The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-14
FIve Officers Fl Men Are
Killed ON L. S. s. Missouri

the Illinois off Pensacola a few weeks ago
and has had very little firing with her big
guns; in fact, the nine ten rounds which
had been fired from each big gun were in
the course of official trials, and she is now
going through her first regular target prac-
tice.
DEPARTMENT STUNNED.
The entire Navy Department is stunned
by the appalling catastrophe. The Bureau
of Navigation has been active since the first
news of the accident reached here shortly
after 4 o'clock. Although the commanding
officer of the Missouri, Capt w. S. Cowles,
as soon as he arrived at Pensacola, sent
dispatches TO the nearest of kin of all the
men killed. the department is also sending
out these announcements, so there may be
no mistake.
Capt. John Z. Pillsbury, assistant chief
OF the Bureau of Navigation, remained con-
stantly at his desk and with the other Of
hcers of the bureau and a clerical force.
started arrangements TO care for the bodies
of the officers and men. Secretary Moody
Is preparing dispatch of sympathy to be
sent TO Rear Admiral Barker, commander
in-chief of the North Atlantic fleet, request
ing him TO convey TO the commander, Of
ficers and men of the Missouri the profound
sympathy of the department.
With only brief dispatch from Admiral
Barker telling how the accident occurred,
all the officials of the department from
Secretary Moody down hesitate to attempt
an explanation of it. The fact, however,
that three rounds had been fired and anoth-
er shell had been seated and two sections
of powder rammed home when the explo-
sion occurred, in the opinion of an official
OF the department, would lead to the infer
ence that the accident might have been
caused by some powder from the previous
charges, which remained in the guns when
the fourth charge was put in. 1t can be
stated that officials of the department for
more than week past, while rejoicing
in the world-breaking records in target
practice on our warshaps, have feared just
such an accident has occurred on the
Missouri
A NAVAL EXPERTS VIEW.
naval expert tonight said:, 1.-The Mis-
souri, accident is too appalling to discuss
But L fear that enthusiasm in making
worlds records has led us past the danger
line. In our anxiety to surpass the world
in the rapidity of big gun fire 1 fear we
have permitted our enthusiasm to get the
from the dispatch, that not enough time
had been allowed to elapse between the fir
ing. 1t is only recently that we have per-
mitted the breech to be opened at almost
the moment it was fired and so doing there
is necessarily risk. Apparently all but
three men in the handling room were killed
How narrowly the entire ship escaped de-
struction outright is realized when it is re-
tanning anywhere from fifty to one hundred
charges"
The smokeless powder is put into the
Pinch gun in three sections each bag or
section weighing 12o pounds Some officers
say that the turrets of Missouri had no
bottoms and express the opinion that after
this accident the turrets of all battleships
will be equipped with bottoms for the pro-
lection of the men in the handling room
underneath. The officers of the Missouri
were especially well known in Washington.
Captain Cowles served assistant chief
of the Bureau of Navigation and most of
the officers killed were widely known here
Both Midshipmen Newman and Ward are
understood TO have been engaged to be
married. 1t is said that Midshipman New
mann was to be married to the sister of
MldShlpman Ward. The two midshipmen
were classmates and intimate friends. At
their request they were assigned to the
same ship. telegram received from Mrs
Gridley, mother of Lieutenant Gridley to-
night requested that the remains of her
boy be shipped to Erie, Pa.
Rear Admiral III. c. Taylor, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation, tonight said: 1--WE
have met with a great disaster The death
of these brave officers and men is a calam-
ity to the navy and to the country They
sacrificed their lives in the service of their
country as much as if they had persisted
in battle against their country's enemies
1t is impossible to say anything about the
details until the court of inquiry has ex-
amined the facts and made its report This
inquiry will be of a most searching char
acter, and it is hoped will clearly show the
causes which have led TO this great loss
TO the navy and TO the country The fam
lilies and friends OF the officers and en-
listed men who have thus died i'm the faith
full performance of their duty have the
deepest sympathy of the Bureau Of Navi-
cation, as well as of the whole navy