Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-29
SAILORS KILLED
ON BENNINGTON
Boiler Explodes on United States
GunbOat at San Diego, Cal
So DEAD AND 4s WOUNDED


gunbOat Bennington at the time OF
the fatal boiler explosion in San Diego
bsrbor are accounted for. ExDlora-
ton OF the vessels hold continues
as IL is rapidly emptied OF water.
The summary of the situation Is
Dead. SIS; wounded, 40. uninjured. 80:
deserted. ]: total number OF crew be
fore accident. 1877.
C. A. Mumper was found alive and
uniniured. blotting out any missing
list Seven men are still in a critical
condition In the hospital.
The BenningtOn's interior presents
disordered appearance. Boiler B.
which exploded frst. is seen TO have
moved IS feet aft. and the two ex
ploded boilers are iammed against a
steel bulkhead. The condition in the
engine room is such that IL will prob
ably take two days % discover the
full amount OF the damage there
The warship had received orders
from the navy department at Washing
ton to sail for Port Hartford 70 meet
the monitor Wyoming and convoy the
monitor 10 Mare Island navy yard. San
Francisco.
Steam was up and everything was in
readiness for the departure OF the Ben.
nington. when the starboard boiler ex
ploded with a deafening roar. The ex
plOsiOn was terrific. People standing
on shore saw huge cloud OF steam
rise above the Bennington. Columns
OF water We're forced high into the
air. A dozen or Is men were blown
overheard by the force OF the terrible
explosion. Captain Wentworth. who
was looking at the Bennington when
the disaster occurred. says he saw
human bodies hurled over 100 feet up-
ward. The air was clouded with smoke,
which enveloped the ship. When the
haze cleared away only few men
could be seen on the decks. while a
number were foundering In the water.
:. boat was lowered from the vessels
side and most OF the men In the water
were picked up and taken on board
Terrible Scenes On Ship.
On board the Bennington we're pre-
sented terrible scenes. The force of
the explosion had torn a great hole
In the starboard side OF the ship and
the vessel was already oommencing
TO list. A section OF the upper deck
was carried away from stem 20 stern.
Blood and wrsckage Was distributed
over the entire ship. the after cabin
and that part OF the ship adjacent 20
the exploded boiler resembling a char.
mel house
The boiler which exploded. Il Is said.
was regarded as unsafe. Commander
Young stated that during a recent re-
turn from Honolulu the steam pres
sure was kept reduced In that par
ticular one
At the time OF the accident Com
mander Lucien Young and Surgeon +.
K Peck were on shore. The two on
GERS. as soon as they learned OF the
disaster. hurried to the water front
Commander Young. as soon as he
reached the ship. gGve orders that the
alright compartments be closed 20
prevent the listing ship from sinking.
and that the magazine be flooded To
avert further explosions He then
beached the ship at high tide.
The ferryboat Ramona. which was
| crossing the bay at the time OF the &C
cident. changed its course and hurried
20 the aid OF the stricken warship. The
| government launch General De Russey
| and large number or other launches
and water craft which were near the
scene at the time also rushed to the
assistance OF the Bennington.
The bodies OF many OF the men taken
from the wrecked interior OF the shin
were mutilated almost beyond recogni-
ton The faces OF many were covered
with blood and ashes. Some bodies
may never be identified
| Temporary quarters ashore were ar
ranged for the wounded, and 90 citizens
volunteered and hurried in launches to
the relief OF those on the ship Some
of the volunteers were unable TO stand
the sickening sight which met their
gaze on the Bennington. AS fast as the
wounded could be removed they were
hurried In ambulanees, carriages, wag-
ons and automobiles TO hospitals. For
long time the hot steam prevented
access to the space between decks.
where most or the dead bodies lay. and
It was not until late In the afternoon
that the last were removed from the
boiler rooms. Several bodies were so
tightly wedged in by a bulkhead that
the woodwork had to be hewed away
70 tree them.
Most OF the men on board were as
sembled between decks, above the boi-
iers, when the explosion occurred. Here
Is where the most frightful slaughter
took place. No one living has been
able 70 describe what happened there.
but vivid witnesses exist in the blood
smeared walls. II is from between
decks that most OF the dead bodies
have been taken.
i Forty-sevsn Of the Dead Buried
| Forty-seyen OF the dead were buried
in common grave In the little mill
tary cemetery on the crest OF the PIC