Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18
EXPLOSION ON BATTLESHIP
Premature Discharge Kills Six Men aud
Injuries Three Others,
ACCIDENT OCCURS ON MASSACHUSETTS,
Magnificent Discipline shown by the
Omcers and Men Probably Prevents
Additional Explosions and
More Serious RespIts.

SAN JUAN. P. r.. Jan. l7.-Six men
were killed and three others we're wounded,
two of them probably fatally. by the ex-
ploslon Of a powder charge Of an eight
inch gun on board the United states bat
tleship Massachusetts, yesterday morning.
while at target practice of Culebra island.
Details Of the explosion were obtained
when Massachusetts arrived here today.
The explosion occurred in the starboard
after eight-inch turret shortly before noon
yesterday and was due to the accidental
discharge Of a pecussion primer while the
breach Of the gun was open.
Ensign Mira~cuIOusIy Escapes.
The full charge exploded in the turret
and killed or injured all the crew OF the
gun, numbering nine men. Ensign Ward
X. Workman. who was In charge OF the
turret, escaped injury, though he was stand
ing near the scene Of the explosion.
The dead:
X. J. PLATT, 800 Eighth street. Troy,
n. Y.
s. F. MALINowsKI, S4Ss Ontario avenue,
Chicago.
F. H. LoEssER, 1873 East Eighty sixth
| street. New York.
ANDREW HENDR1KSEN. Norway.
r. RUE, Walnut hills. Cincinnati.
A.. S. TACHE, Miami street, ST. Louis.
The seriously injured:
A. n. Dossett, Durham, N. c,
]. G.. Patterson, % Sohoe street, Pitts
burg.
W. A. schert, 375 Cleveland avenue. Chi.
cago.
Magnificent discipline was shown by the
officers and crew. Captain Lee, commanding
the marine guard Of the vessel, and Ensigr
Clarence Adele Immediately flooded the tur'
ret with water, and Lieutenant Charles f
Hughes and Gunner Kohlwein went below &c
the magazine, picking up powder charges
and preventing further explosions, while
Lieutenant William c.. Cole and Gun Cap
tain Soneman entered the turret and with
drew the charge from the other gun, whose
breech was open.
The survivors of the guns crew when res
cued were burned. mutilated and nearly
dead. One man, whose clothing was on FIRE
jumped overheard.
In less than a minute after the explosion
three streams OF water we're pouring int
the turret, preventing the charge in thu
other eight-inch gun from exploding.
A funeral service for the men killed wa
held this afternoon on board Massachusetts
Chaplain Wright officiating. Afterward
plONNbHlOh wa AOA z bh olO ahh piu
ceeded to the military cemetery OF Port,
Rico, where the interment took place. TIL,
regimental band Of the garrison Of Port
Rico took part in the ceremony.
Admiral Higginson and the officers o
Massachusetts were at the graveside. wher
military hopors were rendered. The injure,
men are lying in the military hospital
They are severely burned, Schert and Dos
sett not being expected to recover.
Admiral HigEinsOn's Report.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Admiral Higgin
son cables from San Juan. p. R., under to
days date, that by an explosion OF powde
in the e.ght-inch turret of the battleshi
Massachusetts, five men were killed and fou
injured. None were commissioned officers
The text Of Admiral Bigginson's cable
gram is as follows:
SAN JUAN. p. r.. Jan. 17.-Secretary O
Navy, Washington: Powder charge eX
Massachusetts. Cause being investigate
Dead-A. Hendricksen. boats mate; F. +
landsman: X. j. Plat. ordinary seaman
Robert Rule. ordinary seaman.
lntured-W. w. Aschert, apprentice; A
nary seaman; A. N. Dossett, ordinary sea