Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27

the explosion had torn great Huic III
the starboard side of the ship and the
vessel was already commencing 20
list. 4 section OF the upper deck was
carried away from stem to stern. Blood
and wrcckagc were strewn over the
entire ship. the after cabin and that
part of the ship adjacent to the ex-
ploded boiler resembling charnel
house.
Tho boiler which exploded. it is said
was regarded as partially unsafe. Com
mandcr Young stated that during Il re-
cent return from Honolulu the steam
pressure was kept reduced in that par
ticular one.
At the time Of the accident Com
mandcr Lucion Young and surgeon L.
| T.. Peck were on shore.
The two officers. as soon as they
learned of the disaster. hurried to the
water front Commander Young, as
soon as he reached the ship. gave
orders that the air-tight compartments
be closed to prevent the listing ship
, from sinking and that the magazines
be flooded to avert further explosions.
lie then beachcd the ship at high tide
The ferry boat Ramona, which was
cidcnt, changed its course and hurried
| to the aid of the stricken warship. The
government launch General De Russcy
and "A large number of other launches
and water craft which were near the
scene at the time also rushed to the
assistance of the Bennington.
| REMOVAL OF THE WOUNDED.
1
{ Bennington many of the sailors who
had jumped into the bay to escape the
scalding steam had been rescued by
small craft. The removal of the wound
ed from the ship was conducted
in perfect order. The crews of the De
Russey and the other boats aided in
picking up the wounded sailors and
transferring them to shore.
The news of the explosion spread
over the city like wild fire. At first
reports were that half the crew had
been killed. The hurrying ambulanccs
and 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 n short time a score of rhysi-
clans were attending the wounded.
! Most of the dead and injured were
taken ashore. where the undcrtdkers
and physicians were assembled.
BODIES BADLY INITIATED.
The bodies of many Of the non taken
from the wrecked interior If the shii
were mutilated almost beyond recognition
The faces of many We're covered Will
bio cd and ashes. Some bodies may ncvei
he identified
Temporary quarters ashore were ar
RANGED Tor the wounded and sixty cit.
ixcus volunteered and hurried III liunchc.
to tho r,liof Rf those on the ship. som,
of tho volunteers were Unable to stan,
tho sickcning sight which met their Gaz,
; IN tho Bennington. As fast as the wound
I'D could be removed they wcrc hurried il
arbulnnccs. earl lagos. wagons and auto
mobiles tn hospitals. For IL long time liz,
hot steam prevented access ia the sna.
between decks whore most Of the ica,
bodies lay, and it was rot until In the af
tcrnoon that the last were removed irol,
the boiler rooms. Several bodies were ~
tightly wcd,scd in by a bulkhcad that tn
; woodwork had to be hewed away to fire.
them.
{ When tho explosion occurred. tho chic
engineer was inspecting the boilers. IL
was not seriously injured. Officers am
men who were able 10 assist in rescue act
cd in a brave and collected n,annc,
Pumps were manned TO keep ;hc waite
from tho upper compartments, the mag,
Zinc was flooded and men Tough thei
= way through The steam into the darkcnc
Hold. Many slightly injured sailors r.
manned in tho ship and assisted in rescue
ing tho moro severely injured
The ships inner works nrc tanelo
mass OF machinery and the vessel proha
bly, will have to he dlsmantlcd to repai
the injuries, IL indeed. the warship is no
a total loss.
LIEUT. YATEss STORY.
Lieut. Yates. executive officer in charc
Of the bennington ut the time of tho di.
nstcr. was in the aft cabin. lie rushe
7 out. TO be met by a binding. scaldn
, cloud Of steam as 1t swept the vessc
Speaking Of the occurrence. he said:
II must have remained seated In nj
chair several seconds after 1t occurred
! and did not know what had happened.
3 then rushed out and the steam. even a
. the extreme after part OF the ship. wa
SO dense that ! could not get a breath G
air, until assembled the rail.
"As RIM forward ! passed one OF ou
boys crawling along There was no tim
to attend to individual cases. as thsI