The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-06
FULTON MEETS DISASTER.
Submarine Boat on Way to Norfolk
Has Explosion on Board While
at Delaware Breakwater.

Lewes, Del, April 3O.-An explosion
of considerable severity which injured
half dozen persons occurred on the
submarine boat Fulton Tuesday as she
was running into the harbor of the
Delaware breakwater. Dhe boat was
bound from Brooklyn to Norfolk and
was partly submerged when the acct
dent occurred. The most seriously in
jured are: Lieut.. Oscar Kohen, of the
Austrian navy, severely bruised; Lieut..
Arthur Macarthur, United States
navy, cut about the head: Harry Moore,
assistant engineer, injured about the
head; c. b. Miner, assistant engineer,
nose split; Charles Bechtol, gunner,
severely hurt on head and body. All
the injured We're sent to the United
States marine hospital, and after their
wounds were dressed they were dis
charged, with the exception of Bech-
toll. He will leave the hospital this
morning. The Fulton will be towed
to the Fulton company's station at
New Suffolk for repairs as soon as the
weather moderates. 1t will take sew
eral days to put the battery in service
able condition.
On account of the rough weather at
sea it was decided by the commander
of the Fulton to put into the Delaware
brealSwater, and it was while the boat,
partly under water, was rounding the
great stone breakwater that the ex-
plosion occurred. Nine men were in
the hold and three men on deck at the
time. Assistant Engineer Miner, who
was lying beside the boiler asleep, was
thrown several feet away. MacAr-
thur, who is a son of Maj. Gen. Mac
Arthur, and Gunner Bechtol were at
breakfast. The former was hurled
against the roof of the cabin, injuring
his head Bechtol was struck by heavy
debris and was SO badly hurt that he
was unable to care for himself and 9TH
ers helped him to the deck, making
their escape, as the hold was rapidly
filling with gasoline fumes. Capt.
Frank Cable, Lieut.. H. H. Merrell and
Boatswain Charles Berg were on deck
when the explosion occurred and sig
nailed the tug Storm King and yacht
Mindora, which conveyed the Fulton
here, for assistance. The steam
launch Palacea being near also went
alongside and took the injured men
ashore to the marine hospital. Con-
siderable bravery was shown by Engi-
neer Saunders. After the explosion
the engines continued to work. Saun-
ders wrapped his head and face in
wet towel and went below and stopped
them. After the explosion the Fulton
was towed to the government pier
near the hospital.
The explosion was caused by an ac-
emulation of gas, which had been gen.
Grated by the storage battery. AL
though the explosion was violent
one, the vessel was only slightly in
iured.
The Fulton left Sandy Hook at $50
Monday morning. Shortly afterward
she submerged and made is miles I'M
der water. going at the rate of five
miles an hour off Long Branch. She
came to the surface and made six miles
an hour during the trip until the ac-
cident at the breakwater occurred.
She proved to be good sea boat and
did not once require the assistance of
her convoy. The engines ran continu-
ously for 20 hours. Those on board
were highly pleased with her performs
anpe