Arizona republican., 1905-07-22

be reached by telephone was called to the water front. Within a compara- lively short time nearly a dozen phy- sicians were on the scene and attend ing the wounded.
 A dozen or fifteen were blown over board by the force of the terrific ex- plosion. Captain Wentworth, who was looking at the Bennington when the disaster occurred, says he saw hu- man bodies hurled over a hundred feet upward. The air was black with smoke which enveloped the ship. When it cleared away only a few men could be seen on the decks, while a number were floundering in the water. A boat was lowered from the vessels side and most of them were picked up and taken on board. The shock of the ex- plOsiOn penetrated every section of the ship, blood and ashes being found as far as the stern of the captains cabin. Portions of the upper deck were car ried away and great damage was done in all sections.
 All the available launches hastened to the wreck while most of the row boats along the bay were brought into use. Most of the dead and injured were taken ashore, where undertakers
 
 former taking charge of the dead and the latter to minister to the needs of the living. The bodies of many of the men taken from the wrecked interior of the ship were mutilated almost be- yOnd recognition. The faces of many were covered with blood and ashes
 Commander Young, as soon as he reached the ship gave orders that the alright compartments be closed to prevent the listing ship from sinking and that the magazine be flooded to avoid further explosions.
 THE SCREENING SIGHT.
 Temporary quarters on shore were arranged for the wounded and sixty citizens volunteered and hurried in launches to the relief of those on the ill fated ship. Some of the volunteers were unable to stand the siekening sight which met their gaze on the Ben ningtOn. As fast as the wounded could be removed they were hurried in ambulances. carriages. wagons and automobiles to the hospitals. The spaces between decks where most of the dead bodies lay, were filled and it was not unti! late in the afternoon that the last were removed from the boiler rooms.
 Several bodies were so tightly wedg- ed in by bulkhead that the wood work had to be hewn away to free them. Most of the bodies yet uniden- tified have been mangled, almost be- yond hope of recognition.
 THE BOILER WAS UNSAFE.
 The boileu which exploded it is said was regarded as unsafe Commander Young stated that during the recent return from Honolulu, the steam pres sure was kept reduced in that partic- ular one. When the explosion -occurr- cd, Engineer Nelson was inspecting the boilers as Q preliminary to the vessels leaving port. He was not seriously injured. The officers and men who were able to assist in the rescues acted in a brave and collected manner The pumps were manned to keep the water from the upper com partments, the magazines were flood ed and the men fought their way through steam into the darkened hold to search for their comrades. In the worst danger. and when it was feared the s!ip would sink before she could be beached, the young officers and men stuck manfully to their posts. Albert H. Ryan, of this city. who was rowing near the ship at the time of the accident, plunged into the water and rescued several sailors. The ships inner works ale tangled mass of machinery and she probably will have to be dismantled in order to eX- anime her injuries.