The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-18
DEATH ON BIG SHIP
MEN KILLED AND MANNED ABOARD
THE MASSACHUSETTS.
8-INCH GUN POWDER CHARGE
Exploded WHILE SHIP WAS AT
TARGET PRACTICE.

Accident Occurred in West Indian
Wnters-NOt a One of the Guns
Crew Escaped Injury-Charge Ex-
pIOded in the Turret-Breech of
the Gun Was Open. and IA Percus-
sion Primer Exploded - Six Men
Killed and Three WOunded-SpIcn-
did Discipline shown.
San Juan, P. r., Jan. 17.-Six men
were killed and three others were
wounded, two of them probably fatal
ly, by the explosion of a powder charge
of an S-inch gun on board the United
States battleship Massachusetts yes
terday morning, while at target prac-
tice off Culebra Island.
The following is the list of dead: x,
]. Plat, 500 Eighth street, Troy, N. Y;
S. T. Malinowski, 1888 Ontario avenue.
Chicago, Ill. F. H. Loesser, 313 East
Eighty-sixth street, New York; An
drew Hendrickson, Norway; r. Rule.
Walnut Hill, Cincinnati; A. S. Tackle,
Miami street, st. Louis.
The following men were seriously
injured:
A. N Dassett, Durham, N. c., J. G.
Patterson, % Soho street, Pittsburg;
w. A. Schert, 365 Cleveland avenue,
Chicago.
Details of the explosion were obtain
ed when the Massachusetts arrived
here to-day. The explosion occurred
in the starboard after S-inch turret,
shortly before noon yesterday, and was
due to the accidental discharge of a
percussion primer, while the breech
of the gun was open. The full charge
exploded in the turret and killed or
injured all the crew of the gun, num-
bering nine men. Ensign Ward x.
Workman, who was in charge of the
turret, escaped injury, though he was
standing near the scene of the ex-
plosion.
Officers and Men Ready-Witted.
Magnificent discipline was imme-
diately shown by officers and crew of
the battleship. Capt. Henry Lee, COM
handing the marine guard of the YES
sci. and Ensign Clarence A. Adele inn
mediately flooded the turret with wa
ter, and Lieut.. Charles F. Hughes and
Gunner Kuhlwein went below to the
magazine, picking up powder charges
ard prevented further explosion, while
Lieut.. William c.. Cole and Gun Cap
tain Soneman entered the turret and
Withdrew the charge from the other
gun. the breech of which was open.
The survivors of the guns crew
when rescued were burned, mutilated
and nearly dead. One man, whose
clothing was on fire, jumped over
board.
In less than a. minute after the ex-
plosion three streams of water were
pouring into the turret, preventing
the charge in the other eight-inch gun
from exploding.
A funeral service for the men who
met death in the explosion was held
at 1 o'clock this afternoon on board
the Massachusetts, Chaplain Wright
officiating. Afterwards a procession
was formed on shore and proceeded to
the military cemetery of Porto Rico,
where the interment took place. The
regimental band of the garrison of
Porto Rico took part in the ceremony.
Admiral Higginson and the officers of
the Massachusetts were at the grave
side, where military honors and also
Masonic honOrs for one of the dead
were rendered.
The four injured men are lying IN
the military hospital. They are badly
burned, but hopes are entertained for
the recovery of all.
Coxswain Tackle died this afternoon.
The condition of Apprentice Schert
and Seaman Dassett has become worse
and it is now thought that these men
will not survive their injuries. Sea-
man Patterson is doing well and is
expected to recover
AnhIpAI cTnpX nrIr