davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
HOW THE DISASTROUS EXPLOSION ON
THE BATTLESH|P MISSOURI OCCURRED

PENSACOLA, Fla, April l4.-Later ac-
counts of the explosion ON the battleship
Missouri, by which 20 men lost their lives
and five others were injured, are to the
effect that charge Of 400 pounds Of
powder was being loaded into the Pinch
left hand gun and that il became ignited
while the breech was open, probably
through burning powder or shreds Of the
cartridge cover, left over from the pre-
cedng discharge
Part of the exploding charge fell into
the handling room below, where 1000
pounds of powder was being hoisted, this
all being ignited, with loud detonaton.
II was this second explosion that did most
of the damage, the force being upward
into the turret.
When the flames burst from the turret,
followed by the dull thld OF the first ex-
plosion 25 officers and men were in the
place and not one Of them escaped alive.
The others killed and injured were in
the hoisting room.
Immediately after the explosion, Com
u =
rushed down into the hoisting room and
himself carried out dying bluejacket,
Streams of water were turned upon the
part of the ship where the explosion oc.
CURED, and the nearby magazine was food
ed, thereby preventing its explosion and
the loss Of the ship.
Within three minutes after the disaster
occurred every one of the bodies lay upon
the deck and the injured were being at.
tended to by the surgeons of the Missouri
Texas and other nearby ships
The flames had burned the men in the
turret almost beyond recognition Their
clothing was almost completely destroyed
The complete list of the victims is as
follows
LIEUTENANT w. c. DAVIDSON.
LIEUTENANT II. A. WEICIIERT
(iunor gradel
LIEUTENANT or MARINES J. ". r.
GRlDLEY.
MIDSHIPMAN w. T.. L. NEI1MANN.
MlDSHIPAdAN THOMAS WARD. t.
B0ATSWAIN'S MATE, (iirst class)
e. X. PETERSON.
SEAMAN w. J. BOGARD.
SEAMAN 0. N. SONDER,
SEAMAN f. r. II. ALLISON.
ORDINARY SEAMAN G. RICE.
ORDINARY SEAMAN @. j. KITI4EN.
ORDINARY SEAMAN J. GEDRTs.
ORDINARY SEAMAN j. Il. KEN
NEDY.
ORDINARY SEAMAN'J. p. STARR.
ORDINARY SEAMAN j. G. NUNN.
ORDINARY SEAMAN G. II. M.
FRANKS.
ORDINARY SEAMAN, G. II. MEYER.
ORDINARY SEAMAN r. {. TOBIN.
ORDINARY SEAMAN j. w COLE.
COXWAIN J. BLOXOPOLUS.
LANDSMAN II. CHERBARTHS.
LANDSMAN b. J. MULLfGAN.
LANDSMAN j. NJ ROACH.
ELECTRICIAN (second class, I. f..
ROWLANDS.
GUNNER'S MATE (second class, "A.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

Senator Foster which was received at the
Chamber of Commerce this morning;
81 have canvassed congress and the war
department regarding an appropriation to
dredge the mouth of the Puyallup river,
and shall endeavor to have passed a bill
authorizing small expenditure of money
on this project. l have already started an
amendment to either transfer the balance
of the city waterway fund to be used in
dredging the Puyallup river, or will at
tempt to secure a small additional sum
for dredging purposes"
Members of the Chamber of Commerce
and other parties interested in getting
the steamship Jefferson out of the Puyal-
lup river are taking hopeful view of the
situation. There is feeling that the jeff
erson episode is the last aaffir of the kind
that is likely to occur.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

There was sort of love feast in the
law office of Ellis & Fletcher yesterday
afternoon. The occasion was the meeting
of Mayorelect Wright and Rev d. J..
RAIDER, Rev. j. Lewis Smith and Rev.
John Reid, committee appointed by the
Ministerial alliance to wait upon Mr..
Wright and ascertain his position on the
question of an open" or closed town.
Judging from reports that have leaked out,
the preachers know but little more now
than they did before the conference.
When DR.. RAIDER was asked about the
meeting he said
eyes, we saw Mr.. Wright but decided
not to make the result OF the conference
public until after We report to the Min
isterial alliance, the body that appointed
the committee We decided that we
would say nothing further than that we
had very pleasant visit
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

passenger boat on any Pacific coast run.
>and win be able to accommodate 700 pass.
engers.
The Victoria will go into commission
June l. The new owners stated this morn
ing that Captain Truebridge could hold his
position with them if he wanted to. It is
understood that he will stay with the boat.
1t is rumored that former Captain J, N.
Jones of the Tacoma will accept the posi-
tion OF first mate on the Victoria.
The Chinese crew of the Victoria viii
be replaced by an American crew. The
Cinnamon will leave for home tomorrow
on the Agamemnon.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
A SAILORS
HEROISM

PENSACOLA, April IA. - Captain
Cowles of the Missouri this morning re.
ceived more than 100 messages from rels.
tives of sailors, making inquiries. He re-
piled to all personally.
Later reports from the ship indicate that
the truth is not yet known regarding the
cause of the explosion
Thirty eight caskets were ordered this
afternoon
A story of sef-sacrihce by a man ID
save the ship is told Of sailor named
Bogoud Seeing burning case containing
powder charge, the man Rrasped IT.
dashed through the twTet and leaped
overheard The act saved the ship from
total destruction, as had the charge ignited
it would have reached the magazine and
blown the battleship IN twain.
WASHINGTON. d. c., April "a Presi.
dent Roosevelt has contributed $l00 and
the secretary OF the navy like sum as
the nucleus Of fund for the relief Of
the next Of kin Of the enlisted men who
lost their lives in the explosion on thu
battleship Missouri.
Secretary Moody has sent dispatches Ia
the widow Of Lieutenant Davidson and the
next OF kin OF Others killed also a telea
gram from the president himself to Nd
miral Barker, commanding the North At
lantic squadron, conveying his deepest
sympathy
The telegram sent to Admiral Barker
read as follows:
81 am inexpressibly grieved over the
catastrophe and desire TO express TO you
and the officers and men under you my
profound grief and sympathy"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
R. W. CLARK is
READY TO MOVE

r. W. Clark, commissioner Of public
works, is taking an inventory Of the city
property in his charge and is preparing TO
turn the office over to his successor. Mr..
Clark requested the Democratic committee
or Mr.. Wright to send some one 10 the
office to check up the inventory. No at
tention was paid TO the request and slr.
Clark Is preparing the inventory himself.
This morning he addressed the follow.
ing letter to William Welsh, the newly ap-
pointed commissioner Of public works:
Dear Sir: ! am informed that you
have been appointed by Mayor-elect
Wright as commissioner OF public works,
and desire 10 extend my congratulations
on your appointment.
III you viii call at the office at your
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
BRINGS
A LIGHT CARGO

The Pacific Coast company's steamship
Senator arrived this morning from San
Francisco. The Senator is making the run
in place of the Queen, which is under
going repairs neeessitated by the fire early
IN March Captains Cousins reports fine
weather during the trip, the finest for this
season of the year in his lS years ex-
perienee.
The Senator had light cargo which
she is discharging today She carried 400
passengers on this trip, 300 Of whom were
fishermen bound for the northern grounds.
The Senator is loading while she is dis
charging. and will leave late this afternoon
for Bellingham Victoria and other points
to pick up freight. She win return to
Seattle and win sail from there for San
Francisco next Monday.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

PARIS, April 114.-The correspondent of
the Echo de Paris at st. Petersburg states
that Viceroy Alexieff has been ordered to
proceed to Port Arthur to assume com
mand of the squadron, pending the op-
pointment Of Admiral Makaroff's successor
The viceroy leaves for Port Arthur to-
night.
Grand Duke Cyril has telegraphed that
he is suffering from burns on the neck
and contusions of the knee.
Only two minutes elapsed between the
explosion and the sinking of the Petropav-
lovsk
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
DANGEROUS DISEASE APPEARS
AMONG PIERCE COUNTY HORSES

Mango has broken out among the horses
and dogs in the vicinity Of Spanaway.
Deputy Game Warden Thompson, acting
under instructions from the county com
mssioners, went out to investigate the
matter and found some Of the animals in
very bad condition.
Mango, or Texas itch, as It is sometimes
called, is a very dangerous disease. When
it breaks out in a neighborhood it spreads
very rapidly among cattle and dogs un-
less the cases are isolated as soon as the
first symptoms are discovered.
The disease made its appearance in Sc
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

ST. PETERSBURG, April l4.--Admiral
Prince Ukptomsky telegraphs today;
"At 10 o'clock yesterday morning, dur
ing maneuvers in the roadstead in the face
of the Japanese feet, the battleship Petro
pavlovsk, carrying the flag of the admiral,
capsized after an explosion.
"The torpedo boat Vesterachni was sent
out yesterday, with others, on night ex'
pedition, and was surrounded by the enc
my's torpedo boats and sank while fight
ing. Five men were saved.
"After the sinking of the Petropavlovsk
/ took over temporarily the command of
the fleet.
"Whle surrounded by the enemy's squad
ron, the battleship Pobeida ran into a
mine, which struck her on the starboard
side amidships. The Pobeda succeeded
in making the barber without aid. No one
aboard was hurt"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

Moyor-eect Wright today appointed J.
T. Eshelman to succeed Jonathan Smith
as city librarian. The place was offered
to Mr.. Eshelman several days ago, but
he did not accept it until this morning.
MIR. Eshclman is probably as well known
as any man who took part in the Demo-
cratic campaign. He has been member
Of the state legislature and was at one
time treasurer Of Klickitat county He
also held the position Of county superin-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

attic about two weeks ago and since then
20 valuable horses have died as direct
result Of the disease or have been killed
to prevent its spread. The stables Of the
Portland Transfer company have been
quarantined on account OF the disease. Se-
attic authorities are making strenuous ef-
forts to stamp it out, and conference
Of veterinary surgeons was held TO devise
some means Of preventing its spread and
disposing Of animals found to be infected.
The disease first appeared in WasIi-
ing on the Oregon border and has been
gradually working north.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
BASEBALL IN
SNOW STORMS

CHICAGO, April l4.The real harbinger
of spring was heard in the land today when
the umpire's cry of "Play Ball" was given
as a signal for the opening of the baseball
season. The temperature, however, Is
more of the winter variety. Flurries Of
snow occurred here and in Cincinnati, New
York and Philadelphia.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

LONDON, April l4.--A Central News
dispatch from st. Petersburg states that
a dynamite outrage at the Hotel Nord
today wrecked a room in which the son
of General Kazaroff was lying and the
young man was killed.
Papers containing the news had gone to
press when they were warned not to pub
hsh it.
1t is stated that the police have docu-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
.ESHELMAN NAMED FOR LIBRARIAN

tendent of schools in that county. Tie
came to Tacoma as pastor Of the First
Christian church number Of years ago.
During Cleveland's last administration he
was appointed shipping commissioner OF
the Puget Sound district and held the pos
stion six years. Lately he has been cn-
gagged IN the real estate business here.
Another appointment announced by Mr..
Wright today II that Of harbormaster.
For that place he has named Captain Rob-
ert NJ Mountfort.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
VICTORIA TAKEN
BY NEW OWNERS

The steamship Victoria will finish dis
charging her cargo at late hour this
afternoon and will then be taken by her
new owners to Seattle. There she will be
placed in Morans shipyards, where a new
house will be built on the upper deck for
passengers. The lower deck will also be
fitted up to carry passengers.
When she is completed renovated, her
new owners state, she will be the finest
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
DYNAMITE IN A ST. PETERSBURG
HOTEL KILLS A GENERAL'S SON

ments discriminating the miscreants who
are responsible.
LONDON, April IA dispatch from
Paris says that one version of the dyna
mite explosion at the Hotel Norde in st
Petersburg which has reached the French
capital states that the victims were nu
merous, including members of the state
council.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

SMITH.
CHIEF GUN CAPTAIN 7. E. BE.
LAUN.
PRIVATE MARINE w. L. SHIPMAN.
APPRENTICE tsecond class), g. G.
HARDY
APPRENTICE p. r. 0ASTIER.
The two men who cannot live are j. t.
j. Donnelly ordinary seaman, and 0. b.
Moore. apprentice (second class.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., April a. The
bureau Of navigation makes the following
statement regarding the explosion on the
Missouri yesterday:
ut is learned from unofficial informa-
tion that prior TO the accident to the gun
aboard the Missouri there had been no
fame blown back whatever; that the
rapidity Of fire Of al the Mfissouri's guns
had been relatively very Slow in fact,
only half as rapid as that Of the Albany,
The turret roof was not injured, but one
man was blown overheard from the tur-
ret"
WASHINGTON, d. O., April a. The
English admiralty has cabed condolences
on account Of the accident on the battiee
shin MiseOufi
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
FOSTER URGES
APpROPR PRIATION

The efforts of the Chamber of Com.
merce to secure an appropriation for dredg.
ing the Puyallup river are bearing fruit
Senator Foster has taken the matter up
and is making an effort to secure favorable
consideration of the project in congress.
Following is copy Of telegram from
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
PREACHERS HAD A PLEASANT VISIT

Rev. J. Lewis Smith and Rev John
Reid reiterated the statement of Dr. RAIDER
that the meeting 'was very pleasant"
Mr. Wright says: "The committee from
the Ministerial alliance called on me ana
in an informal way presented their views
on certain matters. made no promises
10 them whatever"
Politicians are inclined to view the mat
ter in the light Of joke and where two or
three Of them meet the matter is pretty
sure to come up. One Of them said this
morning: IF the preachers are really in
earnest about this matter, why didn't they
find out where Wright stood before the
election? To 90 after him now is good
deal like locking the barn door after the
horse has been stolen
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

SAN FRANCISCO. April l4-The mem
bers of the Hackmen's union struck this
morning for shorter hours and higher
wages Practically every hackman in the
city is out.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
MUMPS IN The
WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, D. c., April l4.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt returned from Croton this
morning, accompanied by his sons, Ted
and Kermit. Both boys are suffering from
mumps.
The lads are quarantined in room on
the second floor of the White House.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
MAD MULLAH
HAS ESCAPED

LONDON, April i4.-An Alden dispatch
states that the Mad NIullah, against whom
the British have been conducting cam
paign for months past, has escaped to
Italian territory.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
MANCLES PRINCE

LAFAYETTE, Ind, April l4.-A Mar
bath, an Indian prince, Of Lahore, while
riding bicycle near perdue university this
morning, was struck By street ear. He
lost his lett leg, is terribly mangled and
may die.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
HACKMEN IN FRISCO CO ON A STRIKE

There threatens to be a repetition Of
the conditions following the hacllmen's
strike in Chicago, when scores OF bodies
remained unburied for days on account of
the refusal of the drivers to take out
hearses.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
to courage.

1t is stated that Russian officers have
solemnly sworn, in case they capture him,
to hang Admiral Uriu. who commanded
the japanese feet which sank the Russian
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

earliest convenience / will be glad To
give you any information desired in reia-
tion TO the work coming under the juris-
diction OF this office, and also any detail
matters and general routine Respectfully
yours, r. w. CLARK"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

cruisers variag and Korietz at the battle
of Chemulpo.
A mass for Admiral Makaroff and the
members of his crew was celebrated at the
Admiralty chapel at noon today. The car
and all the government officers attended
TOXIC, April l4.-The first news of the
sinking Of the PetropavlovslS was received
here in a private telegram this morning.
Japanese officials expressed satisfaction,
though they regretted the death of the
gallant Admiral Makaroff.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

the details of the catastrophe and even
the most ignorant people bought them and
implored passerby to read them aloud
The papers unanimously deplore the dis
aster and try to excnse Admiral MalSaroff
and the other officers by recalling the
collision between The English battleships
Victoria and Camperdown during maneu-
vers in the Mediterranean a few years
ago, in which nearls the entire crew of
the Victoria was lost
In official circles the hope is expressed
that the catastrophe win react to the bene-
fit Of the Russian fighters by adding rage
to courage.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
FISH MARKET DROPS

Columbia river salmon arrived in the
market yesterday and as a consequence sal,
mon fell cents at once.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

LONDON, April l4.-The Central News
correspondent at Rome states that tele
gram has been received from Newchwang
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

NEWMARKET, April IA. - Richard
Croker's St. Patrick's Day won the Bi-
ennial stakes Of 500 sosereigns.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

ROME, April l4.-The correspondent of
the Agenzia Italian at Chefoo, in dis
patch received this morning, states that
the destruction of the Russian battleship
Petropavlovsk has produced immense de-
preston in Port Arthur.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

PARIS, April IA (Bulletin.)-A dis
patch to the Journal from st. Petersburg
states that rumor is current in the
Russian capital that another Russian war
ship has been totally destroyed
lie Petit Partisan has a like dispatch.
ST. PETERSBURG, April l4.-An off
cial dispatch states that the Russian bat
t1eship Pobieda was also struck by Jap
anese torpedo while engaged with the fleet
under command OF Admiral Togo, and had
a large hole torn in her side.
The japanese boats also surrounded and
sunk the Russian torpedo boat Vestrashni.
Fifty members of the crew of the latter
boat were saved
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14
THE FIGHT OFF PORT ARTHUR

stating that the fall of Port Arthur is be-
lieved to be imminent, and that Admiral
Togo is preparing to Immediately land
troops for siege Of the town.
TOXIC, April l4-Acoording to dis
patch received from Admiral Uriu today,
the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk was
sunk by the japanese, and not by Rus
sian mine.
Admiral Uriu's report says that Admiral
Togo's feet sunk the battleship and one
torpedo boat destroyer.
The japanese suffered no losses.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

ST. PETERSBURG, April 1.-THE
Grand Duke Boris has been ordered to
bring his brother, Cyril, to st. Petersburg
as soon as the latter is able to undertake
the journey.
The definite list issued by the govern
ment shows that Al officers and 75O men
lost their lives in the destruction of the
Petropavlovsk.
ST. PETERSBURG, April l4.-The CAPT
tai has desolate appearance this morning
A driving snowstorm prevails, while the
faces Of the people depict sadness.
The early morning newspapers published
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-14

The superstition Russians take the event
as a sign that God is against them and it
is believed that only the presence of the
czar at Port Arthur will revive the martial
spirit of the people
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-02
CHAPTER Nl.

C1AJOE CE,NSTON lived in an
EME OLD fashioned. roomy house at
I'll the end of tie widest and long
est Street barley afforded. The
exterior Of the house MAS not very at
tractive, though it stood on spacious,
well kept lawn. but it was equipped
throughout with fine old furniture the
Cranstons had brought from Virginia.
There were rare pieces Of solid ma
hogany in the big parlor, q piano which
was relic Of the days Of Washington,
and sofas and chairs quite as ancient
In appearance On the white plastered
walls hung family portraits ii massive
gilt frames.
It was one Sunday night about the
middle Of November Lydia had retired
to her room and the major was reading
q newspaper in the lamplisht before q
cheerful fire in the sitting room when
Mrs. Cranston came in from the parfor.
sWell, you may be satisfied, Major
Crauston," she said, "but Tn not"
"Oh, you are not! What's wrong
nowT He put his paper down and
looked up at her inquiringly.
.Well, don't like the way Lydia is
doing at ALL" replied the lady.
whats she done now?" The major
spoke with just 4 little irritation, for
he was interested in the political news
he bad been reading.
'tShe hasn't done anything-that,s the
trouble" answered Mrs. Cranston. If
she only would do and be like she was
in Richmond I wouldn't care, but she's
as different as. can be-"
"W-hy, I'm sure the child seems well
enough to me-" grumbled the major.
"Wel enough? She's the picture Of
health. But are you blind? Can't you
See an inch before your nose: Don't
you remember how she cried when we
moved away from Richmond: and all
the visits she promised Kitty CSby and
the other girls back there? Then you
remember how she moped about the
first month down here, and the fun she
made Of this place and the people. But
now look at her She's tickled to death
over everything here. What do you
think it means, sir?'
"Oh, she was sick and tired Of that
silly social set up there" said the ma
jor, "and this simple, healthy life here
in the mountains agrees with her, as it
has with me and you. / never knew
what a good appetite or pleasant
nights sleep was till r.
"Oh, do dry upw Mrs. Cranston sat
down BY him. You are as blind as 4