The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-23

many of them had feared for long
time that just such an accident Woulo
happen. One of the men said that a
year ago last February, while the
ship was at Magdalena Bay the engi-
neer of the cruiser New York was sent
for to inspect the boilers and he re-
ported that they were in good condl-
ton. While the vessel WAS In san
Francisco last year the talk OF defect-
i've boilers again arose, but no steps
were taken to remedy them.
The upper deck, amidship, presents
a mass of wreckage. The smokestocks
have blown out of place and the SUI
perstructure is bent and twisted in all
sorts of shapes. The plates on the
side are bullying out and leaks in a
number of places in the water.
John Turpin, colored man of the
crew, who was on board the Maine
when she was blown~up in Havana,
was on board the Bennington and
again escaped injury. He rendered
valuable aid rescuing the dead and
wounded.
Deeds of HerOism.
Out of the confusion that followed
the disaster and the work of rescue
come thrilling stories of heroism and
self-sacrifice. The bravery of the
crew was commented on by all whom
had opportunities to witness the
scenes Men who were badly injured
and scalded worked to rescue those
who were worse off than themselves,
and all the Special instances of hero
ism of the disaster probably will never
be fully written The self-Sacrlhclng
efforts on the part of the physicians
and scores of nurses were also COM
mented on with praise for all. Every
one who could be made useful at the
hospitals was put to work, and those
who could not were asked to return
and relieve those who were accepted.
Fireman E. G.. Hopp makes the first
statement as to the cause of the ac-
cident. He says that shortly before
the explosion one of the boilers was
found to be leaking badly, and the
boiler maker was sent for to repair the
damage Before the latter came the
explosion occurred. Hopp saw men all
about him killed outright and he him
self was tsunned for a moment.
The dead will be given military
burial Sunday afternoon at the mill
tary reservation at oPint Iona. Ser
vices will be held at 2 o'clock on the
point and launches will convey across
the bay the living officers and men
able to attend.
Scenes at the Hospitals.
Scenes at the hospitals today were
trying to those unused to them. At
Agnew Saniiarium 81 men lay swathed
in bandages, many of them having
their features covered with masks of
medicated cotton. with only openings
for the mouth and nostrils. Nearly
all suffered severely about the hands
and neck.
( Not more than three men were in
m no
for caring for them was complete in
every detail. There were nurses to
spare. Every one of the poor fellows
had at his bedside trained nurse
who anticipated every movement, and
did everything to assuage pain.
Many physicians volunteers from
among capable practitioners, were
dressing the terrible injuries and in
other ways showiIf5 their self-SeC-
rifcing efforts for the brave boys of
tn Pen1ir ~ton
DIR. NJ. II. Foster, himself almost
an nlvaId, on leave from his post at
the No rine Hospital on Puget Sound,
came bravely to the front yesterday
and took entire charge of the injured.
When seen today at Agnew Hospital
he was lying upon couch and smll-
ingly confessed that he was "all in.
Although suffering from a long period
of nervous prostratiOn, DR.. Foster
services in the terrible ordeal that fol-
lowed Yesterdays disaster have been
invaluable.
Conspicous among those at Ag-
news today was the venerable Span
ish priest. Father Ubach, of st. Jo-
seph's Parish, who went from cot
to cot speaking words of comfort and
cheer to the suffering sailors
DR.. Gochnauer, in charge of Ag-
new Sanitarium is one of the heroes
of the disaster. He it was who looked
after every detail of caring for the
injured during the hours Immediately
following the explosion. In thirty
minutes after the news of the catas-
trophe reached the hospital he had
arranged for fifty additional beds /
the institution, secured quantities Of
bandages, medicines, etc, and sum-
moned all the nurses to be had. Sew