The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-19

Pensacola, Fla, April 14.-That the
newest battleship of the navy, the
Missouri, had a narrow eScape from
both being blown to pieces by the ex-
plosion OF a magazine and also being
beached. came to light to-day. Cap
tain william S. Cowles prevented the
latter, when the vessel was within $50
yards Of the beach, by giving orders
that the ships course DE changed.
Chief Gunner's Mate Monson saved the
ship and the lives of over 600 men by
jumping into the open magazine and
closing the door behind him.. 1t is
stated, though not by officers of the
Missouri, hat when the officer heard
the explosion in the turret and saw
the fire tapping through the top, they
realized the magazine would next ex-
plode. and they headed the ship for
the beach, intending to beach her If
possible before the explosion. Cap
tain 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 it were
four charges of powder. Without a
moments hesitation, Gunner'S Mate
Monsoon showed these aside, jumped in
to the magazine and closed the door
after him.. The magazine was totally
flooded with water, and when the men
opened the door, they found Monsoon
barely alive, water having reached his
neck.
The damage to the battleship is
much greater than was at first stated.
In addition to the large moun of ann
munition ruined by the. magazine being
hooded, hic will to thous-
ands of dollars, the after turret Is
badly injured, h top being burned
away and all brass work meited IN
side. The hoist is also a charred mass,
and the mechanism of the guns COM
pletely ruined. The estimated dam
age aused by the explosion Will reach
$50, ZOO.
The total list of the dead now num-
bers thirty-two, one man having eX-
pired last night and Two men to-day.
1t is hardly probable that other deaths
will occur. o. b. Moe, apprentice
second class); J.. F. knight, I'M
and J. T. Donnelly, ordinary m
were added to the death list.
The funeral of seventeen Of the sea-
men occurred this afternoon, N each
ship of the fleet was represented, fully
five thousand men being present, while
thousands from the city were In at
tendance, every place of business being
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
former homes tonight, and the others
are being held to await adv1ces from
relatives. Three bodies inferred this
afternoon will be disinterred ana
shipped to their relatives.
The Missouri will not conclude her
target practice, but will go to New
York to be docket as soon as the court
of inquiry makes its findings.
There is one man of the turret miss
ing. 1t is the opinion that he was
either blown overheard or escaped
from the turret and jumped over
board, crazy with pain and the excite
ment that prevailed on the nip The
expert turret officers Of the vessels In
port say the explosion was the result
of a blow back, due to the wind blow
ing the flames back from the muzzle
OF the gun, and through the open
breech, thus igniting the powder
charge being hoisted. Captain Cowles
and Lieutenant Hammer. the ordnance
officer had taken extra precautions
against such an accident, and for
three days no firing with the large
pieces was done On account of III
wind being from off shore Yesterday
morning the wind shifted, and the
officers deemed it a t to
commence firing. Lieutenant Ham
mer sad remained in the tur-
ret until the first string of shots had
been fired in rapid succession He
thought that it was safe to allow the
continuance Of rapid firing and left the
turret to consult with the target .ex-
pert on board on this matter. Only
three Shot of the second strine had
been fired when the explosion oc-
Cured So rapidly was the gun being
fired that it is thought some of the
fire remained in the barrel n that
the powder being hoisted ignited-
officers of the vessel differ in their
opinion as to the aus of the explo-
sion, as there were no survivors among
the turret crew. The board Of inquiry.
which convened yesterday afternoon.
is still in session and will not come 20
q finding for several days.