The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-29
THREE SCORE Dead
BOILERS Of GONBOAT BEENlNG-
TON EXPLODED.
ACCldenf Occurs In San Diego H4r-
Dor when Vessel Was prepar-
ina to Depart for Marc Island.
Two Washington Boys Among
the Dead.

San Diego, CAL, July 22.-Broken
and blaokened, with her flag flying at
half-mast, her hold filled with fifteen
feet of water, the United States gun
boat Bennington lies beached on the
shores of San Diego harbor. Thirty
nine Of her crew lie dead at city
morgues, the fate Of dozen more is
as yet undetermined and three score
are stretched on beds in various hospi-
talss. This is the result Of the explo-
sion which wrecked the trim little ma
val craft and wrought such terrible
havoc among her crew at 1890 yester-
day morning.
The cause of the explosion has not
yet been determined. There is much
talk among the crew, especially the ir-
responsible members, of weakened and
leaking boilers, but until y thorough
inspection of the wrecked boilers can
be made no definite official statement
is obtainable.
Washington Dead and injured.
The list of dead includes Amel Ben
sci, second class fireman, son of Aug
ust Bensel, Of Colfax, WASH. and Jo-
seph Hilscher, second class fireman,
son of Mrs. A. Hilscher, Of Waterville,
Wash.
The injured include Fred Riohard
Cornell, able seaman, son Of Richard
Cornell, of Odessa, Wash, and l.. r.
Strobel, apprentice. second class, son
of Joseph Strobel, Of Tacoma.
Other Washington .r1en in Crew.
Other Neutrality-suspicious. among the
crew, with the names and addresses of
their next Of kin, are as follows:
Raymond Erwin Davis, quartermas-
ter third class, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Da-
Wis, Seattle. Telegraphed safe.
Floyd E. Glover, apprentice seaman,
j. r. Glover, guardian, Seattle.
Joel G. Allen, apprentice seaman,
next Of kin, Frances Clafk, mother,
Waukon, Lincoln county.
George T. CLARK, machinist's mate.
first class, Mrs. Anna CLARK, wife,
Bremerton.
Emil g. Hopp, fireman, second
class, Julius Hopp, father, Toledo,
Lewis county.
Was Ready to Sail.
The Bennington, at the time Of the
acoiuent, was lying in the stream, just
of the Commercial wharf, at the foot
of 81. street. The warship had recelv-
ed orders from the navy department. at
Washington to sail yesterday morning
for Port Hartford, where she was to
meet the monitor Wyoming and convoy
the vessel to the Mare Island navy yard.
Steam was up and everything in
readiness for sailing, when suddenly
and without any warning whatever
the starboard boiler forward Exploded
with deafening roar. People stand
ing on the shore saw huge cloud Of
white steam rise above the Benning-
ton. Columns Of water were hurled
into the air for a distance of nearly
twice the height Of the spars of the
vessel.
It was Immediately apparent that q
serious disaster of some kind had o.
CURED on board the warship. The
ferry boat Ramona was across the bay
at the time of the accident. Capt.
Bertelsen Immediately gave orders to
change the course Of the boat, and in
stead Of continuing his trip to the San
Diego side of the bay hurried to the
aid Of the stricken warship. The tug
Santa Fe, the launch Mckinley, the
government launch Gen. De Russey
and large number Of other launches
and water craft which were near, also
rushed to the assistance Of the Ben
nington and endeavored to lend all the
aid possible. At the time of the acct
dent Commander Lucien Young and
Surgeon A. E. Peck were on shore.
The two officers, as soon as they learn
ed Of the disaster, hurried to the water
front, where Commander Young imme-
diately took charge.
Commander Young. as soon as he
reached the ship, gave orders that the
alright compartments Of the ship be
closed to prevent the listing ship sink
ing. and that the magazines be flooded
to avert further explosions.
Bennington death list