The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17
DEEDS OF: HEROES
Men on the Missouri
Proved Their Right to
the Title.
(By the Associated Press

Pensacola, Fla, April 16.-"Every off
ccr and man on the Missouri is a hero.
and that too, under circumstances which
would try the bravery OF the best nan
on earth," said an officer Of high rank
here today who is thoroughly familiar
with the circumstances of the explosion
of that vessel and the conduct of the
officers and men during the fifteen min
utes that the fire ragged in the turret and
handling room.
Information received today from tho
Missouri throws but little additional
light upon the cause of the explosion,
all agreeing that the rapid firing was
the primary cause but the day brought
forth many incidents of heroism dis
played by officers and men. Two of the
men now in the hospital will receive rec
ignition from the department for valiant
service.
These two men are Ssamen McDade and
Welles. While many others of the crew
assisted in saving the ship from total
destruction by explosion of the maya
zines, the vessel would undoubtedly have
gone to the bottom but for the act of
these men. They We're in magazine D25
when the first explosion occurred and
sparks began dropping from the turret to
their magazine. At the trough through
which powder g passed was open and
about four charges of powder on the out
side
McDade saw the danger knowing the
powder on the outside would eaten and
unlCss the opening in the magazine was
closed that too would explode e reached
his arm through the opening and at
tempted to unfastcn the catch to close
zoe opening bu it refused to work. He
then placed his body in the opening until
Welles could empty a large powder can
and when this was done the can was
showed into the opening partly closing it,
The men then filled all cracks with swab
thus preventing any flames rom pene-
tTating the magazine.
On deck men stood at their posts like
real heroes. The strain Was not Of the
kind when a snip is in battle but one
much more terrible for every man ex-
peded the ship to go up any moment
by the explosion CT the magazines. Stand
ms by their side was the chaplain OF the
Missouri who could occasionally encour-
age the men saying Steady boys Not
nah fiinchcd although death stared every
one In the face. Down below The deadly
tunes which rendered many unconscious
was Captain Cowles and a number of the
officers. One man who had been showed
out OF the handling room said while dy-
ing IN the arms of the chaplain: ''Caltain
Cowles has saved three men besides me
The poor fellow died however, in five
minutes.
An officer speaking today said ''Never
III my HE have l seen such discipline.
courage and herosm displayed as in the
casecase when that terrible accident oc-
cured There is absolutely no truth in
the reports sent out from PensocaI that
the Texas had narrow escape from
pioWn back. Tho report that MANY do
sGrtaIns have occurred is equally false
Target practice is going ahead as though
no such accident that occurred aid tho
Missouri will resume hcr practice and
soon as the court of INJURY,
| Amlrai Caps, chief Of the Bureau OF
| Construction and repair today made a
| pcnralos.o c,-tcxel 3if
personal examination of tho Missouri
With the exception of tho wiring and
| sight damage to the hosts The yes
sci remains uninjured.
L