The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-30
NAVAL MEN INJURED
BOILER EXPLODED ON SUBMARINE
BOAT FULTON.
MIGHT HAVE PROVED SERIOUS.
BUT BOAT WAS NOT SUBMERGED
AT THE TINE.

Lieut.. Kohen of the Austrian Navy
and Lieut.. Macarthur, Son of Gen.
Macarthur, Two Engineers and n
Gunner All Painfully Hurt-Mac-
Arthur Hurled From Breakfast
Table to Ceiling and Gunner Bech-
toll Rendered HeIpIesS-Otherwise
the Fulton behaved Nicely and
Made a Good Showing for Herself.
Lewes, Del, April 29.-An explosion
of considerable severity, which injured
half dozen persons, occurred on the
submarine boat Fulton to-day as she
was running into the harbor of the
Delaware Breakwater. The boat was
bound from Brooklyn to Norfolk and
was partly submerged when the acct
dent occurred, The most seriously
injured are:
Lieut.. Oscar Kohen of the Austrian
navy, severely bruised.
Lieut.. Arthur Macarthur, u. S. N,
cut about the head.
Harry Moore, assistant engineer, in
jured about the head.
c. B. Miner, assistant engineer, nose
split.
Charles Bechtol, gunner, severely
hurt on head and body.
All the injured were sent to the Uni
ted States Marine Hospital and after
their wounds were dressed they were
discharged with the exception of Bech-
toll. He will leave the hospital to-mor-
row morning.
The explosion was caused by an ac-
emulation of gas which had been gen.
Grated by storage battery. Although
the explosion was a violent one, the
vessel was only slightly injured. She
will be lowed to the Holland Com
pany's station at New Suffolk for re-
pairs as soon as the weather moderates.
1t will take several days to put the
battery in serviceable condition.
Occurred at the Breakwater.
On account of the rough weather at
sea it was decided by the commander
of the Fulton to put into the Delaware
breakwater, and it was while the boat,
partly under water, was rounding the
great stone breakwater that the ex-
3losion occurred. Nine men were in
the hold at the time and three men
on deck. Assistant Engineer Miner,
who was lying beside the boiler asleep,
was thrown several feet away. Lieut.
Macarthur, who is a son of Maj. Gen.
Macarthur, 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
others helped him to the deck, making
their escape as the hold was rapidly
filling with gasoline fumes.
Capt. Frank Gable, Lieut.. H. H. Mer-
rill and Boatswain Charles Berg were
on deck when the explosion occurred
and signalled 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
A Brave Engineer.
Considerable bravery was shown by
Engineer Saunders. After the ex-
plosion the engines continued to work
Saunders wrapped his head and face
in a wet towel and went below and
stopped them.
After the explosion the Fulton was
towed to the government dock near the
hospital.
The Fulton left Sandy oHok at $50
O'Clock Monday morning. Shortly af-
terward she submerged and made fif-
teen miles under 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 accident at the breakwater
occurred She proved to be a good sea-
boat and did not once require the as
sistance of her convoy. The engines
ran continuously for twenty hours.
Those on board were highly pleased
with her performance