The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-21
Boiler ExplOdes on the U. s.
Gunboat Bennington.
Nearly Every Man on BoaT@
Either Killed or Wounded.
THE DEAD NUMBER SO.
Explosion Occurred in the Har-
Dor of San Diego.
The Ship Is Beached Near the
Spreckles Wharf.
Her Entire Upper Deck Was
Carried Away.
THE DEAD NUMBER so.

San Diego. Cal, July 21.-A boiler OF
the U. S. gunboat Bennington lying in
this harbor exploded at 1890 a. m. to-
day. and nearly every man on board
was either killed or wounded. 1t is be-
lieved at least so men have been killed.
There were on board at the time of the
explosion 278 men. It is believed all the
wounded have been recovered, many
being rescued from the water and they
have been taken to various hospitals.
The work of taking out the dead will
proceed as rapidly as possible.
AS a result of the explosion a section
of the upper deck was carried away
from stem to stern. The ship is listing
to starboard and probably will sink.
Captain Young, who was ashore at the
time of the accident has telegraphed the
navy department, giving the facts so
far as known at the present time.
Bodies Hurled High in Air.
San Diego, July 21.-One of the
most frightful disasters in the peace
history of the American navy, except
ing the sinking of the Maine in I4a-
vana harbor, occurred in San Diego
bay shortly after 1890 a. m. today, on
board the gunboat Bennington.
At a moment when the warshin. W..
ing at anchor and with her officers and
crew quietly attending to their duties.
on board, was the object of interest to
hundreds of people observing her
from piers, pleasure boats and passing
ferry boats. a cloud of steam suddenly
/ hrrr.c s.-.-
smokeStack, out of which the specta-
| tors were Mortified to see bodies and
human fragments hurled high in the
/ air and scattered over the surrounding
water.
i The outburst was accompanied by
a roar as of thunder ana a snocx
which rocked vessels near by. In an
instant the air was filled with shrieks
and bellows of pain from the wound
| ed, which could be heard ashore, and
with flying fragments of 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 row boats, sail boats, launches
! and tugs were being driven to the rescue
! as fast as arms wind and steam could
| carry them.
nearby. turned and hastened to render
assistance, her own deck crowded with
frightened men and women. who saw
the havoc wrought in a twinkling.
Horrible Sight.
A most horrible sight met those who
approached In the water men with
| blackened faces were struggling, handi-
| capped by injuries; others on deck were
| covered with blood and CRIME, some
| dead, some wounded frightfully Others
working to rescue comrades who were
I yet below either dead OF dying The
| smaller boats turned their attention to
those in the water taking them to the
| wharves as fast as few had been
| taken aboard the small craft.
| At the Wharves preparations were
| speedily made for the taking care of
the injured in what, by this time, was
seen to be a disaster of awful proper
for, every express wagon driver who
could be reached by telephone was
summoned physicians were notified
and hospitals informed. Within half
an hour from the time of the explosion
carriages, buggies. automobiles and
street cars were bearing burdens of
victims toward the hospitals. The
sight which met the eyes of hundreds
along the streets was never to be fer
gotten.
Wagons with dozens of wounded
men were not rare.
One had eight sitting or reeline
against the sides, holding in their laps
the heads of comrades near to death,
all of them with faces black with
smoke and CRIME and many clothed in
nothing but trousers. Some of those
whose bodies were bare, not injured
in vital parts, but suffering the agonies
of torn flesh, sat up with lacerated
bodies exposed to the wind.
One. whose arm was twisted and
whose face and breast were covered
with blood. looked at his own hands
fieshless and dropping blood. and
muttered only, My God. my God.''
A corps of men with biackened
bodies were hurried through the
streets to places where blood could be
staunched, gaping wounds stitched, or
more heroic treatment given.
Commander Young and Surgeon Peck,
of the Bennington, were ashore at the
| time of the explosion. Lieutenant Yates
was in charge. Lieutenant Wade was
the only one of the officers aboard not
injured. Lieutenant Sabin was badly
burned about the hands Lieutenant
Yates was frightfully scalded and is re-
1 ported to have died. The other two Off
GERS were injured but how badly is not
known.
Bennington Is Beached.
San Diego, July 21.-The Bennington
has been beached near Spreckles wharf
and the work of taking out bodies is be-
ing prosecuted as fast as possible. Fifty
bodies have been recovered, and more
remained to be taken out. AS fast as
found the bodies are being taken to
undertaking establishments.
A barge has just brought ashore five
more bodies and reports that three 9TH
ers were waiting to be recovered.
Temporary relief has been rushed by
the city All the wounded are now be-
ing cared for and hospitals are over
crowded