Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-22

IL. w. BrunSon.
j. Hunt
h. b. Robinson.
j. c.. Barchus
w. C.sWilson.
C. II. Nelson.
Il. b. Ferguson.
l.. B. Archer.
w. G. Chambers.
John McCume.
C. J. Ezell.
There Is no theory as to the cause
OF the disaster. Commander Young
admits that the boilers were old ana
needed repairs. but he declares that
they were perfectly safe. The ship
was built at Chester, Pa, In 1889, but
new boilers and engines were put into
her about seven years ago.
There has been good deal OF wfis-
pering among the survivors OF the
crew today concerning the condition
of the boilers, but Commander Young
says that they were tested 'once u few
months ago and were allowed 225
pounds pressure. On his voyage to
Honolulu he used an average of 100
pounds of steam, but on ais return
voyage to this port he ordered steam
reduced and made the cruise under all
average pressure of 130 pounds He
says that he reduced the pressure, not
from fear OF boilers. but to preserve
them and to save fuel because he had
plenty of time. =
Few Left in Boiler F.oom.
'iIt is difficult to ascertain the con-
dition of the boiler room the morn
Ing before the explosion, be&sause near
ly all the men who were down there
Were killed or are too severely scalded
to talk. One of the macfinists who
came out OF the engine room shortly
before the explosion says that he look
ed at the gauge few minutes before,
and the Indicator showed 1876 pounds
OF steam.
There was fire under only two Of
the six boilers, "B' and d. Conmnn-
der Young believing that hey would
make sufficient steam to cruise UP
the coast. lie has no explanation,
but testifles to the belief that the boil
5ers were In good condition.
The boiler which exploded, 1t Is
said, was regarded as unsafe. Com
nander Young stated that during re-
cent return voyage from Honolulu the
steam pressure was kept reduced In
that particular one.
When the explosion occurred the en-
lgineer was inspecting the ,oilers as q
preliminary to the vessels leaving
port He was not seriously injured
Officers and men who were able to,
assist In the work OF rescue acted in
a brave and collected manner Pumps
were manned to keep the water from
the upper compartments. the magazine
was Hooded and she men fought their
WAY thru the steam into the darkened
hold, to search for their comrades.
In the worst danger. and when 1t was
feared the ship would sink, before she
could be beeched, the young officers
and men stuck manfully to their posts.
Albert H. Ryan, of this city, who
was rowing near the ship at the time
of the accident, plunged into the wat
ser and rescued seven sailors.
The ships inner works are tangled
mass OF machinery and she probably
will have to be dismantled before her
injuries can be ascertained.
Lieutenant Yates, executive officer in
charge of the Bennington at the time
of the disaster, was in the aft cabin.
He rushed out to be met b., binding,
scalding cloud Of steam as it swept
the vessel.
e Yates Tells Of, Escape.
i must have remained seated in my
chair several seconds after 1t occurr-
ed" said Lieutenant Yates, "and did
not know what had happened. then
rushed out, and the steam, even at the
extreme part Of the ship. was SO dense
that could not get a breath of air
until ascended the rail.
CAS- ran forward passed one of our
boys crawling along on his stomach.
There was no time to attend to indl-
vidual cases, there were so many, ana
they seem almost like an indistinct
memory to me.
About thirty Of the boys We're on
the fore deck, all badly wounded. /
called for men to man the boats and
only about twelve, including officers
responded All the rest were injured
or had been driven over the side by
the scalding steam.
Although I did not anticipate a
great deal Of danger from the nature
of the explosion, Immediately had all
compartments closed, and the forward
magazine flooded Afterward the after
AldSdHilC W6o llOOuCu W gi'louAS Y
The boat listed sharply 70 starboard
Immediately after the explosion.
Panic in Engine Room.
"As far as can be learned part OF
the furnace fell against the boiler,
which exploded. 1t was forced aft,
and it is probable that the other boil
ers exploded Immediately afterward,
and the steam pipes We're wrecked, lib
Grating the steam. Every man in the
engine room at the time must have.
met death. We cannot tell yet how
great is the leak.
-Four bodies are still in sight in the
boiler room under tho wreckage- and
they will be secured as soon as pos
sible. Men are now at work cutting a
hole into the other engine room thru
the bulkhead."
"The explosion happened at the very
worst time" said one of the jackies.
.sand can't figure out how I happen
to be alive. The engine room watch
had just gone below to prepare for
sea, some of the boys We're up on the
forecastle and most of us We're down
on the berth deck just aft of the boiler
which first exploded"
cURZoN is ILL.
Viceroy Of India Now Confined to His
Bed.