The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-14
ROASTED TO DEATH
.,,,E11. FATE OF CORPORAL
vrRKEs ON DECK OF OLYMPIA.
HOW EXPLOSION OCCURRED.
xA1oRs ON SHORE LEAVE HAD
sMUGGLED ALCOHOL ABOARD.

Uumes Became Ignited and Exploded
with Terrific FOrce-TOrrent of
burning Alcohol Spread in Flood
ot Flame Over Forward Main
DecIS-HapIeas Corporal Fell Into
turning Mass-FOur Men Were
Fmptying Alcohol When the Ex-
pIosiOn Occurred.
Norfolk, Va, Sept. 13.-Lieutenant
Commander Van Doser, executive Off
cor of the cruiser Olympia, to-day gave
ont an official statement of the facts
attending the explosion of a barrel of
alcohol on the cruisers deck last night,
causing the death of Marine Corporal
7 S. Yerkes of Philadelphia, the fatal
injury of Apprentice Seifert, and the
serious injury of Third Glass Master
alarms Caster, and Apprentice Spa
vev in addition to the burning of the
cruisers forward awnings and awning
directly from the smuggling of alcohol
into the navy yard by members of the
cruisers crew.
The statement of Lieutenant Com
rander Van Doser says: 1.-The entire
crew of the Olympia were returning
aboard after forty-eight hours shore
liberty, when five-gallon water
breaker full of alcohol was discovered
ir the forward turret. The executive
officer at once ordered a thorough
search of the ship, and the yard in her
vicinity to find any other snirits that
might have been struggled.
AS the cruiser is in drydock all her
small boats are lined in rows along
the wharf near the drydock. Between
two of these boats two men were dis
covered. One fed and escaped in the
darkness. The other was placed un-
der arrest. Where the men were hid
ing was found a full barrel of alcohol,
which had been preached. 1t was, by
order, carried aboard the Olympia to
be emptied into the alcohol tank on the
aft deck. This tank being full the bar
rel was carried forward by COrpi.
Yerkes, Seifert, Spavey and Caster. In
the meantime the crew was called to
quarters and every man accounted for.
While the men were in line answer
ing the roll the detachment with the
barrel began pouring it's contents in
10 tank on the port side of the for
ward turret. They had scarcely begun,
when, In a manner not yet ascertain
ed, the fumes of the spirits became
ignited and exploded with terrific
force. Both ends of the barrel were
blown out, followed by a torrent of
burning alcohol that spread in a flood
OF flame over the forward main
deck.
"Yerkes was struck in the head by
stave from the barrel and fell into
the burning mass. He was roasted to
death. The other three men also were
struck by flying fragments of the bar
rel, but were knocked away from
the center of. the fire and thus two
OF them escaped fatal injury, but Sci
tert was horribly burned and so in
Jured that he cannot recover.
1t was first thought a tank of
Smokeless powder had exploded and
the crew for a moment broke ranks.
but in second recovered from the
suddennesS of the shock and turned
TO with will to save their injured
shipnfates, and extinguish the fire
mat already was gaining headw.ay on
the cruisers deck. This done the in
9ured men were hurried to the marine
hospital where this afternoon it was
stated Seifert could not live through
Inc night, but that the other two
would recover. Yerkes body will be
shipped to Philadelphia for BURIAL
Apprentice Seifert died at the Ma
ilne Hospital late tonight. He will
De given a naval funeral.