New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-15
MISSOURI'S GREAT PERIL.
VAS NEARLY ON BEACH.
Co5cles SaUed Her from Grounding
Gunner Closed Uagazine.

Pensacola, Fla. April 14-That the battleshio
Missouri had a narrow escape from being blown
to pieces by the explosion of a magazine and
also being beaChed came to light to-day. Cap
tain William 5. COwles prevented the latter
when the vessel was within 30 yards OF the
beach BY giving orders that the course be
changed. Chief Gunner's Mate MOnson saved
the ship and the lives Of more than six hun
dred men by jumping into the open magazins
and closing the door behind him 1t is said al
though not by officers of the Missouri that
when the officers heard the explosion in the tur-
ret and the fire leaping through the top
they realized that the hot magazine would soon
explode and headed the ship for the beach. IN
tending to run her ashore. if possible before the
explosion Captain COwles quickly stopped this
and put the ship back to sea.
When the first explosion occurred in the tur-
ret the men in the handling room knew in an
instant what had occurred. The big magazine
door was open and four charges Of powder were
standing against it. without a moments hesi-
tatiOn Monson showed these aside. jumped into
the magazine and closed the door after him.
The magazine flooded with water. and when
the men opened the door they found Monson
barely alive, the water being up 70 his neck
The damage to the battIeship IS m1ch greater
than was reported az first. In addition ths
large amount of ammunition ruined By the
I
I thousands Of dollars. the after turret is badly
injured, the top being burned away and all the
brasswOrk inside melted. The hoist is a charred
mass and the mechanism of the guns is ruined.
The damage caused by the explosion is esti-
mated at $4,000
THIRTY-TWO MEN DEAD
The lse Of dead now numbers thirty-two. ons
man having expired last night and two men to-
day It not probably that more deaths viii
OCCUR .. 3. Hoe. apprentice, second class. ].
F. Knight. seaman. and J. T. DOnneIIy ordinary
seamen, were added to the death list.
The funerals of seventeen Of the searsen were
held this afternoon. and every ship Of the feet
was represented, fully five thousand men being
present while thousands from the city were in
attendance. Every place OF business was closed
for the afternoon. and flags over all buildings
We're at halfmast-
The bodies Of the officers and eight Of the sea-
men were shipped To their former homes to-
night. and the others are being held to await
advices from relatives Three o. the bodies bur-
led this afternoon viii be eNhuled anC shipped
70 relatives The Missouri viii not finish her
target practice, but VIII go TO New-YOrk TO
be docked as soon as the court Of inquiry makes
its findings.
Expert turret officers on the vessels in port
say the explosion was the result Of "biOw@
back caused by the wind blowing the flames
back from tile ruzzie of the gun and through
the open breeck, thus igniting the charge being
lOiSted. Captain COWles ard Lieutenant Ham,
u.er. the ordnance officer. had taken extra pre-
cautions against such an accident. and for three
days no firing with the large pieces was done.
account OF the wind being OffshOre. Yes
teTday morning the wind shifted and the Of
fcers considered il safe To begin firing. Lieu
tenant Hammer had remained in the turret until
the first string OF shots had been fred in rapid
succession. He thought il sale 90 allow the con-
tnuatiOn of rapid firing, and left the turreJ 20
consult the target expert on this matter Only
three shots Ot the second string had been fired
when the explosion occurred. So rapidly was the
sun being fired that 10 is thought some of the
fire remained ia the barrel and the powder
which was being hoisted ignited. Officers Of the
vessel differ in their opinion TO the cause OF
the explosion. but 10 is probable that the exact
cause will never be known. as there were
survivors among the turret crew The board OF
inquiry, which was convened yesterday after
noon. IS still in session. and viii not announce
its findings for several days.