Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-23
Captain Cowles Of the Missouri
Makes Report on the Disaster
On the Battleship.
OFFICERS AND MEN WERE HEROES
They DsrcJarded all Danger ia Work
Of Saving the Ship and Rescuing
The mperilcd.

Washington, April 22,-Capt. W, s.
CoWes commander Of the battleship
Missouri in his report on the disaster
which occurred on his ship. made pub
lie at the navy department today. tells
Of the deeds OF personal bravery and OF
the acts OF herosm which characterized
the conduct OF officers and men, and OF
total disregard Of danger displayed In
the work Of saving the ship and rescu-
ing the imperled. Capt, Cowles says:
AT II o'clock a. M, April IL, off PEN
sacola, Fla, while at record practise on
range No, 3. and af;er the fifth shot.
from the left gun after turret, had
fired | heard an explosion, looked AFT
and saw great flame bursting from
the after turret. Sounding fire and col
lision quarters directed Lieut. Com
mander +. H. Hill to take her into shoal
water. lie afterward anchored her in
five and one half fathOms.
"The other ships Oh the range follow
ed us aud offered every assistance, ana
were ready 10 save lives, as they PROB.
ably expected US to blow up. | believed
the ship to be In imminent danger and
went quickly to the fire, found the tur-
ret impossible 10 enter; streams Of wa
ter were already directed on II.
"All entrances were barred with the
dead and dying, Two on top OF turret,
one calling for help and every one try
ing to reach him.
Passing around the turret, saw
Father Gleason, who offered TO send
wireless telegram for me TO the admi-
raj, and | went below, reached the
berth and splinter deck and found
Lieut., Commander J. NJ. orchard d.
recting streams OF water below into the
upper. and thence overlooking into the
lower handling room, In addition TO
those directed below from the turret by
Lieut.. W. +. White Met Gunner Cox.
who said Magazines all flooded; fire
not under control
Then Lieut.. G. Davis, coming up the
ladder, said There Is a man at the foot
OF this ladder who is alive and helpless
| went down and felt about, found ]. 7,
j. Donnelly ordinary seaman and
brought him up, being assisted by Chief
Machinlst G.. Crofter a man on the sick
H0A VIM hNdf q NluNAhs
Mr.. Davis mentions this man especially.
] afterward returned and pulled out
three more whom | could not recognize
and finally ordered up Mldshipman A.
q. Cafe, who heroically persisted in
remaining In the lower handling room
up TO his neck in water and much over
come by the fumes.
He had to be led out. Afterward he
resumed his place on deck and assisted
the navigator, In very poor condition
Chief Machinist Crofter came under my
immediate observation.
Lieut.. William ?. Scott was the first
In the turret, followed by Lieut.. r..
Earl, Lieut.. Marshall and Paymaster
Dyer remaining on to help get out
wounded who came from the turret.
Lleuts. Crank and Castleman gave us
water from below at once. Chief Engi-
neer Bleg was at the engines and Lieut..
Castleman In the fire room. All the mid
shipmen were busy. Everyone was
somewhat affected by the fumes, Lieut..
Commander Orchard and Lieut.. Davis,
especially
"Mr Cox was up and down every
where, looking out for possible flames
where smoke still continued after the
fire was under control, as the fire to be
under control al such point must be
out. Father Gleason was everywhere,
assisting everyone, Ensign Hammer,
spotter and volunteer, hard at work.
DR.. Uric and his corps all looking after
the wounded and dying.
Lieut.. Uric fell down the hold
and hurt himself and no one was wiser
until the lire was over. Midshipnen
Bagley and Ridges We're all busy AZ
their posts. Everyone sofTicers and men,
was cool and collected and everyone
helped inteligenty."
II Is shown by the report that Master
al Arms Elliott died while going to the
rescue of others, and that Ship Filter
Burgess and Electrician Leary were in
jured while doing rescue work.