The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-29
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theiiner, land at an interval of any
where from five to fifteen seconds fol-
lowing the first report came a great
explosion. In the burst Of flame, which
followed, I clearly and plainly saw the
vessel rise in the water, apparently
three yards out, then settle down be-
fore the light of the explosion went
out. The whole thing was over so
quickly that I could not hazard a guess
at the length of time.
Mr.. Wertheimer's testimony was cor
roborated by Sigmond Rothchild, also a
passenger on the City of Washington.
After the vessel rose in the water came
a second explosion.
Captain Frank Stevens and First Of
flcers George Cornell, of the City of
Washington, also corroborated the pre-
riouS witnesses.
CHAPLAIN CHIDwICKS STORY.
Chaplain John p. Chidwick, of the
Maine, after the explosion rushed on
deck. After trying to cheer up the men
who were crying out in the water for
help he was ordered by Lieutenant
Jungen to go in the boat. He rowed
around the ship and picked up one
man. Witness said he remembered
only one shock.
Naval Constructor ]. B. Hoover was
very technical and his testimony
summed up was that the bottom plates
Of the ship at the point of explosion,
the berth decks over them and the pro-
tected deck had been turned over and
forward, revolving through an angle of
80 degrees. He identified three portions
OF the wreck forward of the middle
superstructure. These were all on the
port side of the original keel, but can't
ed to starboard and all of them-the
bottom of the ship and protective deck
and the berth deck-show above water
at present. The forward Lieutenant G..
p. Blow was the officer of the day on
the day of the explosion and received
the reports at p. m. He said the
usual reports were made that the lights,
fires and everything were secure. He
said he had perfect confidence in the
reports OF his men. He gave a vivid
description of the scenes following the
explosion.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright,
Lieutenants Catlin, Blandin and Jun
gen and Chief Engineer Charles p.
Howell, Past Assistant Engineer Bow
ers and Assistant Engineer Morris tes-
titled as precautions taken to avoid
war. The magazines, coal bunkers,
torpedo heads, gun cotton and all in
fiammable and explosives aboard were
inspected as they should be and all had
been reported in proper condition prior
to the explosion.
Lieutenant Holman testified in a
similar manner. The examiner referred
to Holman's large experience in mat
ters of explosives and asked his i'm
preston of the whole affair. He said:
MY impression, not yet verified by
divers findings, is that a very heavy
mine went off under the Names bot
tom. The noise produced by a heavy
mine would be great in itself and add
ing to the second explosion would
make the two practically one and the
same explosion.
THE GUNNERs AND DIVERS.
Chief Gunner's Mate Olsen, Gunner's
Mates Smith and Rundquist and Chief
Gunners Mate Morgan, who were the
divers in charge Of the work OF exam
lining the wreck, testified in the main
as did Ensign Powelson.
The third time Smith was down he
landed in the ten inch shell room and
tried to get forward to the ten inch
magazine hut could make little head
way as everything seemed to be blown
down In that direction. He here found
mnch fixed ammunition intact