River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-06-16
ilANGIEn sEAMEN.
A Shell ENplodes at the Mare Island Navy
Yard. Killing Fourteen Members of the
Cruiser Boston's Crew.

shell fsNptOdes at the Ware isianu Navy
Yard. Killing Fourteen Members of the
Cruiser Boston's Crew.
VALLEJO, Cal, June IA report
which shook the town like . sharp
shock of earthquake was heard here at
1880 o'clock Monday morning, and was
followed by the ringing of alarm bells
at Mare Island navy yard. When
great volume of smoke az the
yard cleared away it was found
an explosion had taken place at
the sheilhOuse of the naval maya
zine. The burned and charred bodies
of two apprentice seamcn were found
on the beach 200 yards from the scene
of the explosion. A third body. that of
tSgrn1an. was at the Same time on the
way TO the hospital In the midst of
the ruins andall around on the hIll-I
Sides We're seen bodies and remains
scattered here and there.
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 disfisured. some being cut in
two and nearly all were minus limbs.
| Three wounded men were taken TO the
hospital in C.5ing condition. two of
the number bsihes the apprentices
! picked up on the beach The force of
the explosion had thrown them into
| the bay and boat from a merchant
| vessel picked them up.
| The list of dead is as foilows:S
William Heekel, apprentice; T. d. George
Hillinger, gunner, L. ;. n: j. H Holtoh, ap-
/ prentice. A. ketueli, seaman; +. I.egatt. sea
/ man; W. Ostrandcr. apprentice; r. Reincke.
| seaman; William Rush, seaman Thomas Sey-
mour, chief gunner 5 mate: C. ". Smith, lands
man; Col. Sundberg, gunner's mate; William
| Washburn seaman.
Fatally injured: j. BrfscOe, apprentice; T. II.
Johnston, gunner.
No one seems able to tell exactiy 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 liittinger. 1t is sup
posed one of the party dropped a she'll
| aud the conclusion caused the expio-
sion.
Gunner johnson was making his
rounds, and precisely at 1880 a. M.
stopped behind the filing house. At
| that moment terrific roar and a 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 500 tons of powder
and in another building 40 feet distant,
were $50 tons of powder. The wreck
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 maya
zines and to extinguish them was nc
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 ,yere on duty in other parts of the
| grounds. Though injured all will live.
| Waterman Collins had narrow es-
cape. 4 piece of shell glanced the top
/ of his head and left an ugly confusion.