The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-08-05
BOILER BURSTS
ON BENNINGTON
Thlrty-Nlne of Crew of United
States Gunboat Are In
StantIy Killed.
NEARLY ONE HUNDRED HURT
Explosion, Coming Without Warning,
Relentlessly Deals Death to Men on
Vessel, Which Was About to Sail
From San Diego.

San Diego. Cal. specials One OF the
main boilers In the United States gun
boat Bennington, lying in San Diego
harbor. exploded shortly before noon
Friday, July 81, killing and manning
1874 among the Isl on board.
Thirtysix men and Hssign Newman
X. Perry are known 10 be dead, sew
enty-six wounded. and twenty-one
missing. The total deaths as the re-
suit OF the accident eventually will
not be less than sixty.
The gunboat was badly shattered. a
great hole being torn In the stern. 1t
was beached TO prevent sinking. The
explosion was due to a weak boiler.
the precarious condition OF which has
been well known for months, although
an inspection year ago resulted In
a favorable report.
Commander Lucien Young had re-
celved orders from Washington TO sail
for Port Hartford. He was on shore
making final preparations for de.
parture.
NO warning OF DISASTER.
Steam was up. most OF the men were
on deck, and everything was in readi-
ness for immediate sailing. when a
deafening roar shook the earth for
miles around.
Tho outburst was accompanied by
a roar as Of thunder and a shock that
rocked vessels nearby. In an instant
the air was filled with shrieks and
bellows OF pain from the wounded
which could be heard ashore. and with
flying fragments or human beings and
pieces OF the ships superstructure.
The next moment bleeding sailors
were fighting crippled. In the water,
against death in only a less sudden
form than that from which they had
escaped. while rowboats, sailboats.
launches and tugs were being driven
TO the rescue as fast as arms. wind
and steam could carry them.
Wedged Between Decks.
Most OF the men on board were as
sembled between decks, above the
boilers. when the explosion occurred
Here Is where the most frightful
slaughter took place. No one living
has been able 10 describe what hap
pened there but vivid witnesses ex-
Est In the blood smoarcd walls II
Is from between decks that most OF
the dead bodies have been taken.
A dozen or fifteen were blown over
board by the force OF the terrific ex-
ploslon Capt Wentworth. who was
looking at the Bennington when the
disaster occurred says he saw human
bodies hurled over a hundred feet up
ward.
The air was black with the smoke
which enveloped the ship When IL
cleared away only a few men could
be seen on the decks while n mum
Der were laundering in the water. A
boat was lowered from the vessels
side and most OF them were picked
up and taken on board.
Great Hole in Vessel
On board was presented terrible
scene. The force OF the explosion had
torn a great hole IN the starboard side
OF the ship and the vessel was al
ready commencing to list A section
OF the upper deck was carried away
from stem TO stern.
Blood and wreckage was distributed
over the entire ship, the after cabin
and the vicinity OF the ship adjacent
to the exploded boiler resembling a
charnel house over Il all hung the
great cloud of white smoke. which
JvfF ell
shore.
The shock OF the explosion Lcne-
trated every section OF the ship blood
and ashes being found as far as the
stern OF the captains cabin. Portions
OF the upper deck were carried away
and great damage was done In all
sections.
Both officers and men who were rot
seriously injured acted heroicaEy and
promptly. Pumps were manned 10
keep the water from the upper com.
partments. the magazine flooded and
men fought their way through the
steam into the darkcned hold 10
search for their comrades In the
worst danger and when II was feared
the snip would SINK hclOre ~ could DC
beached. the young officers and men
stuck manfully to their posts.
Rush TO the Rescue
Hundreds OF small craft which dot.
ted the bay hurried to the rescue
The ferryboat Ramona was coming
across 70 San Diego. Capt. Rcrtclscn
Immediately gave orders TO change the
course Of the boat aud instead OF con.
tinuing his trip hurried to the aid OF
the stricken warshlp.