New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-04
BATTLESHIP DISASTER.
Report on the MisSouri-Limit of
Quick Firing Reached.

Washington May By order OF Mr.. Darling.
Acting Secretary OF the Navy. the full findings and
opinion OF the court Of inquiry. which investigated
the accident OF April 13 on board the DattesEiP
Missouri. were made public at the Navy Depart
ment to-day with the announcement that action py
the Department was postponed pending considers
ton Of the findings by Rear Admiral George A
Converse chief OF the Bureau Of Ordnance VINO
will make full report on them The hndins Oh
the court reads:
pected ignition OF the two sections or ths GhAt
OF smokeless powder. then in the gun by what Is
a flame resulting from the ignition in some man
ner not yet known Of residual gases no1r
in use. That the flame from these sections lg-
milton car and that a shower OF burning powder
grains from these -ertions in the turret was
tuGret with the Pinch handling room. ignitng
there eight other sections Of the smokeless powder
magazines and were in that place That said accl-
respect due 70 fault or negligence on the part %
any OF tho officers or members OF the crew OF SAID
The court further hnds that while every officer
and man IN said vessel did mis- wh0Ie GGtyi anu
come to men afoat the following named PEG, ace s
extraordinary herois1n. namely: Acting Gunner r.
p. Cox. II. Monsoon, chief gunner's mate and Z.
lowing are deserving OF especial commentator.
namely: faRta1G rc M eTte5a1t cIeaHd Da1is
lieutenant w. P Scott Lieutenant Ralph EaIle'
A.
OF the United States steamship Seyeland; MID
SnPna6 a r ~ lane cbsr mssbi5ist Fl E Elliott
master at arms second class died fron the effects
rescue): c. Brewster. gun captain, nrst class; C.
Helm. seaman g Burgess Snips so inter I,I nTSs
mate. first class; ]. NJ. McDade. ordinary seaman.
GiI ;ber wbo deserved especIaI con1men dalton
appears clear to the court but the court Is unable
In the opinion Of the court no further proceed
ings are necessary.
Rear Admiral Barker commander in chief OF the
North Atlantic fleet. IN his review OF the findings.
declares that the navy has a smokeless powder
the properties OF which have not been fully under
stood either by those using 1t on board our ships
or by those who make and issue 1t for service"
Admiral Barker continues:
Rapid firing has brought TO light some OF these
but an exhaustive investigation in laboratory and
til the present record target practise was held It
was believed 10 be safe to fire TO leeward though
count of so-caled flare backs back flames"
II has now been demonstrated that II Is dangerous
TO fire rapidly to Ieeward. we'll as to windward
Doubtless improyeme a can s and WIN be made
present. but until then it would seem that the limit
sidered absolutely necessary TO wait for certain
time after firing each shot from guns of large
speed Of loading may perhaPs Be io
creased after once Il IS safe TO begin the operation
the handling room n not t SO great as was stated
pounds, instead of 1900.
Admiral Barker says Of the bravery displayed by
the officers and men Of the Missouri:
The disaster appalling. but II developed
heroes. History records no more heroic act than
that Of Monsoon who crawled through a hole into
the burning magazine to put out the flames.
The conduct of the captain, officers and crew was
superb, showing excellent discipline and marked
personal courage Where so many exceed It is
difficult TO draw the line between cOmmendable
and extraordinary acts OF bravery. hence the COM
mander in chief approves the recommendations of
the court OF inquiry. which was enjoined TO
ton the name OF any one deserving notice for ex-
traordinary heroism.
Admiral Barker calls attention to these points
brought out in the testimony:
First-FIxhaustive Inquiry to the nature of
the gases given off by smokeless powder which
remain IN the gun or cartridge cases, and whether
these gases be prevented.
Second-Whether 1t Is possible to arrange the IN
terror of the turretS so to separate from
another. and both from the handling room, max
ing accidents from exploding shells burning
powder improbable. II not impossible.
Third-Revision OF rules for target practice,
quiring the reports of chief umpres to state
whether or not an allowance OF time was given for
flare backs" and II the exact amount. At
present many OF these reports are not clear.