The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-15
GUNNER hONSON A HERO.
SAVED THE MISSOURI
AND LIVES OF OVER 600
Jumped Into the Magazine, Closed
the Door and Prevented an
Explosion.
ROOM THEN FLOODED
Brave Man Barely Alive When
Taken Out After All Danger
Had Passed.
COWLES ALSO A HERO
Captain OF Battleship Cool Enough
to Save the Vessel from Be
ing Beached.
)OM THEN FLOODED
COWLES ALSO a HERO

PENSACOLA, Fla, April 14.-That the
newest battleship OF the navy. the Mis-
souri,, had narrow escape from both be-
ing blown to pieces by the explosion OF
magazine and also being beached. came TO
light to-day. Captain William s. Cowles
prevented the latter when the vessel was
within ESQ yards of the beach by giving
orders that the ships course be changed
Chief Gunner's Mate Monson saved the
ship and the lives of over 600 men by jump
ing into the open magazine and closing the
door behind him.
1t is stated. though not by officers of the
Missouri, that when the officers heard the
explosion in the turret and saw the fire
tapping through the top. they realized the
hot magazine would next explode. and
headed the ship for the beach. intending
TO beach her If possible before the explo-
sion. Captain Cowles quickly stopped the
plan and put the ship back to sea.
When the first explosion occurred in the
turret the men in the handling room knew
In an instant what had occurred. The big
magazine door was open and standing
against IL were four charges of powder.
Without a moments hesitation Gunner's
Mate Monson showed these aside and
jumped into the magazine. pulling the door
closed after him. The magazine was
flooded with water and when the men
opened the door they found Monson barely
alive. water having reached his neck.
The damage to the battleship is much
greater than was at first stated. In addi-
tion to the large amount of ammunition
ruined by the magazine being flooded. which
will amount 10 thousands of dollars. the
turret is also badly damaged, the top being
burned and warped and all brass work
melted inside. The hoist is a charred mass
and the mechanism of the guns completely
ruined The estimated damage caused by
the explosion is $4,000.
The total list of dead now numbers thirty
two. one man having expired last night and
two men to-day. 1t is hardly probable that
other deaths will occur. o. B. Moe, ap-
prentice. second class. j. f. Knight. sea-
man. and j. t. Donnelly. ordinary seaman.
are added to the death list.
The funeral of seventeen of the seamen
occurred this afternoon and each ship of
the feet w<s represented. fully 5000 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 placed at half-mast.
The bodies of the officers and eight of the
seamen were shipped to their homes to-
night and the others are being held TO
await advices from relatives. Three of the
bodies Inferred this afternoon will be dis
inferred and shipped to their relatives.
The Missouri will not conclude her target
practice, but will go to New York to be
docked as soon as the court of inquiry
makes its findings.
Expert turret officers of the vessels in
"a explosion
suit of a bIow-back, known the wind
blowing the flames back from the muzzle
of the gun and through the open breech,
thus igniting the powder charge being
hosted Captain Cowles and Lieutenant
Hammer the ordnance officer, had taken
extra precautions against such an accident,
realizing that such could occur, and for
three days no firing with the large pieces
was done account or the wind being
from of shore. Finally yesterday morning
II shifted and il was deemed safe TO COM
mence the firing Lieutenant Hammer had
remained in the turret watching the fir
ing until the first string of shots had been
fired i'm rapid succession. He thought from
his observations that IL was safe to allow
the continuation at rapid firing and left
the turret To consult with the target ex-
shots of the second string had been fired
when the explosion occurred So rapid was
the gun being fired that IL is thought some
of the fire remained in the barrel and that
when the powder was hoisted Ii ignited. Of
ffcers OF the vessel differ in their opinion
as to the cause of the explosion but ii Is
probable the exact cause Will never be
known. as there were no survivors among
the turret crew.