Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-10

ACtlng secretary DarllnS mas received d
telegram from Rear Admiral Higginson,
commanding the battle ship fleet, in regard
to the fatal gun explosion on the battle
follows:
PENSACOLA Fla, April o, 1908.
Secretary Navy, Washington, D. c.:
1.-The Iowa B. L. r. Pinch steel burst in
front of trunnions. Three men were killed
by accident; four men were slightly in
jured Cor wounded. Were killed by acct.
dent: F. L. Berry, ordinary seaman, next
of kin Mrs. Hattie Wilson, Losvagis, N.
M; E. l.. Purcell, landsman, next of kin
Mrs. Ellen Purcell, 4S3 street northwest,
Washington; Walter F. Keile, seaman, next
of kin A. Moore. st. Charles, Mo. Were
slightly injured Cor wounded): G. Rothstein,
coppersmith; 1. o. Trusdell, landsman;
Paul Gocht, quartermaster, first class; F.
Parrucker' gunners mate, ..hGd,SsoN thru e1sss
Because of the meager details of the ac-
cident which Admiral Higginson's dispatch
contained officials at the Navy Department
can only speculate as to the cause of it.
There is an unanimity of opinion, however,
that no one on the unfortunate vessel can
be held responsible for the explosion. In
accordance with the regulations, it is sup
posed Admiral Higginson has already ap
pointed board of officers to investigate
the accident and to report This report is
being anXiously awaited, but may not ar
rive for several days.
New Gun for the Iowa.
Rear Admiral O'Neil, chief of the bureau
of ordnance. has already issued orders for
twelve-inch gun which is now at the Wash
ington navy yard. and it will be placed OH
the Iowa when that vessel comes to New
York for repairs. Commenting upon the
possible causes of the explosion of the
1owa's twelve-inch gun Admiral O'Niel said
this morning:
1.-THE forward port gun of the Iowa, No.
0, twelve-inch mark, was designed in 1898
and manufactured in 1895 at the naval gun
factory On January 1, 1903, the gun had
been fired 125 times.
Yesterdays accident is the first that has
ever happened to any of the large -caliber
guns of the navy. except in the case Of the
thirteen-inch gun on the kearsarge, the
bore of which was injured by a premature
explosion of a shell two years ago. A lin
Ing tube was inserted in that gun, and to-
day it is in use at the proving grounds.
No Reason Assigned.
''No reason can yet be assigned for the
accident on the Iowa, but it will be in
vestigated most carefully AS yet it is not
known what kind of powder or shell was
used, nor have we the details as to the
location or character of the fracture or of
the condition of the bore of the gum all of
which will have to be considered.
THE record Of manufacture and inspec-
ton of the forgings and of the finished gun
show nothing abnormal, and it is therefore
impossible for me to state with the meager
information at hand with any degree of
accuracy the cause of the accident While
1t may have been due to the premature eX-
plOsfOn of the shell in the bore such a con-
tingency is unlikely, as shells have on sew
eral occasions broken up in bores of guns
without any other injury to the gun than
the defacing of the bore to some extent.
q ic. o1r-fc1
1owa's twelve-inch shells are fitted with
base covers, with a view to preventing a
possible premature explosion due to the
action of powder cases.
Details Of the Disaster.
A press dispatch dated Pensacola, Fla.
gives the following details of the disaster:
A disastrous explosion occurred on the bat
tie ship Iowa today while the vessel was
at target practice in the gulf. The for
ward port Pinch gun burst from the pre-
mature explosion of a SHE'LL twelve feet
of the piece outside the turret being de-
molished. Three men were killed and five
injured. two seriously.
The men killed and injured were on the
second or gun deck. at mess. Three pieces
OF the exploded gun, each weighing over
a ton. passed down through the spar deck,
falling upon the men at mess instantly
killing the three named. All of the men
We're horribly 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 stop. thus saving the engineers
ana fremen. who were at work below AL
though the upper decks were crowded with
men. no one there was seriously injured.
The Massachusetts. six miles distant. was
signaled for aid, and one of the cutters
put off with the surgeon and assistants.
The wounded men were taken to the hos
pttal and their injuries dressed. The dead
to