The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-25

San Diego, Cal, jury 21.-Thirty-
nine members Of the crew Of the Unit
ed States gunboat Bennington were
killed and four score sailors were i'll
jured, "a seriously, at 10 O'Clock this
forenoon by a boiler explosion that dis
abled the vessel in San Diego harbor
Fifteen sailors are missing. There
were more than $50 men aboard the
warship when the explosion occurred.
Many men were hurled or forced 10
lump into the sea by the terrific explo
sion which lifted part of the deck ana
kcompelled the Bleaching of the ship
The Bennington at the time OF the
knccident was lying in the stream just
off the Commercial wharf at H. street
The warship had received orders from
the navy department at Washington to
sail this morning Tor Port Hartford 10
meet the monitor Wyoming and con-
vev the monitor TO Mare Island Navy
Yard, San Francisco.
Steam was I'D and everything was In
readiness for the departure OF the len
nington when the starboard forward
boiler exploded with a deafening roar
The explosion was terrific. feop'e
standing on shore saw a huge cloud OF
steam rise above the Bennington. oil
umns of water were forced hlgh lhto
the air. A dozen or fifteen men were
blown overheard by he force Oh Ihe
terrific explosion. Captain Went"ol'i
= who was looking at the bennington
when the disaster occurred says ne saw
human bodies hurled over a nundreu
feet upward. The air was clouoed VIII
smoke which enveloped the snip. Wneu
the haze cleared away only a rev men
could he seen on the decks, Wnle d
number we're ~ioundering in the water
hoat was lowered from the Vessel
eide and most of the men in the water
were picked up and taken ON boaro.
On hoard the Bennington were pre-
scented terrible scenes. Inc 1orCe y
the explosion had torn a great noIe IL
the starboard side OF the snip anu Wv
vessel was already commencing W loI
A section of the upper deck was co.
ried AWAY from stem to stern. DIV
and wreckage vas distributed over ~
entire ship, the after caoln anu no ,
mart of the ship adjacent to the eAplou
cd boiles resembling a cnarnel nous.
The shock of the explosion Pen1''"'
ed every section OF the snip, oiooo on
ashes being found as Tar as the -.
of the captains cabin. GreaI uan
was done in all parts OF the vessel
The boiler which exploded, II - So
was regarded as unsaie. oola"A ~
4lo+ InrinO q recent it
turn from Honolulu the steam pleo9 ICE"
was kept reduced IN THAI
one. Co,,m.n
aor ucien Young and Surgeon + +
poct were on shore. The two on1cei
&c soon as they learned of the dlsa9,e
brrried to the water front. Conn-ai
dor Youne as soon as he reacheo II
chin cave orders that the air uS.
oomnartments be closed to prevent -
listing of the ship from sinking IL an
that the magazines be flooded TO ave
frrther explosions. He then DedcE'
the vessel at high tide.
The ferry boat Raymond WHICH VIZ
crossing the bay at the time oi -
accident. changed its course anu LII.
ried to the aid Of the stricken "aiSn +
The government launch, General l
Rnssqv. and a large numDer oi o'n
launches and water crafts when We
about at the time also rushed 10 u
assistance of the Bennington.
Rv the time the Raymond reach'
the Bennington many Of the sal'o
Who had jumped into the bay to escal
Tho scalding steam had been rescu
nv small crafts. The removal OF {
Sounded from the ship was conduct
~ narfect order. The crews OF the
p,esev and the other boats aided
nicking up the wounded sailors d
transferring them to shore:
The news of the explosion spre
over the city like wild fire. AT III
ronorts were that half the crew N
i ION killed. The scene of hurrying a
~m,1ances and carriages Of every {
ecrintion which had been summon
addad TO the excitement. every ph.
jcian h could be reached by re
nbone was called to water front. Wlti
q short time a Store of physicians w
attending the wounded. o oil
dead and injured were ASH
where the undertekers and pnysicis
were assembled >,
The bodies of many Of the men TAI
from the wrecked interior or the .