The evening Republican., 1902-04-30
A CLOSE CALL
FROM DEATH.

tLt lllllt WtIt I'LL IQIIttl dbuAu "1Oi
a terrible thud and five were injur-
ed. They were hurried aboard a
large launch, the Palacea, which
came to the rescue, and were taken
to the United States Marine Hospi-
tai where their wounds were dress
ed.
Among the injured are Lieuten-
ant Arthur Macarthur, son OF Gen
eral Macarthur, whose injuries
consist of a scalp wound and bruises
about the face, and Lieutenant Os-
car Kohen, of the Austrian Hunga-
rian army navy, also bruised about
the face. Lieutenant Kohen was
aboard the Fulton in the interest OF
his government, which proposes to
purchase several of the submarine
boats for it's navy. The others are
Charles Bochtold, gunner; G. B.
Miner, assistant engineer; Harry
Moore. assistant engineer.
Lieutenants Macarthur and L. P.
Nelson had been ordered by the
United States Navy to make the
trip on the Fulton in the interest OF
the Government. Lieutenant Mel
son was on top Of the Fulton when
the explosion occurred and escaped.
It was all over in a moment. The
Fulton lurched forward with a ter
,ible bound. Captain Cable, who
was on top of the boat, felt the
heavy thud from within and heard
the cries of the injured. He signal
ed the captain of the Storm King,
not far away, and the tug which
was acting as a convoy to the sub
marine boat, went alongside.
Lieutenants Macarthur and ko-
hen We're among the first to crawl
out of the hole in the coming tower
which is the only means of ingress
and exit. Lieutenant MacArthurs
face was streaming with blood, but
he and the Austrian naval officer,
both injured, joined the rescuers
and began to help lift the wounded
from out the dark. smoky recess OF
the cigar shaped craft.
Gunner Bechtold, with the skin of
his forehead all torn back and an
ugly cash along his left cheek below
his eye, fell to the deck as he clam
bered out of the smoky hole. Res
toratives We're brought, but he was
limp and numb until he received
medical attention at the United
States Marine Hospital.
Lieutenant Nelson called 10 En-
sincer Saunders, wEo was with
him on the outside: "Comc Saun-
ders, we will 60 down and see what's
blown up.
Come out Of there!'' shouted
every body.
"F'or Gods sake. Nelson, don't 80
down there" SAID Captain Gable.
Despite this warning Lieutenant
Nelson went down the hole and
vas lost 10 view. But the fumes
we're stitling and the interior was
dark. and be Ca me out in a moment.
| Lieutenant Macarthur went to
the hospital and his head was
ban ndaged.
II car never Tel. how it happen
ed said Lieutenant Macarthur
II was below aud sitting upon IL
buok opposite Gunner Bcehtold.
We were all hurled TO the ceiling.
Blood was streaming over my lace,
but realized that | was not over
come by gas and had all my senses
u plugged forward tothe counipg
tower aud craw!ed out. l was
mvseli immediately. and saw
there was work to be done 50 on
ed Captain Cable, with the others
in the task Of helping those who
were more seriously Injured than
myself.
Gunner Bcchtold was throwG for
ward aud fell upon the steering ap-
paratus near the coming tower. lie
was SenseleSs for Il moment on tWO,
and would have been overcome by
the gas fumes had he not iiuaily re
gained sufficient consciousness to
crawl to The opening in the coming
tower.
"All of the unfortunatcs would
have succumbcd had they not been
able to crawl to the top Of the hole.
Fortunately. no torpcdoes were stow.
ed in the b' at. The exp osiJn Of one
OF these carry ing l25 pounds Of wet
gun cotton, would have resulted in
the certain death for all and tola
destruction of the Fulton"
No detailed explanation of the cX
plosion has yet been given by the
agents of the company which owns
. the Fulton. They said tonight that
the examination so far only rhows
that The storage electric battery fol
propclling the boat when she goes
' down under the water blowout. They
assertthat this vas due to the genera
ton Of susphuric acid gas, and they
believe that some other gas unknown
to them was formed and came in con
j. tact with the sulphuric acid gas. The
: storage battery isa huge basin under
! meath the floor Of the submarine boa
well alt. ~ COtllhlitS w SSiioj WIN
: yats containing sulphuric acid.
; The theory IS that the battery
Z having been in use during the 10
= mile run under water off Sandy Hool
the sulphuric acid gas was generated
The pungent odor that filed the toa
? after the explosion is thus accounted
). for. 1t is positively denied by agent
= that the gasoline exploded.
d The trip to Washington has beel
n abandoned. The Fulton will be tow
e cd to New Suffolk, l.. l., by tht
!. Storm King. 1t is impossible to re
pair her machinery S O that she ca
lcontiruc on her journey. Capital
Cable says the damage is not suIlicien
s to permanently disable her.
Sin,n's Comp. Psnnvroyal Pulls. Th
g ladies' extraordinary rsmedy. Bo sui
L you get tho Comp"
I Nv mail Il 90, 606 King q rect