The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-23
IS THE IOWA UNLUCKY?
ANOTHER ACCIDENT COSTS LIFE
 OF CREW MEMBER.
Two Members of Naval Board of Ord- nance Arrive in Pensacola for
 Purpose of Examining
 Into ships Troubles.

Pensacola, Fla, April 22.-(Special) | Commander Knight and Professor Al | ger, members of the Naval Board of Ordnance, arrived here this morning | oh a mission which wll be of interest to the country generally but more particularly to naval people. These of- | ficers came here for the purpose of looking into and ascertaining the causes of so many and so frequent ex- plosions on board the battleship Iowa, there having been three such danger ous disturbances in many years on that ship. The investigations will be started right away and will be ex- haustive and careful in character. The other day, as reported in these dis patches, while at target practice. the Iowa suffered an accident dangerous in character, but which resulted in the injury of no one. While firing one of the S-inch rifles which had been shot more than 100 times. the muzzle blew off, thus rendering unfit for future service a very valuable weapon. When it is considered that this Is the third gun of the type to act in this manner and that there are upward Of sixty in the fighting towers of a dozen ships of the navy in active commission, the idea of rectifying what is thought to be some defect either fin the manufac- ture of the guns or the powder used is a good one. This is the mission of the officials here.
 Naval people are greatly concerned over the recurrence of such accidents. The general belief, however, is that there is some chemical used in the late manufacture of smokeless powder that make it more abnormal than form erly, and that the strength is more powerful than when subjected to the official test when this type of explosive was accepted. There has been no bursting of guns on any of the other ships and they are Of the same class as those on the Iowa, hence the inves- tigation primarily will be held more pointedly on the condition of the Iowa.
 This ship was the scene of a horrible accident last afternoon. She has re- turned from the target range and Is at anchor at the navy yard taking on coal During the afternoon, as a heavy basket of coal weaghing possibly half B ton, was hoisted from the barge, the tackle became suddenly defective and the basket fell on a sailor, whose name was given as Daily, and whose life was crushed out in instant. The accident cast a gloom on board the ship, and the idea has about been formed that there Is an unlucky star pursuing this vessel. It is understood that upon completion of the coaling op- erations and the sittings of the board ended, the ship will go to northern
 
 her armament. It Is possible, naval man said, that all the present type of guns will be removed, and that next winter she will carry an entire new armament.
 Legislators in Pensacola.
 About 100 members of the Florida Legislature with their families were entertained on the bay this morning by special committees named by the Chamber of Commerce and citizens generally. As stated in last nights dispatches, the special train arrived on time and entertaining began right away, This morning, led by Wyer's band, the party of strangers marched for Hotel Escambla to the wharf. where the tug Monarch was in waiting. On this steamer all of the strangers hurried and a trip on the bay was started at 10 o'clock. The navy yard was first visited, after which run was made into the Gulf of Mexico. On the return a stop was made at the life saw ing station, where fish dinner was served, which was thoroughly enjoyed.
 The next move made by the excur- sion boat was to the pattleships, where more than an hour was spent, the of- fcers and men on the fighting vessels being extremely courteous in showing the law makers over their fine naval homes, The boat returned to the city late in the afternoon, and the trip was one which will never De forgotten, ac- cordinR to those who were members of the party. The excursion train will not leave the city until Monday morn ing