. The remains
in the ruins were taken out as fast as pos
sible, and when all were put alongside
each other they numbered twelve, with
Gunner Hittinger, of the United States
steamer Boston, at the head. Some were
cut in two, and others were minus leg,
arm or head. These twelve had been
killed outright. Three not dead were
taken to the hospital. Two of these were
the apprentices picked up on the
beach. The explosion had thrown
them into the bay, and
boat from merchantmen ct Starr
Mills. on the opposite side, rescued them
and then went onto the smoking ruins for
the others. The cuticles of almost the en-
tire bodies of these two. as we'll as their
clothes, had been torn off, and yet they
were conscious and able TO move. They
died soon after reaching the hospital
How the accident happened no one can
tell. A working party of fifteen men from
the United States steamer Boston had
been down to prepare ammunition and fill
shells for the ship. All were at work in
the filling room of the magazine under the
charge of Gunner Hittinger. 1t is sup
posed that one of the party dropped a
shell and that the conclusion caused the
explosion.
One of the first to get to the scene was
DR.. Lewis. of the Marine hospital. Notwith-
standing that now and then there was an
explosion of a shell, he bravely went into
the midst of the ruins to save life if posi-
BILE, but the explosion had finished it's
work. and he found but one body pos
sessed of life. 1t was that of J. Briscoe,
son of Boatswain Briscoe, who was en-
ployed at the yard in 1877. Briscoes body
was filled with pieces of iron and wood,
and was burned and bleeding. He is still
alive. There were three magazine watch
men, named Collins, Burns and Darn
stadt, on duty in other parts of the ground
who, although injured, will live. Watch
man Collins had narrow escape. A piece
of shell glanced on the top of his head and
left an ugly confusion. 1t came from the
second explosion. The first one had shaken
him almost senseless, and after he was
struck he worked for an hour about the
ruins, thinking he might save some one
Then, feeling faint, he went home, where
Drs. Moore and Anderson found that be-
side the scalp wound he was injured inter-
nally. The body of Gunner Hittinger was
found on the roof of shell house No. l, hay
ing been blown through the roof of shell
house No 2. which afterward was destroyed
by fire. Mrs. McDougall. of the lighthouse,
with her daughters, Bessie and Carrie,
were on the ground early to assist any of
the wounded. bringing bandages and do
ing much that was necessary at the mo-
ment. Drs. Magruger, Crane, Page, Moore
and Lewis, all of the navy, were on the
scene, but there was not much for them to
do.
Almost the entire crew of the Boston, to
which ship the dead and wounded belong,
worked hard in the ruins, under the direc-
ton of Lieutenants Blase, Robinson and
Hughes. Had the magazine proper. con-
tanlng tons of war materials. exploded,
Vallejo would have been shattered It is
q miracle. being so close as it was, that
such did not occur.
Following is a list of the killed.
GEORGE HITrISGER, gunner, U. S. n.
COLONEL SUNDBE RG. gunner.
THOMAS SEYMOUR, chief gunuers mate.
WILLIAM HEcKLs. apprentice.
A. kETRELL, seaman.
{. W. SMITH, landsman.
WILLIAM WAsHBURN, seaman.
T. LEGATT, seaman.
". OSTRANDER, apprentice.
Il. Joos, apprentice.
WILLIAM RUSH, seaman.
J. JOHNSON, seaman.
+. REIScKE, seaman.
j. II. Holton, apprentice.
The men were ali injured about the
lower part of the body, except one, whose
head was blown of.
\ flag which had been flying all day for
a Republican ratification meeting to be
held tonight was placed at haf-mast, and
postponement of the meeting was an
nounced.
Coroner King arrived from Benicia at
o'clock TO hold an inquest on the bodies Of
the dead. Nothing new was added, as the
only persons. with the exception of one.
who could give direct testimony was dead.
and that one was unable 70 say anything.
as he was in 4 dying condition. A
verdict of accidental death was
found for all. The inquest was
held in the Vallejo hospital. to which
place all the bodies had been taken. George
Hjt,inge-. gunner L. ). n, who was
killed, was a young man in the service
and during his short stay at this station
became quite 4 f,vorite in society. both AZ
Mare island and Vallejo. He assumed
duty on the Boston February ,, 1>9l. TO
make his first cruise ut sea. He was ap-
pointed from Pennsylvania October y,
1880.
Vancouver News.
VANcoUvER, r. G, June l3.-TSpecial. =
This is the sixth anniversary Of the fire
that left only one building standing in
Vancouver