Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-29
ACCIDENT ON FULTON
Explosion Of Gasoline on Sub
marine Boat.
FOUR OF CREW INJURED
TWO NAVAL OFFICERS AMONG
THOSE HURT.
The Explosion Occurred Just as the
Craft Entered the Delaware
Breakwater.
OF CREW INJURED

PHILADELPHIA, April 29-The subma-
! marine boat Fulton and her two conveys,
the yacht Mindora and tug Storm King put
into the Delaware Breakwater at 10 o clock
this morning.
An explosion occurred on the Fulton
short time after she reached the break
water. Four of the crew were injured. one
of them perhaps fatally.
The explosion is supposed to have been
| caused by gasoline.
The injured are:
Lieut.. Arthur Macarthur, U. s. N, badly
cut about the head.
Lieut.. Oscar Kohen of the Austrian navy
severely bruised.
c. B. Miner. assistant engineer nose split
open.
Harry Moore, assistant engineer, injured
about the head and overcome by gasoline
fumes
Charles Bechtold, gunner injured about
the head and face.
All of the injured were taken to the Quar-
antine Hospital
Several Others Slightly Hurt.
Several others were slightly injured. The
watch had been changed a short time be-
fore the explosion occurred. Assistant En-
gineer Miner. who had been relieved by En-
gineer Saunders. lay down-beside the boiler
to sleep. He was lifted bodily and thrown
several feet. Gunner Bechtold and Lieut..
Macarthur were at breakfast. The latter
was hurled against the roof Of the cabin
his head striking the iron work Bechtold
was struck by flying debris and was the
most seriously injured. His skull was laid
bare in several places, and is thought to
be fractured.
The cause of the explosion is a mystery
1t did not occur in the engine ROOM and
the gasoline In the storage tank was not
lgnited Capt Cable says that owing to
the gasoline fumes he has not been able
to make an investigation.
Lieut. Macarthur expresses the opinion
that the accumulation of air in the gasoline
tank caused the explosion. The engines
continued working after the explosion &C.
CURED, and Engineer Saunders, wrapping
his head and face in a wet towel, went
down into the hold to stop them.
Injuries Not Serious.
The Fulton Is apparently not seriously
damaged. She is now lying alongside the
tug Storm King, and it is expected that
repairs will be made in time for her to pro-
coed to Washington tomorrow.
The Fulton is making an ocean trip from
New York city to Norfolk Va.
The Departments Advices.
Chief photographer Switzerland received
a telegram this afternoon from Hydrog-
rapher Jacoby stating that an explosion
occurred aboard the Fulton at 10 O'Clock
this morning, and that the injured-Mac-
Arthur, Coehen, Miner, Moore and Bechtol
had been taken to a hospital
Lieut. Arthur Macarthur, son of Major
General Macarthur, at his own request
was given permission by the Navy Depart
ment to make the trip down to Washington
aboard the Fulton for purposes of observa-
! ton.
The Fulton is not a government boat She
is owned by the Electric Boat Company
She Is the first boat of her type to attempt
| the trip from New York to Washington by
| the outside route under her own power
| The Holland came to Washington from
| New York by the inside (or canals) route,
| but was towed part of the way