New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-11-04
FALL FROM TuRRET FATAL
News Received of Shocking Death
Of Naval Officer.
A. M. Beecher Killed
Yesterday Afternoon.
Was Eldest Son of Mrs. Pauline e..
Beecher of This City.

Lieutenant Albert orrision Beecher,
eldest son of Mrs. P. E. Beecher of
this city, and ordinance officer Of the
new battleship Maine, was killed at 8
O'Clock yesterday afternoon at New
port News, Virginia. He slipped from
the forward turret of the battleship and
the injuries he sustained proved fatal,
he expiring in short time
Little is known Of the manner in
which the accident occurred Or of the
nature of his injuries. The first news
of the shocking occurrence came last
night, when Mrs. Beecher received a
telegram from the commander of the
vessel apprising her of her som death.
The message was very brief and gave
but the barest outline of the tragedy.
Lieutenant A. M. Beecher was born
at Fort Dodge, a., Feb. 7, 1868, and
graduated from the Annapolis naval
academy in 1884. He was at once
assigned to active duty in the United
States navy and has devoted his life
to the work. His rise was that of q
conscientious toiler and he earned his
way from an ensign to the rank he
held at the time of his death, one of
the highest in his grade and which
would have entitled him to promotion
within few months. --- .... s--~
In his long service with the sea-
fighting forces of his country Lieut..
Beecher had visited all parts of the
world and everywhere he gained the
confidence of his superior officers by
his competency in the discharge of his
duties. Much against his will he was
compelled to remain in Washington
on shore duty during the Spanish
American war but after the close of
that brief conflict an opportunity. was
afforded him to distinguish himself ia
the fields of science. When the naval
department took up the experiments
with wireless telegraphy he was de-
tailed in charge of the work and con-
Quoted them most successfully, his dis
coveries attracting great attention and
he himself being called upon to ad-
dress the American Society of Engi-
neers, an honor never before con-
ferred upon an officer of the navy.
This task occupied his time for
more than year but upon the COM
pletion of the battleship Maine, prob
ably the finest ship in the new navy,
he was assigned to her in the very inn
portant capacity of ordinance officer.
He superintendent the placing of her
armament and only recently returned
from a voyage to the Bahamas, where
the Maine went on her trial trip.
Lieut.. Beecher has frequently visit
ed New Ulm and only this summer
spent a fortnight here. He had the
quiet, unassuming manner of the
American gentleman and his thorough
familiarity with the affairs of the
world made conversation with him a
pleasure. His tragic death comes as
a crushing blow to his mother and all
New Ulm will sympathise with her in
her affection.
The deceased is survived by his
mother, one sister and two brothers,
the other children being 81. L. Beech
er of this city, Mrs. G. T. Howard of
Redwood Falls, and Lieut.. Jas. S.
Beecher of the U. S. S. Monongehela.
AS yet no arrangements have been
made for the funeral but III. T.. Beech
er will leave for Newport News today.