The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18
His Second CabIegram
Creates Confusion by Tell
ing Of the Wounding Of
Nine Men by the Burst
lng Gun.
Original Report Of Disaster
Confirmed by q Press Dis
patch From San Juan--De-
partnlent to Make a Rigid
Investigation.

Investigation.
News OF the explosion on The Massa-
chrsette was received at The Navy De
parlment shortly after q O'Clock yesler-
day morning IN q telegram dated San
Juan, Porto Rico. and signed by Rear
Admiral HIgginson- commander -in-ehief
Of the North Atlantic naval force. IL
said that i've enlisted men were killed
and four injured, and gave the names
and ratings
More than five hours later second
dispatch came from admiral Higgiuson.
in which he again told Of the explosion,
and gave a list of nine injured. but no
dead, Those who were reported as dead
in the first dispatch were mentioned IN
the list of injured in the second dis
patch
a press dispatch from San Juan aD-
pears TO clear the mystery, however, in
showing that the first telegram from
Admiral Higgiuson. reporting that the
five were dead. was correct
The Official Dispatches.
The two official kilograms follow:
Powder charge exploded accidentally
In S-inch turret Massachusetts Cause
IS being investigated by board Dead
Heudrickseu. boatswain mate; T. o.
Loesser, apprentice; 5. F. Maiinowski,
Iandsman; K. J. Platt. ordinary seaman;
Robert Rule. ordinary seaman. injured
w. W A schert, apprentice; A s
Taeke, coxswain: J. G. Patterson. or
binary seaman; n DossetJ. ordinary
seaman
charge. S-inch turret. Massachusetts.
accidentally ignited- Injured dangerous
IL: Andrew HenCrickseR, Kenneth J.
PIatt. Robert Rule Albert Taeke. Seri-
ousIy: Alexander y. Dossett. Felix Il
Loesser, stephen f MaHnowski, James
G. Patterson. Walter W. A Schert Board
Investigation in session
Immediately after the first official
message was received Commander Alex
ander Sharp, il. in charge of the enlist
rnent branch of the Bureau Of Navigation.
got his force 10 work looking mp the
names and addresses OF the next OF kin
OF the men killed and injured. Letters
10 these were prepared, but just as they
were being placed Ia the mail the sec
ond official telegram came. The letters
were recalled.
Accepting the second dispatch as cor
rect, the Navy Department sent 20 the
relatives of the men. except To the next
OF kin OF Roatswaiu's Mate Hendricascn
Hans Jensen. seHo is ia Norway. Owing
TO II, unfortunate confusion caused by
sTr-
ginsou. the nearest Of kin OF each OF the
men killed VIII get the Information that
the seaman to whom ne or she is related
was only injured by tho explosion
Records Of the Victims.
The department records give the fol
lowing information about the men who
were killed or injured.
FELIX HERBERT LJESsER- En-
listed at Sew York. October :. 1909.
as apprentice. thIrd class Born. Brook
Ln X r.. December J. 1854; home.
Eew York next OF kin. Edward LoesssT,
a13 East Eighty-sixth street. New York.
STEPHEN FRANK MALINOWSkI-
Enlisted III Chicago. III, August 4, 1900.
Tor 53ar years born, Poland. august =,
1ss2. home. south Chicago. III. next Of
kin. Frank MaIiaowsii. s551 Ontario
Avenue. south Chicago. III
ANDREW HENDRICKSEN - Enlisted
al New York september y, 1900, for four
years. born. Norway March I2- 1873:
home New York next of kin. Hans Jen-
sen. Chriztiausuud. Norway
KENNETH JOSEPH PLATT- Enlisted
al Albany. N T.. August IG. 1900. ror