Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-11
AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT
Occurred Board the BattIeship
Maine.
A ONE-P0UND CARTRIDGE
Exploded, Seriously Injurng Sergeant and
: Two Priyates.
DOLPHIN TO RUN THE BLOCKADE
searchlights Flashed Over the Water Until
Late Hour Seeking the Vessel, But
She Failed to Appear : Recep-
tions to Secretary Herbert.

Charleston, S. c., Feb. 10-A serious ac-
cdent occurred on board the battleship
Maine yesterday, but 1t was kept quiet
until today. This was rendered possible
by the fact that the ships are some six
teen miles away from the city and out
at sea. While crew consisting of First
Sergeant Wagner and Privates Seminar
and Hardin were loading the one-pound
gun of the Names secondary battery
with a one-pound calibre cartridge, the
cartridge exploded injuring First Sergt
Wagner on the right hand tearing the
flesh from the bones. Part of the shell
struck Hardin in the leg and hasn't yet
been extricated. The men are painfully
rather than seriously hurt. Seminar was
injured about the face.
The Indiana and Massachusetts, have
not Joined the fleet 1t was learned to-
day that the maneuvers are to begin to-
once and the Dolphin, which 1t was
thought yesterday had gone south, is
probably to act as the blockade runner
1t may be that her first attempt to get
into harbor past the battleships will be
made tonight
This morning committee of citizens in
charge of Collector Bryan called upon
Admiral Bunce to learn his pleasure re-
garding the entertainments which are
eston.
1t is of course impossible to obtain
definite information regarding Admiral
Bunce's plans, but it is generally beliey-
ed here today that the dispatch boat Dol
phin is now engaged in an attempt to
run into Charleston harbor undetected
by the fleet. The Dolphin sailed south
ward Monday evening and 1t is said that
Lieut.. Commander Glover, who is In
charge of her, was instructed by the ad-
mir no xn fhn off 70 I,
blockade. The searchlights of the squad
ron were kept flashing across the sea
until late last night, but the Dolphin
did not put in an appearance. The ships
held their positions of yesterday all to-
day, the men on the various vessels en-
gaging the several hours in exercising
their secondary batteries Towards night =
fall signals were hoisted by the flag
ship and in response to them the Am
phitrite, Marblehead and Columbia NOV
ed further out to sea and to the south
ward. The stretch of water covered by
the battleships Is thus extended for a dis
tance of more than ten miles.
From the steeple of st. Michaels
church tonight the flashlights of the war
ships may be observed as they cast from
the paths of light up and down the coast
and out to sea. 1t is supposed that the
fleet is engaged in an effort to detect the
Dolphin. Neither the. Indiana nor the
Massachusetts Joined the fleet today
though it is said that both vessels are ex-
pected to coal at Port Royal tomorrow
The Newark, which has been engaged
on police duty at the mouth of the St.
Johns river for some days, is now coal
ing at the same place. This has given
rise to the rumor that the Newark will
join the fleet off Charleston tomorrow
Mayor Smyth and a committee of re-
ception and entertainment visited Admir-
al Bunce, on the flagship New York, at
noon today and extended the privileges Of
the city to the fleet. The admiral, his
staff and the feet officers were invited to
attend a banquet of the chamber of COM
merce on Feb. 1S, to meet Secretary Her.
bert, also to attend public reception to
Secretary Herbert on that day and a
ball on the. 10Th inst. Admiral Bunce
expressed his qualification at the atten-
tiors shown and said he would endeavor
to accept the Invitations All the ships
in, this locality that can enter the har-
Dor will do so before the secretary's ar
rival. The admiral would not say much
of the details of the blockade, but said
that he anticipated a most instructive
and valuable season here.
Charleston S. c., Feb. 1O.-It was learn
ed here tonight through the postoffice au-
thorities that the Dolphin had gone to
Jacksonville and that she is consequent-
ly not acting as the blockade runner to
Admiral Bunce's fleet for the present at
least. 1t is none the less true, however.
that the entire squadron off Charleston
bar is engaged tonight In blockade duty
Either the manoeuvers are being made
prepara tory to the coming of the vesuvius
or else the Marblehead Is acting for the
time being as the blockade runner The
men of that cruiser when they were
ashore expressed the hope that this work
would be assigned them and 1t now seems
possible that their wishes have been
gratified. c