New-York tribune., 1905-07-22

San Diego. Cal. July 21.-Thirty-nine MEM
bers of the crew of the United States gunooaI
Remington were killed and nearly one hundred
sailors were injured, some fatally, at 10 o'clock
this morning by boiler explosion that disabled
the vesse! in San Diego Harbor. Fifteen sailors
are missing.
There were more than two hundred and fifty
men aboard when the accident occurred, and
many were hurled or forced to jump into the
sea nv the terrific explosion, which lifted part
Of the deck and compelled the beaching OF the
ship.
The Bennington at the time of the accident
was living in the stream just on the CONNER
cial Wharf. at HIST. The warship had recelVed
orders from the Navy Department at Wash
lncton to sail this morning for Port Hartford to
meet the monitor Wyoming and convoy 1T to
Mare Island Navy Yard. San Francisco
Steam was up and everything was in readl-
ness for the departure of the Bennington when
the starboard forward boiler exploded with a
deafening roar The explosion was terrific.
People standing on shore saw a huge cloud Of
steam rise above the Bennington. Columns of
water were forced high into the air dozen
or fifteen men were blown overheard by the
force of the terrific explosion
Captain Wentworth. who was looking at the
Remington when the disaster occurred. says
nc say human bodies hurled over hundred
faet inward 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 houndering IN
the water. 4 boat was lowered from the yes
sells side and most of the men In the water
were picked up and taken on board.
On board the Bennington were presented Ter
rihle scenes. The force Of the explosion had
torn great hole in the starbOard side OF the
shin. and the vessel was already commencing
TO list. A section of the upper deck was car
ried away from stem TO stern
Blood and wreckage were distributed over the
entire ship, the after cabin and that part Oh
the ship adjacent to the exploded boiler resen-
bling a charnel house.
The shock Of the explosion penetrated every
section of the ship. blood and ashes being FOUND
as far astern as the captains cabin Great
dorooa was done in all parts of the vessel.
The boiler which exploded. it is said' was re-
parded as unsafe Commander Young said that
during a recent return from Honolulu the steam
pressure was kept reduced in that particular
boiler. At the time of the accident Commander
Iucien Young and Surgeon f. Z. Peck were on
shore The two officers, as soon as they learned
of the disaster hurried 10 the waterfront
Commander Young as soon as he reached the
shin. gave orders that the alright eompart-
ments be closed. to prevent the listing snip
from sinking and that the magazines be flood
ed TO avert further explosions He then beached
the ship at high tide.
The ferrvboat Ramona, which was crossing
the bay at the time of the accident. changed its
course and hurried to the aid OF the stricken
yarship. The government launch General De
Russey and many other launches and water
craft which were near the scene at the time
also rushed to the assistance Of the Remington
By the time the Ramona reached the Ben
nington many of the sailors of the Remington,
who had Jumped into the bay TO escape the
scaIding steam had been rescued by small
craft. The removal of the wounded from the
shin was conducted in perfect order. The
crews of the De Russey and the other boats
aided in picking up the wounded sailors and
transferring them to shore.
The news of the explosion spread over the
city rapidly First reports said that half the
crew had been killed. The hurrying of ambu-
lances and carriages Of every description
hi.b had Isaap summoned added TO the ex-
citement Every physician who could be
reached by telephone was called to the water
front. Within short time score of physi-
clans we're attending the wounded.
Most Of the dead and injured were taken
ashore where the undertakers and physicians
were assembled.
Tine podi-s % many OF the men taken from