The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-16

when a charge Of powder in the IL
inch left-hand gun ignited from gases
exploded. and dropping below. ignited
four charges OF powder in the hand
ling room and all exploded. Only one
man of the entire turret and handling
crew survives. But for the prompt
and efficient work of Captain Cowles
in flooding the handling room and the
magazine with water. one OF the maya
zines would have exploded and the
ship would have been destroyed.
Captain Cowles. completely over
come by the disaster, referred all
newspaper men to Lieutenant Ham
mer the ordnance officer The latter
gave out statement Of the explosion
and It's probable cause. According TO
him. after the first pointer OF the after
Pinch piece had fired his string, and
the second pointer had fired the third
shot OF his string. the charge ignited.
The fourth shot was being loaded. and
from all indications the first half of
the charge had been rammed home.
and the second section was being
rammed home. when gases from the
shot previously fired. or portions OF
the cloth cover. ignited the powder
The breech was open. and a dull thud
gave notice of something unusual. No
loud report was made but flames
were seen TO leap from every portion
of the turret. A few seconds later an
other explosion somewhat more fierce
occurred. This was in the handling
room below. where 1900 pounds Of
powder. or four charges ready TO be
hoisted above, had ignited. Fire quar-
ters were sounded. and every man OF
the ship responded. and the magazine
and handling rooms were flooded with
water.
In less than FIVE seconds after the
first explosion two streams OF water
were being played in the rooms, and
when volunteers were called for, every
man Of the ship responded. eager 10 60
into the turrets and rescue the crew
Captain Cowles gave his commands.
and but for his presence of mind and
that of the officers OF the ship the Mis-
souri, would have gone down. The sec
ond explosion occurred near one Of the
magazines. and so hot was the fire that
the brass work of the magazines was
melted. Smoke and the fumes Of the
burned powder made Il almost impOs-
sible to enter either the turret or the
handling room. but officers and men.
with handkerchiefs over their faces.
made efforts TO rescue the men inside.
Leading the rescuing party was Cap
tain COwles. The officers endeavored
TO keep him from going below. as men
fell unconscious as they entered and
had to be pulled out by their com
rades. but. unheedlng their advice. the
commanding officer rushed below fol.
lowed by Lieutenant Hammer. the ord
nance officer. and Lieutenant Clelland
Davis
Captain Cowles caught up a dying
blueiacket in his arms and staggered
to the deck with him. The bluejacket
with two others 'from the handling
room. had crawled partly from their
place of duty when they had been
overcome. Before the fumes Of the
burning powder had left the turret
officers and men were lifting out the
dying and dead men. Three minutes
after the explosion all we're on deck.
and the surgeons from the Missouri.
Texas and Brooklyn were attending TO
those not dead.
The 25 men of the turret were found
lying in a heap They had started for
the exit when the first explosion had
occurred and had just reached there
wnen the more terrible explosion IN
the handling room occurred, which
burned and strangled them to death
Lieutenant Davidson. the officer in
charge Of the turret, evidently had
given some command to the men, as
he was on top of the heap of men, hav-
ing fallen there after he had allowed
them to pass him to get out of the
turret The bodies were hardly recog
nizazle, the terrible and quick fire
having burnt the clothing from the
bodies of the men. and the flesh hung
from them in shreds. The faces were
mutilated by the smoke and flames
only Only one man was breathing
when the turret crew was rescued.