The leader., 1905-07-29

were near the SCENE at the time. also
rushed to the assistance of the Benz
ning2on and end'eavored to give what
assistancel possible. by the time the
Ramoua had arrived many sailors Of
the BenningtoU who had jumped into
the baytsto esisape the scalding steam,
had beens rescued, and the removal Of
the wouItded, which already had been
commenced, Was beihg conducted in
perfect order. The crews of the Santa
Fe, Do RuSSsey and Mckinley and the
other boatsa present lent yeoman aid
in picking up. the wounded sailors and
TRANSFERRING them to the shore
ConlmAndIer Koung WAS Ashore.
At the time of the accident Com
mander Lu Glen Young and Surgeon +.
-. Peck were on shore. The two ofi-
GERS, as soons as they learned of the dis
aster, hurried to the water front,
where Commander Young took charge.
On board the Bennington were pre-
sented Terrible scenes, The force Of the
explosions had torn great hole In the
starboards side of the ship and the Ves-
sci was aIEeady commencing to list "A
section of gthe upper deck was carried
away from Astem to stern. Blood and
wrecloage was distributed over the en-
tire ship, the after cabin and the vicin-
I.ity of the ship adjacent to the explod-
ed boiler resembling charmed house.
Over it all hung a great cloud Of white
smoke which drifted slowly toward the
Coronado shore.
The news of the explosion spread
over the city like wildfire. At first
some Of the reports were that over half
the crew had been killed. This was
later modified, the rumor having it
that the dead would at least reach IS.
Aid For the Injured.
The scene of hurrying ambuEances,
hacks, carriages Of every description
which had been summoned, added to
the excitement. Every physician who
could be reached by telephone was
called to the water front Within
comparatively short time nearly q doz-
en- were ON the scene and attending the
wounded.
A dozen or fifteen men swere blown
overheard by the force of the terrific
explosion. Capt. Wentworth, who was
looking at the Benningtont when the
disaster occurred, says he saw human
bodies hurled over hundred feet up
ward. The air was black with smoke
which enveloped the ship. When 1t
cleared away only few meny could be
seen on the decks, while a nu mber were
fioundering in the water. AT boat was
lowered from the vessel'sIsidefand most
OF them were picked up and taken on
board.
MutiIated beyond Recognition.
The bodies of many Oh the men from
the wrecked interior oftthe ship were
mutilated almost beyond recognition.
Commander Young, as soon as he
reached the ship, gave orders that the
air tight compartments be closed to
prevent the listing ship sinking and
that the ma gaines be flooded to avert
further explosions. Temporary quar-
ters ashore were arranged for the
wounded, and many citizens volun-
teered and hurried in launches to the
relief of those on the ill-fated ship.
Some of the volunteers were unable to
stand the sickening sight which met
their gaze on the Bennington. AS fast
as the wounded could be removed they
were hurried in ambMlances, carriages,
wagons and automobiles to the hos
pitals.
Was Inspecting the Boilers.
When the explosion occurred, Engin-
eer Nelson was inspe citing the boilers
as preliminary to thas vessels leaving
port. He was not seriously injured.
Ofacers and men whoTwere able to as
sist in rescue acted in "a brave and col
Ieoted manner. Pumps were manned
to keep the water from the upper COM
partments, the magazine flooded, and
men fought their way. through the
steam into the darkened hold to search
for the their comrades In the worst
danger, and when it was feared the
ship would sink before she could be
beached the young officers and men
stuck manfllly to their posts.
The ships inner works are tangled
Mass of machinery and she probably
Will have to be dismantled in order to
examine her injuries.
Casualties OmciaIly Reported.
washington, July 22.-Thei navy de-
pnrtment has received dispatch from
Commander Young saying that Lieut..
Perry and So men are dead; rs
wounded and Il missing, and that
many are expected to die before morn
ing. He adds that there were 1S1
casualties altogether.
Not since the. ilI-fated battleship
Maine was blown up in Havana har-
Dor has the department been obliged. to
record disaster to one Of the Ameri-
men-of-war so fearful as that of Fri-
day. Engineer officers do not rccall
when a boiler has exploded aboard
warship Of the United States. Mislhaps
have occurred in the boileroom, but
with slight loss of life or injuries, but
they were unprepared to hear of an ex-
plosion OF such magnitude.
It was learned at the headquarters Of
the marine corps that no marines were
aboard the Bennington. Gen. Elliott,
commandanE of the corps, hurried over
to the navy department upon learning
Of the explosion and eagerly sought
the details.
Prominent PrOhibftiOnisa Dead.
Ann Arbor, Mich, July 22.-Judge
Noah w. Cheeuer, Of this city, prom
inent prohibtiouist, died at his home
from apoplexy. He was 65.