The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-04-22
THIRTY LIVES sNUFFED OUT IN
POWDER EXPLOSION ON
THE MISSOURI.
FURTHER CALAMITY
NARROWLY AVERTED
Presence of Mind OF Capt. Cowles
Alone Saves Entire Ship and Crew
from Observation-Disclosures oc-
ours Near Pensacola, Fla.

CSA VI uCdu do on, VI WHO'LL i've WClC
ships officers. Allbut one man of the
aft turret, where the firing was in
progress, persisted.
List Of the Dead.
Lieutenants, w. G. Davidson, J. v. p.
Gridley, e. A. Weikert; midshipmen, w.
boatswain's mate, j. K. Peterson; sea-
men, w. j. Bogard, o. N. Souder and E.
R. H. Alison; ordinary seamen, c.. Rice,
G. J. Killen, j. Gedris, j. f. Kennedy,
H. P. Starr, ]. c. Num-, G. H. M. Franks
and j. T. j. Donneily; landsmen,
H. S. Cherbarths, B.. J. Milligan and j.
M. Roach; electrician, T. F. Rowlands;
gunner's mate (second class, A. Smith;
chief gun captain, T. e. Braun; ma
rine private, w. l.. Shipman; appren-
tees (second class, ]. G. Hardy and F.
R. CASTER.
o. B. Moe, a second class apprentice,
was wounded.
Cause of Disaster.
According to Lieut.. Hammers state
ment, the Missouri had fired three
shots with a precision which spoke
well for her equipment and the accuracy
of her gunners, and the fourth shot was
being loaded in the 12-inch left-hand
gun in the aft turret. The first section
of the charge had been placed and the
second was being rammed home when
the gases from the previous shot ig-
nited the powder. There was a dull de-
donation and the entire turret was in
stantly enveloped in flames. A few sec
onds later a louder report from the hand
ling-room indicated that the ignited
charge had dropped below, where, cole
ing in contact with four charges of pow
der, all exploded. The four charges had
been conveyed to the handling-room,
ready to be hoisted above. 1t is esti-
mated that they aggregated 1000
pounds.
Expert turret officers of the vessels in
port say that the explosion was the re-
suit of a blow-back, known as the wind
blowing the flames back from the muzzle
Of the gun, and through the open breech,
thus igniting the powder charge being
hoisted.
Further Calamity Averted.
The danger of a spreading c%ontiagra-
ton was imminent. If the flames had
swept to the powder magazine the Mis-
souri, would undoubtedly have been de-
molished and the loss of life would have
nearly equaled that or board the fated
Petropavlovsk at Port Arthur. Such a
calamity was averted by the prompt ac-
ton and presence of mind of Capt.
Cowles. Five quarters were instantly
sounded and the magazines and hand
ling-rooms Of the battleship were flooded
with water. Before the Glaze was ex-
tinguished Capt. Cowles led a rescuing
party to the aft turret, where it was
found that-one mar alone out of 35 sur
vived. Cap. Cowles snatched up the
wounded bluejacket and bore him to the
deck.
Seamen Are Buried.
Impressive ceremonies were conduct
ed over the graves of the seamen Thurs
day afternoon at the national cemetery
at the navy yard. The Missouri moved
down the harbor in the morning to a
point near the yard and at noon the 26
bodies were brought ashore. At two
o'clock the funeral procession moved to
the cemetery where hundreds of officers
and blue-jackets were present and the
remains were inferred. The bodies of
the five dead officers are being held
here awaiting advices as to the burial or
shipment home.
Last to Receive Commission.
The Missouri is the very latest of
the big battleships to go in commits
sion. The flag was hoisted on her in
December last, at Norfolk, by Capt.
Cowles, brother-in-law OF President
Roosevelt. She collided with the Illi-
nois off Pensacola a few weeks ago
and has had very little firing with her
big guns. In fact. the nine or ten
rounds which had been fired from each
big gun vas in the course Of official
trials and she is now going through her
first regular target practice.
President Makes a Contribution.
Washington, April 15.-The president
secretary of the navy a like sum, as the
nucleus OF a fund for the relief of the
dependent next Of kin OF the enlisted
men who lost their lives in the disas-
ter o n@Ihe Missouri.
The president accompanied his check
for s10o with the following letter to Sec
rotary Moody:
my Dear Secretary-May / send
through you this contribution, to be
used for the dependent kinsfolk of the
enlisted men who have just been killed
on board the Missouri? Under the con-
ditions of modern warfare, in order eff
fciently to prepare for war, risk must be
run, similar in kind though not III de-
gree, to the risk run In battle, and these
men have died for their country as much
as il the ship had been in action against
the enemy.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"