The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-20
The News of Pensacola

Pensacola, Fla, April 1a-As touching q set of resolutions as have ever been read in this city were those adopted by the mass meeting of citizens last night The resolutions follow:
 Whereas. the terrible catastrophe which befei the battleship Missouri while en- gagged in target practice on the Gulf Of Mexico, off the port of Pensacola, on the 18th of April, A. D., 1904 was one of the most dreadful and agonizfng that ever befel a nation in times of peace.
 It grew out of the obedience of the parting injunction of General Washing ton, that in times of peace the country should prepare for war. thus providing a preventive of war as well as prepara- ton for 1t.
 The discipline of the Navy Department properly included perfecting by practice. ability to handle with intelligence and efficiency the great ships and their arma- ments, designed for the national defense.
 The handling, in practice and prepara- tion for warfare of these great ships and their armameuts involves constant danger to the lives of the men so em- ployed; therefore, be. 1t
 Resolved, by the citizens of Pensacola, in mass meeting assembled, That the of- ficers and men who lost their lives in the forenoon of the 18th day of April l9O4 on the battleship Missouri. sacrificed them in their country's service, and are entitled to the same praise and grate- fitness at the hands and in the hearts of their countrymen as if they had laid down their lives in battle.
 And, That Lieutenant w. c. Davidson; Ensign E. A. Weichert; Midshipman w. E. T. Neuman; Lieutenant J. P. V. Grid ley; Ensign Thomas Ward; J. K. Peder- son, boatswain mate: W. Bongard, ordi- nary seaman; J. Blovopoulas, coxswain; Charles Rice, seaman; J. c. Hardy ap- prentice; R. J. Kilvin, seaman; J. Gadris. ordinary seaman; H. Sherbauth. ordinary seaman; F. Hollands, electrician; H. B. Franks, coxswain: J. P. Starr, ordinary seaman; T, c. Mum, seaman; N. Zoder, seaman; c. IF. Meyer, ordinary seaman; P. R. oastler, apprentice; R. H. Allison, ordinary seaman; R. c. Tobin, ordi- nary seaman; J. J. Muiligan, landsman; J. W. Cole, ordinary seaman; A. Smith. gunner's mate; W. s. Shipman, private marines; P. J. Bowen, chief gunner 8 mate; J. D. Kennedy. ordinary seaman; o. B. Moe, apprentice, J. E. Knight, sea- man; J. T. Donnelly. ordinary seaman; J. E. Elliot, second class master-at-arms in dying as they did in the turret and handling room of the battleship Missouri, gave InelT HV0S IO tIlciE COuHttys dhN that they and each of them. in so laying down their lives became abundantly entitled to the garlands of immortal heroes.
 And that the citizens of Pensacola view with admiration and highly commend the presence of mind and the gallant and heroic conduct of officers and men of the battleship Missouri in the fearful and trying moments immediately following the catastrophe. Therefore. be it
 Further resolved, That the citizens of Pensacola. in mass meeting assembled signify their admiration of the heroes whose names are herein inscribed. and desire that, the families of each of them be informed of >this action by the con veyance to them of copies hereof. and that copy be also forwarded to the President of the United States; to the Secretary of the United States Navy; tc the Admiral of the North Atlantic Squad ron. and the commanding officer of the battleship Missouri.