Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-19
Il DID MY DUFFY
Was Word Of Injured on Battle
ship Massachusetts.
Injured Accidentally but Bore Mounds
As Though in Battle.
The Worst Accident in Many Years on
Warship.


dispatches reached the naval depart
ment Saturday afternoon. relative to
an explosion on the United States bait
Friday morning, While at target prac-
tice off Culebra island.
The first report OF the disaster which
was given OUT read as follows:
admiral Higginson cables from San
Juan, Porto Rico. under tpday's date,
that by an explosion of powder in the
eight-inch turret of the battleship Mas
sachusetts five men We're killed and
four injured. None We're commissioned
officers" ~ We 81
The text of Admiral Higginson's dis
patch was as follows:
san Juan. Porto Rico, Jan. IT,.
Secretary Navy Washington:
Powder charge exploded accidental
~ in eight-inch turret Massachusetts
Cause being investigated by board.
Dead: A. Hendriksen. boatswain mate.
Il. Fl. Losser, apprentices; s. F. Mali
newski landsmain; X. ]. Plat, ortii-
nary seaman; Robert Rule. ordinary
seaman.
injured: w. W. A. Schert, appren-
tioe: A. S. Tackle. coxswain; j. G..
Paterson, ordinary seaman A. N
Dousett, ordinary seaman"
The following details of the accident
were sent out by The Associated Press
under the date of San Juan, Porto Rico,
Jan. IL
"Details of the explosion were OBJ
tained when the Massachusetts, arrived
here. The explosion occurred in the
starboard after eight inch turret shorts
Iy before noon, Friday, and was due
to the accidental discharge of per-
eussion primer The full charge ex-
ploded in the turret and killed or IN
jured all the crew of the gun, number
ing nine men. Ensign Ward *. Wort
man. who was in charge Of the ttrre.,
escaped all injury, though he was
standing near the scene of the explo-
sion.
Magnificent discipline was immedi-
ately shown by the officers and crew Of
the battleship. Captain Harry Lee,
commanding the marine guard of the
vessel. and Ensign Clarence A. Adele
Immediately flooded the turret with
water and Lieutenant Charles IF
Hughes and Gunner Kulwein went be-
low to the magazines, picking up pow
der charges and prevented further ex-
plosions, while Lieut. William c. Cole
and Gun Captain Coneman entered the
turret and withdrew the charge from
the other gun, whose breech was open.
The survivors of the guns crew when
rescued were burned, mutilated and
nearly dead. One man whose clothing
was on fire jumped overheard.
The last words of all the men taken
fhn f,,,.r In, Ix,.,x
were practically the same: si
i did my duty. Love to home
The GOODNESS and discipline OF the
officers and men We're credit to the
navy. In less than a minute three
streams of water were pouring into the
turret. preventing the charge in the
other eight-inch gun from exploding"
Matters became somewhat perplexing
when the following dispatch, dated San
Juan. 2.40 P. NJ, was received at the
navy department from Admiral Higgin-
son. later in the day:
Charge S-inch turret Massachusetts ac-
cidentally ignited. Injured dangerously:
Andrew Hendriksen, Kenneth l. Platt,
Hule. Albert Tackle. 49,
Seriously: Alex N. Gossett Felix RI.
Loesser, Stephen F. Malinowski, James
G. Patterson, Walter W. A. Schert.
Board of investigation in session.
The navy department officials were per.
picked at the discrepancy between the
two cablegrans from Rear Admiral Hig-
ginson, and although they were disposed
to ACCEPT thu most hopeful construction
of the facts az set out In thtssonc timed
2. 40 P. Nj, when it became known lhroussa
the press dispatches that TIE accident
happened, Friday, 1t was feared that the
cabiegrams had been inverted in sending
and that the last and correct version was
that which recorded the actual death Of
five OF the unfortunate sailors
To clear up all doubt Capt. Cowles, the
acting head of the navigation bureau,
dispatched message to Rear Admiral
Higginson, requesting him to again cable
the facts in the case and to reconcile his
The Associated Press subsequently is
sued the following under San Juan date:
a funeral service for the men who met
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