The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1904-04-20
T H | IT y T w 0 MEN
KILLED
Blu the Explosion of Powder on the
Missouri OFF Pensacola.

TllSSOurl OH fenSdCOid.
BY the explosion of 1000 pounds
of powder in the after twelve inch
turret and in the handling-room of
the battleship Missouri, Capt. w.
S. Cowles commanding, thirty-two
men were then and soon killed. The
Missouri was on the target range
with the Texas and Brooklyn at
practice about noon April IL, when
n charge OF powder in the twelve
inch left-hand gun exploded, ignit-
ed from gases, and, dropping be-
low, ignited four charges of powder
IN the handling-room, and all ex-
ploded. Only one man of the en-
tire turret and handling crew eur
wives.
CAPT. CowLrs SAVES SHIP.
But for the prompt and efficient
work of Capt. Cowles in flooding
the handling-room and magazine
with water, one Of the magazines
would have exploded and the ship
would have been destroyed.
POWDER IGNITEs IN THE GUN.
The fourth shot was being load
ed when gases from the shot pre-
viously fred, or portions of the
cloth cover ignited the powder.
The breech was open and a dull
thud gave notice of something un
usual. Flames were seen to leap
from every portion of the turret.
4 ttcc;-; seconds after ward ali e4pio-
sion somewhat fercer occurred.
This was in the handling-room be-
low, where 1900 pounds of powder,
or four charges, ready to be hoisted
above, had ignited.
MAGAZINE FLOODED.
The magazine and handling
rooms we're flooded with water. In
less than five seconds after the first
explosion two streams of water
were being played on the rooms.
The second explosion occurred
near one of the magazines, and so
hot was the fire that the brasswork
of the magazines was melted.
DEAD FOUND IN A HEAP.
The twenty men of the turret
were found lying in heap.
NEXT TO MAINE DISASTER.
The explosion on the battleship
Missouri was the most serious ac-
cidcnt that has occurred in the
American navy since the blowing
up of the Maine in Havana harbor
in 1898. News Of the disaster was
conveyed to the commandant at
Pensacola by wireless telegraph
from the Missouri, and thence by
him transmitted to Washington.
The Missouri is the very latest
of the big battleships to go in COM
mission. The flag was hoisted on
her in December last at Norfolk by
Capt Cowles, brother-in law of
President Roosevelt.
Naval experts for the most part
believe that the explosion was an
occurrence like that on the Massa-
chusetts a year ago last February,
when what is known as elbow
out" occurred. That means that
the powder charge in the breach of
gun becomes accidentally ignited
before the breech is completely
closed, sending the blast back into
the turret. The Massachusetts ac-
cident resulted in the immediate
death OF nice men in the turret.
ORDER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
To guard as far as possible
against the ignition of the powder
in this way Rear Admiral Converse,
Chief Of Ordnance, issued a string
emit circular forbidding any bag of
powder to be raised from the mag
azines above the floor to the turret
until the gun had been discharged
and the breach thrown open. 1t is
feared that the great spirit of rival
ry between the crews of the various
warships in the matter of rapidity
of fire had led the gun crews into
such haste as to prevent them from
observing proper precautions in the
turret. In the charge for the
twelve-inch gun of the Missouri