The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-04-16
DEADLY EXPLOSION.
TWeIye-Inch Gun Bursts With Fatal
Results.
INVESTIGATION E0A2D APPOINTED,
Tho Dari&gs 20 tile Vessel of Such a
Character as 10 NsceSSitate Putting
Her Out of Commission.

dispatch received By the Navy Depart
mcnt. regarding the explosion on the
Iowa, off Pensacola Tas CT Friday de-
ciphered. 1t vas rom Admiral Hig-
giasCn and said: 'iow2's breach-load-
| ing Finch gun burst in front o.
trunnions, three killed, Eour wounded
Then followed the names given in pre-
vious dispatch. The Department ex-
poets fuller particulars. Another dig
patch was received as follows: "Pur-
cell. ianGs1an. Kpile. seaman, F. T.
Berry, ordinary seaman. killed in Iowa,
will be buried at navy yard az Pensa-
cola"
Because Of the meagre details of the
explosion which Admiral Higginson's
dispatch contained, officials at the
Navy Department cs.n only speculate as
to its cause. An investigation board
has already been appointed.
Rear Admiral ONeill, chief Of the
bureau Of ordnance. has already issued
orders for the transportation to New
York OF new Pinch gun which Is
now at the Washington navy yard, and
it will be placed on the Iowa when that
vessel comes to New York for repairs.
Admiral O'Neill said:
The gun which burst was designed
in 1893 and manufactured at the naval
gun factory, January /. 1905. The gun
had been fired 125 times. Yesterdays
accident is the first that has ever hap
pened to any Of the large calibre guns
OF the navy, except in the case OF the
13-inch gU1 On the Kearsage. the lore
Of which was injured by premature
explosion Of q shell two years ago. A
lining tube was inserted in thar gun
and it is in use at the proving grounds
No reason can yet be assigned fo- the
accident. AS yet do not know what
kind of powder was used, or details as
to the location Of the shell. While The
accident may have been due to the pre-
mature explosion Of the shell in the
| bore, such contingency is unlikely, AS
| shells have on several occasions broken
up in bores OF guns without any other
| injury than the defacing OF the bore. So
far as the bureau is advised, all the
| Iowa's Pinch shells are fitted with
base covers, with view to preventing
possible pyematures explosion due to
the action Of the powder gasses."
The bureau Of navigation has sent
kilograms Of sympathy to the families
Of the men killed and wounded in the
explosion. Acting Secretary Darling
sent the following dispatch Of SYM
pathy to Rear Admiral Higginson,
commander OF the North Atlantic fleet,
! at Pensacola:
please convey to the officers and
men of the feet sincere sympathy of
the Department in the loss Of their
comrades by the unfortunate accident
on board the Iowa.
(signed) DARLING"
Although it had been intended that
the Iowa should be repaired at the New
York yard, the damage done by the ex-
plosion will probably make it necessary
to put the vessel out Of commission.
The damage to the battleship Iowa
caused by the premature explosion OF
shell in the forward port Pinch gun
| has developed to be more serious than
was thought when the first eXamina-
tion was made and as consequence
the big ship has been ordered to the
New York navy yard to go out OF COM
mission. She steamed down to the
Pensacola navy yard, where she is fit
ting out with supplies and coal prepa-
ratory to sailing soon as possible for
the North. It is known that three.
decks including the upper deck in the
forward part Of the ship, will have to
be entirely removed and rebuilt. 1t is
feared that the steel supports under the
Pinch port turret are sprung to such
an extent that they will have to be re-
movea. Inougn Lnis cannot yet De stat
ed positively. The gun itself is hope
less wreck Although the gun which
burst went into numerless pieces
the end of the gun Is as smooth as II 1t
| had just been turned out Of ship, and
except that it is about II feet shorter
than the starboard gun, it Is hardly
noticeable that an explosion occurred.
According to the record Of The exploded
gun. it was good for at least another
year of service, and reports that the
gun had been condemned are without
| foundation.