Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-14
DEATH LIST OF THIRTY
Later Reports Increase the
Horror of the Accident on
the Missouri
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER
Entire Gun Crew Which Was Engaged
In Practice Firing Shot to Pieces by
Explosion-Quick Action Saved Ship
From Destruction-supposed Cause
of Disaster.

Briefly the facts are these: The Mis-
souri, was on the target range with the
Texas and Brooklyn about noon. The
entire crew was at gun stations. Three
/ shots had been fired by the twelve-
inch gun from the after turret. The
gun was being loaded for fourth shot.
Suddenly those outside the turret heard
a dull thud.
1 "A second later another muffled explo-
sion more distant than the first re-
yerberated thru the charge handling
room. Before the echo of the second
explosion had died away the officers
and gun crews in the turret and the
men in the handling room We're dead,
with the exception of one man.
In less than five seconds after the
first explosion every man on the ship
was at his fire station. The most per-
feet discipline prevailed, although it
| was apparent from tbs smoke that
| beiehed from the turret and handling
rooms that a calamity Of appalling pro-
portions had occurred.
/ Captain Cowles' first order was to
/ flood the handling room and magazine
chamber Had not this been done upon
the instant it is believed that I'M the
next few seconds fate similar to that
which overlook the Maine in Havana
harbor would have oyertaken the Mis-
souri,
The report OF the disaster was sent
to the flagship Kearsarge at noon. This
stated that an explosion had taken
place and at first II was stated that but
ten men had been killed, Later a sec
ond message was received by the wi1e-
less telegraph that the number would
| be more than three times the original
/ figures.
| Admiral Barker on the kearsarge DID,
rected that the Missouri be ordered in
| for report and funerals of the dead, and
this was answered shortly. At p. m.
the Missouri arrived in Pensacola bay.
Immediately being sighted the official
| information was spread to all the naval
ships, and flags went to half mast. Mer-
chant vessels in the qlarbor and busi-
ness houses along the water front fol-
lowed the same example.
There have been several reasons adj
vanced for the accident, one as secured
| from the Olympia stating that the
breech of the twelye-inch gun was
opened too soon. An officer OF the
Olympia said that it was strange that
the breech had been opened at all.
THE ship should have been anchored
before the breech was opened the leas,
bit" he said 1T was the height of
1 folly 10 allow that breech to be tam
perd with until that shell had ex-
pioded, even IL 1t took an hour. /
thought better Of the Judgment on the
crack ship
| The Missouri anchored directly or
| the city late lastevening, and men who
came ashore are toe, Frustrated to talk.
| 4 From what they say il would seem
that charge of powder In the twelve.
| inch port gun, ignited by gas, ex-
ploded, 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 was taken out alive.
| Captain Cowles. completely overcome
| by the disaster. referred all newspaper
men to Lieutenant Hammer. the ord
nance officer. The latter gave out a
statement of the explosion and its
probable cause.
Ordnance Officer Explains.
| According to him, about noon the
second pointer had fired the third shot
Of his string. The fourth shot was be-
| ing loaded, and from all indications tne
first half OF the charge had beer,
| rammed home and the second section
was being ramrned home. when gases
from the shot previously fired, or por-
tions of the cloth cover, ignited the
powder. The breech was open and a
4 dull thud gave notice of something un.
usual. No loud report was made, but
| flames We're seen to leap from every
portion of the turret.
A few seconds later another explos-
ion. somewhat more fierce, occurred.
This was in the handling room below
! where 1000 pounds of powder, or four
| charges ready to be hoisted above, had
! ignited. Fire quarters We're sounded
/ and every man Of the ship responded,
land the magazine and handling rooms
were flooded with water.
4 In less than five seconds after the
! first explosion two streams of water
We're being played in the rooms, and
when volunteers We're called for every
man of the ship responded, eager to go
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
Missouri would have gone down. The
second explosion occurred near one of
the magazines.
/ So hot was the fire that the brass
work Of the magazines was melted.
! Smoke and fumes of the burned pow
fder made it almost impossible to enter
either the turret or handling room,
/ but officers and men with handkey-
chiefs over their faces made efforts
to rescue the men inside.
Captain Cowles Leads Rescue.
Leading the rescuing party was
| Captain Cowles The officers en-
deavored to keep him from going be-
| low, as men fell unconscious as they
entered, and had to be pulled out by
their comrades. but needing not their
ladvice, the commanding officer rushed
below. followed by Lieutenant Ham
mer, the ordinance officer, and Lieu
| tenant Cleland David.
| Captain Cowles caught up a dying
blue jacket in his arms and staggered
to the deck with him. The blue jack
ct. with two others from the handling
| room, had crawled partly from his place
of duty when overcome,
Dead Found in Heap.
Before the fumes Of the burning