The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-14
VAN DOSER GIVES
 OUT STATEMENT Gives Facts Attending Explosion
 on OIynpia's Oecks' ALCOHOL WAS STRUGGLED
Characters of the Dead Corporal and Injured Mates Are Vindcated by Executive Officer of Yes
 seI-A Mystery Remains.

Norfolk, Va, September 13.-Leutenant Commander Van Doser, executive officer of the cruiser Olympia. today gave out an official statement of the facts att tending the explosion of barrel of alcohol on the cruisers deck last night, causing the death of Marine Corporal J. S. Yerkes of Philadelphia, the fatal in- jury of Apprentice Seifert and the serious injury of third-class Master-at-Arm Ca- ter, and Apprentice Spavey, in addition to the burning of the cruisers forward awnings and awning supports. The ex- plosion resulted indirectly from the smuggling of alcohol into the navy yard by members of the cruisers crew.
 The statement of Lieutenant Commando CT Van Doser says: "rhe entire crew of the Olympia were returning aboard after forty-eight hours shore liberty when five gallon water breaker full of alcohol was discovered in the forward turret. The executive officer at once or dered thorough search of the ship and the yard in her vicinity to find any other spirits that might have been smuggled.
 Two Men Discovered.
  all her small boats are lined in rows on the dock by the dry dock. In one of these boats two men were discovered. One fled and escaped in the darkness. The other was placed under arrest. Where the men were hiding was found full barrel of alcohol which had been preached. It was by order, carried aboard the Olympia to be emptied into the alcohol tank on the after deck. This tank being full, the barrel was carried forward by Corporal Yerkes, Seifert. I Spavey and Cater. In the meantime. the crew was called to quarters and every thing accounted fors
 While the men were in line answering the roll. the detachment with the barrel began pouring Its contents into tank on the port side of the forward turret They had scarcely begun when, in manner yet to be ascertained, the fumes of the spirits became ignted and exploded with terrific force. Both ends of the barrel were blown out, followed by a torrent of burning alcohol that spread in a flood of flame over the forward main deck.
 Yerkes Struck by Stone.
 Yerkes was struck in the head by a stave from the barrel and fell into the burning mass He was roasted to death. The other three men were also struck by flying fragments of the barrel but were knocked away from the center of the fire and thus two of them escaped fatal injury, but Selferr was horribly burned, and 1t Is found that he cannot recover.
 Tt was at first thought that a can of smokeless powder had exploded and the crew for moment broke ranks. but in a second recovered from the sudden- ness of the shock and turned to with will to save their injured shipnates and extinguished the fire that was gaining headway on the cruisers decks This done. the injured men were hurried to the marine hospital where this afternoon 1t was said that Seifert could not live through the night, but that the other two would recover. Yerkes' body will be shipped to Philadelphia for burial"
 Seifert Dies.
 Norfolk, September 13. - Apprentice Seifert died at the marine hospital late this afternoon. He will be given a naYaI funeral.