The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-29
MANGLED BY SHELLS.
Horrible Tragedy at the Mare,
Island (Cal.) Navy Yard.
Thirteen Men of the Cruiser Bos-
ton Blown to Pieces.

tFts of the worst explosions ever known
h California occurred just before noon .
few days ago, at Mare Island Government
Navy Yard, by which thirteen men, belong
ing to the United States cruiser Boston
were instantly killed, two fatally injured,
and three severely wounded.
The explosion took place In the she'll room,
and was supposed to be due to ono Of tho
shells dropping as it was sing filled, but
this was mere theory, as none engaged in tho
work were left alive to tell the story.
The force Of the explosion was so greet
that most people in the valleys believed It
was an earthquake. In moment the Mare
Island navy fire bell began ringing and dense
clouds Of smoke rose. The supposition was
that fire had started. The navy yard Is
directly across small stream from Vallejo.
A reporter, who was among the first TO
cross on the ferry to tho Navy Yard. behsld
o terrible scene. One of the strong small
houses In which the work o. filling shells Is
carried on, was In ruins, while all about On
the hill, as though a great shell had burst
among them, were scattered the mangled
and bleeding forms Of men wearing Uncle
Sans blue jackets- r.-
The ground looked as though 1t had been
plowed up by cannon balls AMI 70 add hor-
ruins filed with fragments OF the human
victims. Legs and arms were scattered
about among the blackened heads and unre-
cognizable fragments Of what had been only
Q few minutes before strong and active
men.
Lying near the door Of one house was ths
body Of Gunner Hettinger, Of the Boston,
while over on the other side was his head,
powder blackened and fearfully disfgurod..
r. A. L IL Lxy hAxx hoI hao
thrown by the terrible force OF the explosion,
were found two naval apprentices both Of
whom will die.
A large squad Of sailors and marines soon
brought out the manzlsd remains OF their
comrades from the burning she'll houses.
When the fragments were laid together It
was found that twelve men had lost their
lives. Several of the bodies were cut clean
In two, others had an arm or leg blown on
and veterans who had sean hard service In
the Rebellion declared they never bsheld
ghastlier sight than this -
The two young apprentices were blown
clean across the beach into the water and
wers picked up by q irsboat. They were
terribly burned and mangled, and tho
doctors give no hope Of their recovery.
A visit to the naval hospital found DR..
Lewis at work over three men whoss lives
were despaire1 of. DR.. Lewis had tus$
taken piece OF wood SIX inches long ana an
inch thick out of Germon sailors right
side. Besides this the bones Of the left Leg
were shattered, and the cuticle burned on
of the lower part Of his body. .
One of the apprentices who was blown
into the water vas taken to the beach pit!-
fully asked of the surgeons: "Do you think
we will get over thisr' Then he requested
to be laid down, never again 10 get up: His
companions condition was equally bad.
How the explosion occurred will never be
known. Fifteen men from tho Boston were
sent down to prepare ammunition and hu
shells for the ship. All were at work In ths
filling room Of the magazine under charge
of Gunner Heitinger. It Is supposed one Of
the marty dropped shell, and the concus-
sion ca,lsed the explosion.
One Of the first to 90 to the scene was DR..
Lewis of the Naval Hospital. Notwith-I
standing now and then the explosion OF .
shell, he braved the danger to save hfe. but
the explosion had finished its work, and hs
found only one body with any life In 1t b.
sides the two apprentices. There were three
magazine watchmen named Collina Burns,
and Damsted, on duty in the other parts Of
the grounds, and, although injured, they
will live.