The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-14

Pensacola, Fla. April "a disastrous
explosion occurred on the battleship
Iowa today. While the vessel was at
target practice in the gulf. The for
ward port twelve inch gun burst from
the premature explosion of a shell.
twelve feet of the piece outside the tur-
ret being demolished. Three men were
killed and five injured, two seriously.
The killed are: First Class seaman
Keil, Ordinary Seamen Purcell, Gun
nersmate Berry.
The injured are: First Glass Seaman
Caught, Ordinary Seamen Thursdale.
Brown. Mansdale and Purucker.
The men killed and injured were on
the second. or gun deck at mess. Three
pieces of the exploded gun, each weigh
ing over a ton, passed downward
through the spar deck falling upon the
three named. All of the men were hor-
ribly mutilated. The heavy missiles
after passing through the gun deck,
continued down to the third deck. where
they came in contact with the armored
deck. the heavy steel bringing them to
a stop, thus saving the engineers and
though the upper decks were crowded
with men, no one there was seriously
injured The explosion occurred just
as the mess call had been sounded.
Firing was to have ceased after this
shot for the dinner hour. The range
had been set and the Iowa was steam
ing along al a speed of twelve knots an
hour, when Lieutenant Reid in charge
Of the orwar twelve inch turret gave
orders to load and fire. The time fuse
was cut for the range, the piece charg-
ed, breech closed and the word given
to fire. Following the report of the gun
there was a smothered report as the
shell exploded midway in the gun and
pieces of the bursted u and shell were
scattered broadcast. Three great holes
were torn through the deck. Those
who were below, began coming up on.
deck. some burned and mutilated,
while lying on the floor crushed almost
beyond recognition were the three I'M
fortunate men,.
The Massachusetts,, six miles distant
was ~signalled for aid and one or the
cutters put off with the surgeon and,
assistants. The wounded men were.
taken to the hospital and their injuries
dressed, The dead were brought to
Pensacola.
Some claim the explosion was caused
by a defective shell, and others think
that the frequent firing Of the pieces
at Culebra during the winter, added
with the work done here during the
past ten days SO strained the piece that
the force of the charges bursted the
gun
Washington, April "a long dispatch
came to Acting Secretary Darling OF
the navy department tonight from Rear
Admiral Francis Higglnson, command
ing the North Atlantic squadron now
at Pensacola. a portion of il, presum-
ably giving details Of the accident to
h twelve nch gun, was In cipher and
will not be ~deciphered until tomorrow.
The only ineligible portion of the dis
patch was that giving seven names.
together with the next of kin to three
Of them, which are supposed to be the
casualties resulting from the accident.
The three names first given and
whose next of kin were telegraphed to,
by the department here, is supposed by
Secretary Darling to be those who were
killed by the accident. There we're: F.
T. Berry, ordinary seaman, next of kin
Mrs. Hattie Wilson, Lasvegas, n. NJ.
E. T. Purcell, landsman, next Of kin
Mrs. Ellen Purcell, 4S3 n. street, n. w,
Washington, D.. c.. Walter F. Keil,
seaman, next of kin A. Moore. St
Charles, No.
The remaining four names, those who
were injured are: G. Rothschild, Cop
persmith; 1. O.. Truesdale, landsman;
Paul Goucht, seaman Of the first class;
E Parrucker. gunners mate of the third
class.