The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-19
DEATH TO SEVEN
ON BATTLESH|P
EXPLOSION IN FORWARD TUR-
RET OF THE KEARsARGE.
POWDER CHARGE is IcNlTED
Admiral Evans Reports Six Men In
stantly Killed, with lieutenant
Greame, Gun Umpire Dying
Vessel Escapes Injury.

Vessel Escapes Injury.
Washington, April 1.-two years
to day later than the fatal Missouri
disaster and, as every sailor immedi-
ately recalled, on a Friday and the
18th of the month, six men were done
to death in the forward turret of the
battleship Kearsarge by one of those
accident which acquire additional ter
ror for sailors because of their OBJ
scure origin and almost impossibiiity
of prevention.
The Atlantic feet, the strongest
fighting fleet America has ever
owned, had been for weeks engaged in
the most severe drills in the waters
OF the Caribbean sea, eliminating in
the quarterly target practice. This
practice was Just about concluding
with most satisfactory results up to
Friday, and 1t was confidently expect
ed at the department, upon the basis
Of preliminary reports, that all rec
crds would be broken in the matter OF
rapidity of fire and efficiency of the
gunners.
But Saturday, Just at the close Of
the weeks work at the department,
came a cablegram from Rear Admiral
Evans, the commanding chief of the
Atlantic fleet, telling of a dreadful 40
cident on one OF his best ships, the
Kearsarge.
Admiral Evans Reports.
When the cipher message was re-
duced to form 1t read as follows:
'Caimanera, April IA, 1906.-Secre-
tary Navy, Washington: On April 49,
about 3:15 p. m, shortly after compile
ton target practice of Kearsarge, for
ward turret, while the powder was
going below, three sections of Is.
inch charge of powder were ignited.
Charge of powder. in other lift Just be-
low and enc section inside 13-inch re-
manned intact. Cause not yet deter
mined, nor accountability. Matter is
being investigated.
Lieut.. Joseph w. Graeme, gun UNI
pire, has been sent to the Maryland
in a very critical state about nine
p. m.
"The following have since died:
Lieut.. Hudgins, turret officer.
"Peter Norberg. gunner's mate.
Theodore Naegely, seaman.
Anton o. Thorson, ordinary sea-
man.
Julius A. Rooster, turret captain
first class.
ELLIS A. Athey, seaman.
THE following was dangerously in
jured by accident, recovery doubtful:
wv. King, ordinary seaman.
"Will bury dead at Guantanamo.
Vessel uninjured EVANS"
Death Of Gun Umpire.
The navy department Sunday re-
ceived a telegram from Admiral
Brownson reporting that Lieut.. Joseph
w. Graeme, gun umpire, who was in
jured in the explosion aboard the bat.
tleship Kearsarge In Cuban waters
Saturday, is dead; that the condition
OF William King, ordinary seaman,
and Frederick T. Fisher, chief gun.
ner's mate, is grave, and that all 9th.
ers injured in that disaster are doing
well.
The death of Lieut.. Graeme, which
the dispatch says occurred Saturday,
increases the death list from the dis.
aster to seven persons in all, two of
whom were commissioned officers.
Will Bring Bodies Home.
Acting Secretary of the Navy New
berry received a dispatch from the
father of Lieut.. Graeme, at Wilkes
barre, Pa, and in accordance with his
wishes and those of the family of
Lieut.. John n. Hudgins, the other Of
fcer killed, their bodies will be sent
to this country on the first available
vessel, Similar action will be taken
regarding the bodies Of the seamen
killed If their families or next Of kin
desire that this be done.
A dispatch received at the navy de-
partment Sunday announced that the
armored cruiser Maryland and the
West Virginia. the flagship of the ar
mored cruiser squadron, Of which Ad-
miral Brownson is in command, ar
rived at Guantanamo, having COM
pleted their target practice.