The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-22

Reameu Killed Outright We're between
Decks. Over the Boiler. when II Went
Up-Dead and wounded Blown Into
tho Sea Horrible Sights Aboard tho
Boat and In the Makeshift Ambulances
Lieut.. Victor Blue. Spanish War
Hero, Had the Luck to he Ashore.
SAN DIEGO. Cal. July 2i.-The starboard
main boiler Of the United States gunboat
Bennington, at anchor in San Diego Bay.
blew up at iol5 o'clock this morning
Ensign Newman X. Perry and thirty
three seamen were killed. seventy-eiI men
were wounded and twenty-one are missing.
Some of the wounded may die. or the
100 men on the ship only thirty escaped
unhurt. Lieut.. Yates. in temporary COM
n,and Of the g,lnboat, was badly scalded.
Commander Luoien 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 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.
unppnp VIEWED NV HUNDRRD9,
Hundreds Of eyes we're on the Bennington
at the moment Of the horror, for the bay
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
point lust forward OF the smoke stack.
Through this steam came flying the 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 we're In the water fighting for life.
Rowboats, sailboats, launches and tugs
raced to the rescue. A ferry boat turned
and fastened to render assistance, its own
deck crowded with frightened men and
women. horrible sight was there for the
rescuers In the water men with blackened
faces we're 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 were yet
below, either dead or dying.
TAXING THE INJURED ASHORE.
The smaller boats directed their atten'
ton to those in the water, taking then
to wharves as fast as few were taker
aboard the small craft. At the wharve:
preparations we're speedily made for TAX
ing care of the injured in what, by THU
time. was seen to he disaster OF awfu
PROPORTIONS. Ambulances were telephonet
for. every wagon driver who could b
reached by telephone was summoned
physicians were notified and hospital
informed
Within half an hour from the time OF tn
explosion carriages. buggies, automobile
and street cars were bearing burdens o
victims toward the hospitals.
Wagons with dozen wounded men WEIR
not rare sights. One had eight sitting
AGAINST It's sides. holding in their laps head
Of comrades near to death, all OF them wit
faces black with smoke and CRIME and man.
, clad in nothing but trousers. Some OF thos
I whose bodies were bare not injured in vita
parts but suffering the agonies OF torn fiesf
: sat ND with their lacerated bodies expose
: To the wind. One, whose arm was twiste
). and whose face and breast were oovere
with blood, looked at his own hanging aes
and dripping blood and muttered onl
my God, my Cod
: Scores Of men, all wounded and with black
. ened bodies, we're hurried through tn
streets to places where blood could /
o stanched and gaping wounds stitched.
:, SCENES ON THE DRCK.
n The scene on the deck Of the Benningto
y was horrfying. score OF dead sailor
r were scattered about. several with thei
!, limbs blown of. Others were scalded &
, fearfully that death was only matter OF
Is few hours. The bloating OF the feature
and limbs by steam gave the victims sue
Is a repulsive appearance that Command
l. Young, who has seen service In Hawaha
" waters, declared that not even the lep
x settlement at Molokai could show an
y. ~ thing 80 fearful. Most OF the wounde
y were conscious and uttering cries OF agon
Most Of the officers were scattered abo'
o. the ship and thus escaped the full for
rha Rsrond EmuIr0