Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-19
MISSOURPS HULL UNlNJURED.
Admiral Caps Reports on Condition
After Explosion.

Washington, April 1S.-Rear Admiral
Taylor. chief of the bureau of naviga-
ton, Saturday, received telegram
from Chief Naval Constructor Caps
who recently was ordered to Pensa cola
to inspect and report upon the condition
OF the battleship Missouri as affected
by her recent collision with the Illinois
and also by the more recent disastrous
powder explosion in her aft turrets.
Rear Admiral Caps 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 dam
age to the electrical apparatus in the
aft turret, which naturally interferes
with the proper operation of the guns
in that turret.
AS explained by one of the senior
naval constructors in Washington what
is desired is some means of automati-
cally opening and closing the large hole
in the floor of the turret through which
the ammunition is lifted by the hoists
up the we'll from the bottom of the ship
to the breech of the guns. There are
two of these hoists. and consequently
two openings about three or four feet
across. The ammunition hoist is much
like the old family dumb waiter in
three stories, the top for the shot and
the lower two holding the four bags of
powder. This is drawn up to the top
of the turret by a wire rope, making as
in the recent target practice of the
Wisconsin and Alabama. two trips each
minute from the bottom of the ship to
the TOP. The problem is to provide an
automatic trapdoor for each of the two
openings that will have the speed need
ed and yet not explode the powder.
Among navy officers. while opinions
as to the cause and charac ter of the ac-
cident were various. no one was willing
to speak for publication. A prominent
naval officer, in speaking of the affair
said:
1T is hardly necessary to say that it is
too soon to deal in differences in regard to
this matter. There is one preponderating
probability in the incident. and that is
back IRE. The facts in regard to firing
= ' tm n ret are easily told. After three or
| four rounds the air in the turret becomes
heated and rarifed. The fans do little
to relieve the conditions for the men.
often. The temperature of the air is not
perceptibly reduced by the fans Now
| when the breech is opened even seconds
after a shot there is a rush of the colder
and denser outside air through the bore
of the gun, There are always little pieces
of burning lint from the powder bags in
the gun. The air fans these into sparks
and The gas in the gun ignites. and there
| is \ hurst of fame back into the turret.
| 7 believe inquiry will demonstrate that
This is precisely what fa happep ,Sls in n
for or another acci n faT as 'h's Is con-
"But there are some ugly features Of
tho = mir that will hardly be explained in
wav to remove all responsibility from
the officers in shat t'1rs There a we're a, too
| nountc there were 26 men and officers
there here, The complement for a gun is six
men and possibly there should have been
in addition to the l. men six or seven Off
either acting IN command or as nm
anno rent,y for taking charge OF pow
der nm the hoist into the turret too soon:
There was too little precaution about