Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
SIX KILLED ON
THE KEARSARGE
Fatal Explosion in the Forward
Turret.
NEWS FROM ADMIRAL EVANS
Vessel Had Just Finished Target
Practice.
CAUSE OF DISASTER UNKNOWN
Lieut.. John NJ. Hudgins and Five
Men Lose Their Lives-Lieut
Graeme in Danger.
NEWS FROM ADMIRAL EVANS
Vessel Had Just Finished Target
Practice.
CAUSE OF DISASTER UNKNOWN

The Navy Department received
word yesterday afternoon OF fatal
explosion on board the battleship
Kearsarge Friday afternoon, result
ing in the death of an officer and
five men and the injury of number
OF others. The explosion occurred
In the forward turret OF the ship at
the close of target practice.
Two years TO a day later than the fatal
Missouri disaster. and every sailor i'm
mediately recalled on the 18th of the
month. six men were done to death in the
forward turret Of the battleship Kearsarge
by one OF those accidents which acquire
additional terror for sailors because of
their obscure origin and almost impossi-
bility Of prevention.
The Atlantic feet the strongest fighting
feet the United States has ever owned,
had been for weeks engaged in the most
severe drills in the waters of the Carib
bean sea. eliminating in the quarterly tar
get practice. This practice was just about
closing with most satisfactory results up
20 Friday, and 1t was confidently expected
at the Navy Department, upon the basis Of
preliminary reports received. that all rec
ords would be broken in the matter of ra-
pidity Of fire and efficiency OF the gun
ners. But yesterday just at the close OF
the weeks work at the department came
cablegram from Rear Admiral Evans. the
eommander-in-chief Of the Atlantic fleet,
telling OF a dreadful accident on one of his
best ships. the kearsarge. The news came
from CJimauera, a little cable station on
Guantanamo bay, indicating that the Kear-
sarge itself had arrived at that place A
slight telegraphic error requiring the con
sumption OF some time to effect the de-
cipherlng OF the message added to the anx-
iety of the officials as soon as they had
made out the fact that serious accident
had occurred. When the message was
finally reduced to form 1t read as follows
Admiral Evans Dispatch
"CAIMANERA, April II, 1906.
Secretary OF the Navy. Washington
"On April II. about 1913 pm. shortly
after completion of target practice of
Kearsarge forward turret, while the pow
der was going below three sections of a
thirteen-inch charge of powder aere ignit-
ed Charge OF powder in other lift just be-
low and one section inside 1S-inch remained
intact. Cause not yet determined, accoun-
liability. Matter is being investigated.
Lieut.. Joseph W. Graeme. gun umpire has
been sent 10 the Maryland In a very critl-
cal state, about pm. The following have
since died; Lieut.. Hudgins, turret officer;
Peter Norberg, gunuers mate: Theodore
Naegely, seaman; Anton O. Thorson ordi-
Eary seaman. julius A Koester turret
captain. first class: Ellis II. Athey sea
man. The following was dangerously in
jured by accident. recovery doubtful w.
King. ordinary seaman. VIII bury dead at
Guantanamo. Vessel unnjured
"EyANs."
Message of Coincidence.
The following message OF coincidence was
subsequently telegraphed to the com
mander-in-chief. Rear Admiral Evans, by
Acting Secretary Newberry:
April IA 1906.
Evans Maine. naval station. Caimanera:
The department is deeply grieved by the
unfortunate accident on board the Kear-
sarge. which occas3oncd the death and in
jury In the performance Of duty OF brave
officers and men in the navy, and il ex-
tends its heartfelt sympathy to the injured
and wishes for a speedy recovery from
their wounds. Spare effort to ease the
sufferings in every possible manner and
show every honor to the dead
CSigued) NEW WBERRY
Immediately upon receiving the cable
gram, Acting Secretary Newherry carried
IL to the President at the White House and
was authorized to send the foregoing ex-
preston of sympathy. He also communi-
Gated the sad news 10 Secretary Bonaparte
ffo,ttnuad 49,, caonD.3 %