Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-04-22

Below is a Associatec Press dispatch
giving an account of the terrible acci'
lieut..
Pensacola, Fla, April 16-''Every OF
icer and man on the battlsehip Miss souri,
Is Il hero, and that. too, under circum-
stances which would try the bravery OF
| che best men on EARTH" said an officer
II high rank today, who is thoroughly
iamllar with the circumstances ct the
| explosion on the Missouri and the con-
| duct of the officers and men during the
fifteen minutes that the fire ragged on the
| turrets handling room. Inform alton re
| ceived to-day from the Missouri throws
little additional light upon the cause OF
the explosion. All agree that the rapid
iring was the primary cause. The day
brought forth many incidents of hero
ism displayed by officers and men.
Two of the men now in the hospital
will receive recognition from the Navy
department for valiant services. They
are two seamen named McDade and
Welles While many others of the crew
assisted in saving the ship from destrsc-
ton bv explosion of the magazines the
vessel would have undoubtedly gone
to the bottom except for the acts OF
these men.
They were in magazine DDS when the
first explosion occurred, and sparks be-
gan dropping from the turrct to their
magazine. At the time the trough thro'
which powder is passed was open and
about tour charges OF powder were out
side McDade saw the danger. He knew
the powder on the outside would catch,
and unless the opening in the magazine
was closed all the powder i'll the maya
zine would explode. He reached his arm
through the opening and attempted to
untaslcn the catch to close the opening.
out it refused to work. He then placed
his body in the opening till Welles could
Empty large powder can. When this
done the can was pushed into the open
ing, party closing it. The men then filled
all cracks with parts of u swab. thus
preventing any flames from penetrating
the magazine.
On deck men stood steadily at their
posts The strain was not of the kind
when a ship is in battle, but one more
terrible. Every man believed the ship
would go down any moment by the ex-
plosion of the magazines Standing
with the men was the chaplain of the
Missouri, who would occasionally en-
courage the men with STEADY, boys"
Not a man tlinched, although death
stared every one in the face. Down be-
low, in the deadly fumes which made
many unconscious, were Captain Cowles
and many of the officers. One man
who had been showed out of the hand
ling room said while dying in the arms
of the chaplain: Captain Cowels has
saved three men beside me-" The poor
fellow died in five minutes. An officer
said to-day:
IN yer in my life have seen such dis
cipline, courage and heroism displayed
as was shown when the terrible accident
occurred
Naval officers state that the reports
sent out from Pensacola that the Texas
had a narrow escape from a blow back
is mistake. The report that many de-
sertions have occurred is also denied
[ Target practice is going ahead as though
no accident had occurred and the Mis-
souri, will resume its practice as soon as
the court of inquiry is concluded. Adj
miral Caps, chief of the bureau of con
struction and repair, made personal
examination of the Missouri to-day.
With the exception of the wiring and
slight damage to the hoists, the vessel is
uninjured. Midshipman Caleff, who
was assigned to the Missouri only three
weeks ago, made three attempts to rush
into the turret after the explosion in an
attempt to rescue the men who were
burning to>death, but was pulled away
from the entrance. Finally the com
manding officer ordered him below to
other duties. To have entered would
have been almost instant death. The
Missouri will sail for New York not later
than Tuesday. 1t may leave carrier, but
this has not been determined. 1t cannot
leave until the court of inquiry. has fin
ished it's sessions.
This is the fourth serious accident t.
guns of cur battle ships in about.a year
three of them were attended by seriou
loss of life, that of the Missouri exceed
ing all the others combined.