The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-04-22
ACTION
SAVED The MISSOURI
Brave Deed of Chief Gunner,
Mate thomson Averted Total
Destruction.
CLOSED THE MAGAZINE
The Damage to the Battleship Is Great.
err Than at First Thouaht-The
Death List Now Reaches
Thirty-two.

Pensacola, Fla, April 16.-That the
newest battleship of the navy, the Mis-
souri,, had a narrow escape from being
blown to pieces by the explosion of Il
magazine and also being beached, came
to light today. Captain William S.
Cowlcs prevented the latter when the
vessel was within $50 yards Of the
beach by giving orders that the ships
course be changed. Chief Gunners'
Mate Monsoon saved the ship and lives
of over 600 men by jumping into the
open magazine and closing the door be-
hind him. 1t is stated, though not by
officers of the Missouri, that when the
officers heard the explosion in the tur-
ret and saw the fire tapping through
the top they realized the hot magazine
would next explode, II headed the
ship for the beach, intending TO beach
her il possible before the explosion.
Captain Cowles quickly stopped the
plan and put the ship back to sea.
When the first explosion occurred in
the turret the men in the handling
room knew in an instant what had oc-
Cured. The big magazine doc was
open, and standing against 1t were four
charges Of powder. Without Il mo-
mcnt's hesitation Gunner's Mate Mon
son showed these aside, and jumping
into the magazine, pulled the door
closed after him. The magazine was
totally flooded with water, and when
the men opened the door they found
Monsoon barely alive, the water hay
ing reached to his neck.
Damage Is Great.
The damage to the battlcship is
much greater than was stated at first.
In addition to the large amount of am
munition ruined by the magazine be-
ing flooded, which will noun to thou
~, rlr .rr lnIla,.c Inc ~ ff,,, n I'I'nt jS
badly injured. the top being burned
away, and all brass work melted in
| side. Tc hoist is q charred mass, and
the mechanism OF the guns is complete
ly ruined. The estimated damage
caused by the explosion is $50, 00o.
The total list of dead now numbers
thirty-two, one mar having expired
last night and two men today. 1t is
hardly probable that other deaths will
occur O. y. Moe. apprentice, second
class, j. +. Knight. ama n j. Il.
Donnelly, ordinary seaman, We're added
to the death list.
The funeral of seventeen of the sea-
men took place this afternoon, and
each ship of the fleet was represented,
fully 5000 men being present, while
thousands from the city We're in at
tendance, every place of business be-
! ing. closed for the afternoon and flags
on all buildings placed at half mast.
Tho bodies of the officers and eight
of the seamen We're sent to their for
mer homes tonight, and the others are
being held to await advices from rcla-
tiveS.
Presidents Message of Sympathy.
The following telegram has been
sent by the secretary of the navy to
the widow of the late Lieut.. w. c. Da-
wilson, u. S. N, and a telegram of
similar character has been sent to the
families of each of the officers and
enlisted men Who lost their lives in
the Missouri explosion:
The president directs me to convey tc
you his sympathy in your bereavement il
the death of your husband while in the
faithful discharge of his duty. Permil
me at the same time to express my owl
sympathy and to assure you thai you
have that of the entire navy.
Baron Won ~Sternburg, the German
ambassador, and Count Cassini, the
Russian ambassador, sent letters tc
President Roosevelt expressing regret
and sympathy.
Because of the necessity of repairing
the electrical apparatus which was de,
stroyed by the explosions. the Missouri
will be ordered to New York for re-
pairs.
Admiral Capps, chief constructor of
the navy, has gone to Pensacola to
make a personal examination OF the
turrets of the Missouri. The construc-
ton bureau, which designs and builds
working OF the problem of designing a
turret that will prevent the commune
cation Of flame from the top Of the tur-
ret where the gun crews stand in
handling room, where the ammunition
converges from the magazine at the
foot of the ammunition hoists. Thus
far no satisfactory solution has been