The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-04
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Washington, Sept. u, 1892. (

NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Sept. u, 1892.
On the morning of the 18th of
June last, by the accidental explo-
sion OF ammunition in the building
known as the shell house at the ma
val magazine, naval yard, Mare ISL
and, Cal, where a number of men
belonging to the q. s. s. Boston
were engaged in preparing shell for
that vessel, twelve persons were in
stantly killed and several others
more or less injured.
When it is considered that the ex-
plosion referred to had scattered
burning fragments upon the roof of
the she'll house and about the build
ing; that there was imminent danger
OF ire therefrom reaching the maya
zine near by, which contained large
quantity OF powder, and that great
er disaster was liable TO ensue, the
Department is deeply impressed with
the courageous conduct of those who
promptly approached the building
and by we'll directed and persistent
effort succeeded in preventing fur
Their loss Of life and property.
In view Of the above facts it is
deemed proper that a public acknow-
ledgment be made of the important
service rendered by officers and en-
listed men of the navy, employees of
the navy yard and others on that oc-
casion.
1t appears from a report made to
the Department by Rear Admiral
John Irwin, commandant Of the navy
yard, that Capt. j. g. Watson, then
captain of the yard, who was early
at the scene of disaster, mounted the
burning roof of the shell house and
directed the movements of the party
about the building, consisting of
Comdr. G. E. Clark, Surgeon D. o.
Lewis 1.-THE first officer arriving on the
grounds), Gunner T. Nj. johnson and
Watchmen Damstedt and Collins, In
their efforts to extinguish the fire.
In report concerning the accident
made by Capt. Watson, to the com.
mandant of the yard, he states that
two seamen apprentices, @. H. Beam
or and j. Murmann, both of the q.
S. s.. Boston, were with him on the
roof Of the shell house and rendered
efficient service, and he also mentions
the following persons in addition to
those named by the commandant,
who gave him prompt assistance, viz ::
Commander Henry Glass, Lieuten-
ant Commander w. T. Swinburne,
Lieutenants e. X. Moore, T. S.
Phelps, f. III. Lefavor and Albert
Gleaves, Ensign @. T. Hughes, Sur
geon A. Nj. Moore, Civil Engineer F.
0. Maxson, Boatswains Patrick Haley
and Timothy Sheehan, Sailnnakers
William Redstone and Michael Barr,
U.S.N., Major III. A. Bartlett, Lieut..
j. A. Turner and Private Thomas
Kennedy, U. s. Marine corps; w. D.
Nichols, stable keeper; the crews of
the fire engines of the Yard, COM
posed of Messrs. Horn, Bryant,
O'Hara, Cleveland and Vance; Fore
man Mason DEMO; Mr.. McCauley,
writer; Mr. Hanscom, electrician
and Frank st. John and Albert Syl-
vester, laborers.
Both Captain Watson and Surgeon
Lewis acknowledge the kindness and
courage exhibited by Miss Bessie
McDougal, who, while driving along
the road leading to the magazine at
the time the explosion occurred,
offered DIR. Lewis the use of her car
riage, and by driving rapidly to the
gunner's house near the magazine.
enabled him to quickly arrive at the
point where his services were needed
Other reports of the casualty show
that timely and effected assistance
was given by Medical Inspector g.
w. Woods, Surgeon A. f. Magruder
Passed Asst. Surgeon L. G. Craig
Assistant Surgeon J. E. Page, Ensign
S. S. Robinson, Naval Cadet j. f
Carter and Carpenter Burroughs, U
S. n, and by Waterman Johnson, W
III. McKeagh, John Brough, employ
ees of the Yard, and j. Mcguire
pilot of the ferry boat Ellen, as wei
as boats crew detailed by Captain
Parsall. of the English merchant shiI
Ilala, which was then lying at anchor
in the vicinity of the magazine, viz
James r. Cannon, T. A. White, Johr
Mckay, john Jonansen and Il. ID
Graham.
Where so many responded to The
call of humanity and nobly per
formed their duty in this grea
emergency, it would be invidious OF
the part of the Department, anC
indeed difficult, to select any one fol
especial commentator; but to thos'
persons whose names appear in thu
several reports received concerning
the accident, and who are mentioned
in this order, the thanks of the De
partment are hereby rendered.
B. f. TRACY,
Secretary of the Navy.
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