The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-22
Guhboat's Boilers Explode In
San Diego Bay-76
Men Hurt.
ENSIGN PERRY A VICTIM.
Commander Young Was Ashore
Cause OF Explosion
Not Known.

the Sea--Horrible Sights Aboard tho
Boat and in the Makeshift Ambulances
Lieut.. Victor Blue, Spanish War
Hero, Had the Luck to Be Ashore.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, July 2l.-The boilers
Of the United States gunboat Bennington,
at anchor In San Diego Bay. blew up at
lolS o'clock this morning.
Ensign Newman K. Perry and thirty
three seamen were killed. seventy-six men
we're wounded and twenty -one are missing.
Some OF the wounded may die. OF the
100 men on the ship only thirty escaped
unhurt. Lieut.. Yates, In temporary COM
mand of the gunboat. was badly scalded
Commander Lucien Young and Lieut..
Victor Blue. both famous as naval heroes.
were not on the vessel when the explosion
occurred. Commander Young went ashore
on business and Lieut.. Blue was taken
Yesterday to a hospital here to be treated
for appendicitis. Midshipman Zahn was
painfully but not dangerously burned.
Midshipmen Lacy and Morris and Pay
Clerk Metius were slightly injured. En-
sign Wade and Paymaster Morris escaped
harm. The boats surgeon, DR.. A. E. Peck
was ashore.
HORROR VIEWED BY HUNDREDS
Hundreds Of eyes were on the Bennington
at the moment Of the horror, for the hay
was dotted with pleasure craft and ferry
boats whose passengers watched the trim
gunboat with passing interest These
watchers saw cloud Of steam burst from a
point Just forward OF the .smokestack.
Through this steam came flying tho bodies
and fragments of bodies Of men. to be
scattered upon the waters. Coincidently
a roar like thunder told the cause Of the
tragedy The Bennington rocked and
swung.
The shrieks Of pain Of the wounded could
be heard ashore. Crippled and bleeding
sailors were in the water fighting for life.
Rowboats, sailboats, launches and tugs
and fastened to render assistance, it's own
deck crowded with frightened men and
women. horrible sight was there for the
rescuers. In the water men with blackened
faces were struggling, handicapped by
injuries. Others on the gunboat's deck
were covered with blood and CRIME, some
dead, some wounded frightfully, others
working to rescue comrades who we're yet
below, either dead or dying.
TAKING THE INJURED ASHORE.
The smaller boats directed their atten-
ton to those in the water. taking them
to wharves as fast as few were taken
aboard the small craft At the wharves
preparations we're speedily made for TAX
ing care of the injured in what, by this
time, was seen to he a disaster Of awful
proportions. Ambuances were telephoned
for, every 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.
Wagons with dozen wounded men were
not rare sights One had eight sitting
against its sides, holding in their laps heads
of comrades near to death, all Of them with
faces black with smoke and CRIME and many
clad 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 their lacerated bodies exposed
to the wind. One, whose arm was twisted
and whose face and breast were covered
with blood, looked at his own hanging flesh
and dripping blood and muttered only
my God. my God
Scores OF men, all wounded and with black
ened bodies, were hurried through the
streets to places where blood could be
stanched and gaping wounds stitched.
SCENES ON THE DECK.
The scene on the deck of the Bennington
was horrifying. A score OF dead sailors
were scattered about. several with their
limbs blown Off. Others were scalded so
fearfully that death was only matter OF a
/ few hours. The bloating Of the features
and limb, 10y steam gave The victims sIch
repulsive appearance that Commander
| Young, who has seen service in Hawa
waters, declared that not even the leper
| settlement at Molokai could show any
thing 80 fearful. Most Of the wounded
were conscious and uttering cries of agony.
There was gaping hole in the side OF the
| gunboat. through which water poured in
food, and the vessel had already begun
| to careen to starboard. Clouds OF steam
rose over the wrecked vessel. Through