The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-02-04
KILLED ON A BATTlESH|P
Powder Exp|cdes in a Turret on
the Massachusetts.
VICTIMS BURIED AT SAN JUAN
The Accident Occurred at Target Practice
or culebra Ialand-Six Sailors Killed
and Two Mortsliy Ipjured-Commis.
stoned Omcer Eseapsd-DariuK Work
t,rsyented Further Disaster.

Prevented Further Disasser.
San Juan. Porto Rico.-Six men
were killed and three others We're In
jured. two Of them probably fatally
by the explosion Of a powder charge
Of IN eisht-inch gun cn the United
States b~attleship Massachusetts while
at target practice OF Culebra Island.
A report Of the disaster was sent to
the Navy Department. at Washington.
The explosion occurred In the star
board after turret. just before noon.
and was due to the accidental dis
charge Of q percussion primer while
the breach OF the gun was open. The
full charge exploded In the turret and
killed or injured every man OF the gun
crew. which numbered nine. Ensign
Ward K. Workman. who was In charge
Of the turret. escaped ~:nscathed.
though he was standing near the gun
In which the explosion took place.
Magnificent discipline was shown by
the officers and crew Of the battleship.
Captain Harry Lee. commanding the
marine guard Of the V Jsel. n En-
sign Clarence A. Adele. Immediately
flooded the turret with water. Lieu
tenant Charles +. Hughes and CCnner
Kuhlwein. went below to the magazine
and removed powdt charges. prevent
ing further explosions. while L.ieuten-
ant William C. Cole and Gun Captain
Ssoneman entered the turret With
drew the charge from the other gun.
the breech OF which was open.
The survivors of the guns Q
when rescued were burned. mutilated
and nearly dead. One man. whose
clothing was on fire. jumped over
board. The following IL The list Of the
dead: Andrew Hendrikson. Of Nor
way; F. H. Loesser. Of New York City:
F. s. Malinowski. of Chicago. ILL.,: n. j.
Plat. of Troy. n. T.: Robert Rule. OF
Cincinnati. Ohio; A. 8. Tackle. OF st.
Louis. Mo.
The following men were seriously
injured: A. n. Dassett. OF Durham.
n. c.; J. G. Patterson. Of Pittsburg.
Pa: w. A. Schert. Of Chicago.
In less than a minute after til" acct
dent three streams Of water Were pour
ing into the turret. Dart Walker. the
marine artist. witnessed the explo-
sion.
Tackle vas taken out alive and did
not die until a few hours later.
A funeral serTice for the men who
met their death was held on the Massa.
chusetts. Chaplain Wright officiating.
Afterward 4 procession was formed on
shore and proceeded to the military
cemetery Of Porto Rico. where the In
terment took place. The regimentai
band Of the garrison OF Porto Rico
took part in the ceremony. Admiral
Higginson and the officers OF the Mas
sachusetts were at the sravcside.
where military honors. and also Ma.
sonic honors for ono OF the deceased.
were rendered.
The injured men are In the military
hospital. They are badly burned all
over. Patterson Is doing we'll. but
Dassere and Schert probably will die.
The eight.inch guns are next In size
below the thlrteen-inch turret guns
carried by this battleship. AMI Just
above the r~apid-ire gun limit. so that
their charges were not contained in
ixed metallic cases. the powder being
nut up In canvas bags. The regula-
tons require that the powder bags
should be conveyed from the magazines
to the breech OF the gun In a can.like
metal receptacle Intended to guard
against just this kind OF an accident.