Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-07-28

are stretched upon beds of pain in va
rious hospitals This is the result of
the explosion which wrecked the trim
little naval craft and wrought such
terrible havoc among the crew at 10: 30
o'clock this morning.
The placid waters of San Diego bay
have never before been the scene of
such disaster. and San Diego city
has never before been stirred by such
scenes of death and suffering as those
witnessed tonight.
SCORE LIE IN MORGUES 80. 80. -.
Twenty-one dead bodies lie rang.
ed with grewsome precision at Davis
& Andersons morgue. The stark forms
are outlined in immaculate winding
sheets, the terrible results of scalding
steam upon the faces plainly showing.
though fully hidden beneath the folds.
Thirteen victims were stretched upon
improvised biers at Johnson & Con.
nell's morgue, while five others were
to be seen at Woolman & Bradley's.
At the two latter places the work Of
the explosion was terribly in evidence.
The face of every victim is Scared
and scalded, in many cases almost
beyond recognition.
At Agnew Hospital tonight are many
injured, suffering in almost every in
stance from scalded bodies. Several
are expected to succumb to their in
, juries before the night Is over.
On board the Bennington the I'M
harmed members Of the crew are work.
ing under great difficulties to reach
the boiler-room and coal bunkers,
where 1t is believed dozen bodies
are lying wedged in the wreckage or
submerged in the water which fills
that part Of the vessel.
The cause of the explosion. which
so far as ascertained included boilers
b and d. on the port side. has not yet
been determined. There is much talk
among the crew, especially the IRE
sponsible members. of weakened and
leaking boilers. but until q thorough
| inspection of the wrecked boilers can
| be made. no definite official statement
| Is obtainable.
WAS GETTING UP STEAM.
| The Bennington. which arrived nj
this port from Honolulu last Wednes-
I day forenoon, was preparing to leave
! port at 1880 o'clock this morning, and
only awaited the arrival of Command
/ or Lucien Young. who had gone ashore
( on official business. With steam NJ
F., and every preparation for sailing COM
: pleted the vessel swung at anchor halt
a mile of the Spreckels wharf. opposite
II street. officers and crew stood idly
about, waiting the arrival of the com
mander and the order to heaye anchor
! Numerous small craft swarmed about
I, lao, 4 he, Ia. Do,
ma was lesurely churning 1t way
across from the Coronado side of the
bay.
I Suddenly there was a deep-toned
rumbling intonation, like a distant
explosion of dynamite, and the Ben
nington was seen to reel and shak,
from stem to stern, dense cloud o.
!. white steam shot skyward. and thu
entire upper deck appeared to lift ant
then settle back with crash. Be
fore persons on shore and aboard tn,
moving bay craft awoke to the catas
trophe enacted before their eyes mel
|, were leaping over the, sides OF tn
Bennington. Then all were moved 4
action. First a fisherman's rowboat
then the launch McKinleN upon whicl
. Commander Young had just embarke
, to board his vessel, rushed to the res
! cue, followed by the tug Santa Fe an
: the Government tug De Russey.
J. The struggling sailors, some Of whor
4 were scalded and otherwise injure
by the superheated steam and terribl
! conclusion of the explosion, wer
quickly taken out OF the water an
hurried ashore. Even the ferry-boa
Ramona. with her crowd OF mornin
{. passengers from Coronado, turned OF
: OF her course Immediately and went
D render assistance.
VESSEL BEGINS TO SETTLE.
Commander Young boarded the Der
nington but few minutes after III
explosion. While there was much cor
fusion among. those who escaped III
harmed, the officers had already S,
about to care for the injured and loo