Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-16
THE WORK OF RELIEF
Suggested That Its Scope
Be Extended.
DISTRIBUTING FUND
TO GIVE AID TO SUFFERERS FROM
OTHER DISASTERS.
DISTRIBUTING FUND
Families of Men Killed on the Massa-
chusetts and the Iowa-Burial
at Arlington.

The suggestion has been made and will
probably be adopted by those in charge OF
the matter that the fund now being raised
for the benefit of the families of the VIC
tins of the Missouri be utilized also for
the relief of the families of the men who
lost their lives under similar circumstances
on the battle ships Massachusetts and Iowa
Nine men were killed in the case Of the
powder explosion on the Iowa, and five men
lost their lives by the accident to the gun
on the Massachusetts. These disasters all
occurred within the past year. A fund of
the kind being raised for the men of
the Missouri was raised for the benefit of
the families of the men killed in the Maine
disaster.
Relief Fund Subscriptions.
Paymaster General Harris of the navy
has received the following additional sub
sCriptions to the fund for the relief Of the
families of the sailors who lost their lives
by the accident the battle ship Missouri:
r. B. Roosevelt of New York, 500; Miss
Alice Roosevelt, $40; Capt. w. H. Brown
son, $50, J. B. Kendall, Washington: D. C.,
$50; Keuffel Esser Co., New York, $50; Col.
VIM. Lamb, $50; Gen. VIM. Crozier, $40;
Thomas Perry, $40; P. j. Horwitz. $40; Clar-
ence Robinson. IS: Mrs A. II. Richards, II;
Mrs: Livingston Hunt. $40; Mr.: NJ A.
Calderon, the Peruvian minister, $50; Com
mander F. A. Miller, $25; Gen. I. III. Bliss,
so; Gen. w. B. Rochester, $25; James L.
Williams, jr., $5;/Caroline c. kirkland, 50;
Mrs John Kean, $50, and Miss Susan l..
Kean, $25
To Be Buried at Arlington.
Orders have been sent to Pensacola by
the Navy Department for the shipment to
this city of the remains of Ralph H. Alli-
son, seaman, one of the victims Of the dis
aster. This is done in accordance with the
request of relatives of the dead sailor that
he be buried in the national cemetery at
Arlington.
A Searching Investigation.
Searching investigation will be made by
the court of, inquiry on the Missouri acci-
dent, regarding the statement that four
charges of ammunition were in the ham
ding room of the after turret of the Mis-
souri, ready to be hoisted to the turret at
the time the explosion occurred. This fact
has been reported In the newspaper dis
patches from Pensacola and seems to be
borne out by the statement of number
of officers that it has been thought neces-
sary in order to fire as rapidly as our
ships have been firing to keep several
charges in the turret room, even though
it is not in accord with the regulations,
that no time may be lost in bringing the
charges from the magazine. No action
VIII De taken at lHc uSpdI uItii d
full report of the accident and the findings
of the court have been received
Notwithstanding the mystery which still
surrounds the cause of the Missouri acci-
dent the announcement Is made at the
Navy Department that there will be no
suspension of target practice at Pensacola
and that the other ships which have not
yet fired will go on the range at the regu-
lar time.
The Navy Department is considering the
appointment of board of distinguished
naval officers to take up the whole ques-
ton of target practice in the navy. and re-
mort to the Secretary whether the present
system of target practice, should be modi-
fed. The name of Admiral Dewey has been
mentioned as president OF the board, but
this has not been settled.
A telegram received at the Navy De-
partment announces the appointment Of
Lieut.. NJ L. Bristol as judge advocate of
the court of inquiry. Lieut.. Bristol Is one
of the ordnance experts of the navy.
Proud of Heroism Displayed.
The following telegram has been trans
mitted to the President through the Secre-
tary Of the Navy from Rear Admiral Bar
ker in reply to the Presidents expression of
sympathy:
1.-The officers and men under my COM
mand desire to thank the President through
the commander-in-chief of the fleet and
the Secretary of the Navy for his kind
message of sympathy in this time of sor-
row They are proud OF the HeTOlSm Q1S-
nlayed by the captain, officers and crew of
the Missouri IN extinguishing the flames
near the magazine of that vessel immedi-
ateIy after the explosion, thus avoiding
more terrible disaster.
(Signed) BARN Eli
Claims for Pensions.
Upon suggestion received this morning
Secretary Moody has acted promptly in the
matter of assisting those injured In the ex-
n,osion on the Missouri and the dependent
next of kin of those killed. who are pen
sjonable, to collect the information neces-
sary to present their claims to the pension
bureau Chief Engineer Thorn William
son. u s. N, retired, has been designated
to communicate with those who are appar-
entity pensionable. and to assist them with
advice and information. without expense 10
themselves. In the preparation Of their
claims for pensions.
Chief Engineer Williamson has charge Of
the pension work of the Navy Mutual Aid
Association, and is able to take up the duty
which he has undertaken in connection
with that work, and to place the facilities
of his bureau at the disposition OF the de-
pendents of the men killed He will COM
municate with the parties Interested, ana
aid them in preparing their cases, and an
effort will be made to secure final action on
| the claims at the earliest possible date.
Communications on the SUBJECT Snoulu DC
| addressed to Chief Engineer Thorn William
| son. u s. N, retired, Navy Department,
Washington, ID. &.
Condition Of the Missouri.
Rear Admiral Taylor, chief of the bureau
| OF navigation, today received telegram
| from Chief Naval Constructor Capps, who
| was recently ordered to Pensacola to In
| spect and report upon the condition of the
| battle ship Missouri as affected by her re-
cent collision with the battle ship Illinois and
| also by the more recent disastrous powder
explosion in her aft gun turret Rear Ad-
miral Capps states that the hull Of the ship
was not injured by either accident and that
| the vessel is in good condition outside OF
| the local damage to the electrical apparatus
| In the aft turret. which naturally interferes
with the proper operation of the guns in
that turret. Although he does not say so,
| it Is assumed by the officers at the depart
| ment that the Insulation of all the wires
| In the turret was destroyed by the intense
| heat Of the explosion.
| At the conclusion of the investigation
] now in progress at Pensacola the Missouri