Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-09-17
CABINET MEETS SAILORS KILLED
BARREL OF ALCOHOL ABOARD
CRUISER EXPLODES.
One Sailor Roasted to Death and
Another Dies Later of injuries
Barrel OF Struggled Alcohol In
directly Responsible for the Ac.
cident.

Norfolk, Va, Sept. 1.-THE explo'
sion of barrel of alcohol on the super
structure of the deck Of the cruiser
OLYMPIA, in drydock at the Norfolk ma
w ward, last night, killed two men, se-
verely injured others and set fire to the
ship.
The damage by fire was confined to
the deck of the vessel and embraced
only the canvas awnings and their fix
lures. The decks were slightly in jured.
Norfolk Va, Sept. 14.-Lieutenant
Commander Van porser, executive Off
Ger of the cruiser Olympia, has given
out an official statement Of the facts at
tending the explosion of a barrel of al
coho on the cruisers deck, causing the
death of Marine Corporal Ielkes, of
Philadelphia, the fatal injury of Ap.
prentice Seifert ana the seriuos injury
of third class Master-at.A Arms Caster
and Apprentice Shavey, in addition to
the burning of TIE cruisers forward
awnings and awning supports. The ex-
plosion resulted indirectly from the
smuggling of alcohol into the navy yard
by members of the cruisers crew.
Van DOser's Statement.
The statement of Lieutenant Com
mander Dorser says:
"The entire crew of the Olympia was
returning aboard after As hours shore
duty when iive-gallon water breaker
full of alcohol was discovered in the
forward turret. The executive officer
at once ordered thorough search OF
the ship and the yard in her vicinity to
find any other spirits that might have
been struggled. AS the cruiser is in
drydock all her small boats are lined
in rows along the wharf near Ithe dry
dock. Between two OF these boats two
men were discovered. One of them es-
capped in the darkness. The other was
placed under arrest. Where the men
were hidden was found tull barrel of
alcohol which had been broachsd 1t
was by order carried aboard the Olym-
pia to be emptied into the alcohol tank
on the aft deck. The tank being full
the barrel was carried forward by Yer
kes, Sefert, Shavey and Caster. In
the meantime the crew was called to
quarters and every man accounted for.
"While the men were in line an
swering the roll, the detachment with
the barrel began pouring its contents
into at ank on the port side OF the for
ward turret. They had scarcely began
work when, in manner yet to be as
certained, the fumes became ignited
and exploded with terrific force. Both
end. of the barrel were blown out, fol-
lowed by torrent of burning alcohol
that spread in flood of flame over the
forward deck. Yerkes was struck in
the head by stave from the barrel and
fell into the burning mass. He was
roasled to death The other three men
were also struck by flying fragments OF
the barrel, but were knocked away from
the center OF the fire snd thus t~o OF
them escaped fatal injury, but Seifert.
was horribly burned and SO injured that
he cannot recover.
1T was At first thoght that tank OF
smokeless powder had explo led and the
crew for moment broke ranks. but in
second recoveed and turned to save
the injured and extinguish the fife.
The injured men were hurried to the
mraine hospital, where. Seifet later
died. The other two will recover