Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-04-15
THE BATTLESH|P IOWA.
Disastrous Explosion While at
Target Practice.
Three Men Killed and Five Injured
Three Pieces o. the Gun WEIGH.
i73 Over Ten Each Passed
Through the Spar Deck.

Pensacola, Fla. April 1O.-A disas.
trous explosion occurred on the bat
teship Iowa Thursday while the YES
SCI was at target practice in the gull.
Inc forward port 12-inch gun burst
from the premature explosion OF a
shell. II feet OF the piece outside the
turret being demolished. Three men
were killed and five injured two seri-
ously.
The men killed and injured were on
the second. or gun deck. at mess
r Ihree pieces of the exploded gun
each weighing over ton. passed
downward through the spar deck. fall
ing upon the men at mess, instantly
Killing three men All of the men
were horribly mutilated. The heavy
missiles, after passing through the
gun deck. continued down to the third
deck, the heavy steel bringing them
10 stop, thus saving the engineers
and nremen who were at work below
Although the upper decks were
crowded with men, no one there was
seriously injured. Firing was to have
ceased after the shot for the dinner
hour The range had been set and
the Iowa was steaming along at a
speed of II knots an hour when Lieut.
Reed, in charge of the forward 12.inch
turret. gave orders TO load and fire.
The fire fuse was cut for the range.
the pieces charged. breech closed and
the word given TO fire. Following the
report OF the gun there was a smoth-
cred report as the shell exploded mid
way in the gun and pieces OF the burst
ed gun and shell were scattered
broadcast.
Pensacola. Fla. April 1.-THE dam
age 10 the battleship Iowa caused by
the premature explosion OF a shell in
the forward port 12-inch gun, has de.
Veloped to be more serious than was
thought when the first examination
was made. and as a consequence the
big ship has been ordered to the New
York navy yard to go out OF commits
sion. She steamed 1own to the Pen
sacola navy yard Friday, where she
Is fitting out with supplies and coal
preparatory 10 sailing as soon as pos
sible for the north Ii is known that
three decks. including the upper deck
in the forward part of the ship. will
have 10 be entirely removed and re.
built
IL is feared that the steel supports
under the Pinch port turret are
sprung TO such an extent that they
will have To be removed. though this
can not yet be stated positively The
gun itself is hopeless wreck. AL
though the gun which burst went into
numberless pieces. the end of the gun
Is as smooth as if it had been turned
out Of shop. and except that ii is
about IL feet shorter than the star
board gun ii is hardly noticeable that
an explosion occurred. According to
the record of the exploded gun. Il
was good for at least another year OF
service. and reports that the gun had
been condemned are without founda-
ton
Washington. April 11.-Acting Sec
reary Darling Friday sent the follow
- ing dispatch of sympathy to Rear Ad-
miral Higginson. commanding the
North Atlantic fleet at Pensacola:
please convey TO officers and men nf
the feet sincere sympathy OF depart.
ment in the loss OF their Comrades by
the unfortunate accident on board the
Iowa (Signed) DARLING"
Although il has been intended that
the Iowa should be repaired at the
New York navy yard without goinc
out OF commission. the damage done
by the explosion will probably make
it necessary to put the vessel out OF
commission.
Because Of the succession Of acct.
dents which have occurred recently in
the navy. board Of officers is to be
appointed to revise the drill regula-
tions in order that every precaution
may be taken in the future against
casualties.