The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-15
Sailors Attribute thG Latest BaftIeShIp Disaster to
 Friday the 18th
POWDER WAS IGNITEO
 IN THE FORWARD TURRET
Cause of Trouble Is Obscure, But s Attributed to Spark From Smoul- dering Canvas Bag From
 Big Gun.

Guantanamo, April l4.-The United States battleship Kearsarge has arrived here The casualties resulting from the explosion are reported as follows:
 Two officers and five men killed. and fourteen men injured. eight of them seri- ously The bodies of the men killed will be buried in the naval cemetery here tomorrow
 Washington, April 1.-Two years to day later than the disaster on the Mis- souri, and as every sailor immediately recalled on Friday, and the 18th of the month, six men met death in the forward turret of the battleship kear- sarge by one of those accidents which acquire additional terror for sailors be- cause of their obscure origin, and almost of prevention.
 The Atlantic fleet. the strongest squad ron America has ever owned. had been for weeks engaged in drill in the carib- bean sea, eliminating in the quarterly target practice This practice was just about concluding with most satisfactory results up to yesterday and 1t was con fidently expected al the department that all records would be broken in the mat ter of rapidily of fire and efficiency of the gunners
 Tells of Dreadful Accident.
 But today a cablegfam came from Rear Admiral Evans telling of dreadful ac- cfdent on the Kearsarge. The news came from caimanera, d little cable station at rt... t,.4t,s 4ft,er that the Kearsarge had arrived there. slight telesraphic error, requiring the con summation of extra time to deelpher the message added to the anxiety Of the officials When the message was finally reduced 10 form il read as follows
 ..Camanera. April IL Secretary Navy, Washington. On April l3 about 5;lo D. m shortly after completion target practice of Kearsarge forward turret while the powder was going below, three sections of a l3-nch charge of powder were ignited Charge of powder in other htt just below and one section inside l5-incn remained intact. Cause not yet deter mined, nor accountability. The matter ls being investigated. Lieut. Joseph Graem, gun umpire. has been sent to the Maryland in critical state about p. m
 The Dead.
 
 tenent Higgins, turret officer; Peter Nors- berg, gunner's mate; Theodore Naogely. seaman. Anton o. Thorson, ordinary sea-' man: Julius A. Rooster, turret captain, hrst-class: Ellis Athey, seaman
 The following were dangerously injured by accident, recovery doubtfuli W King. ordinary seaman Will bury dead at Guantanamo. Vessel uninjured.
 The residences of next of kin of ths fp1l NOrabRrR ter, gunner's mate, third class, residence. New York next of kin Margaret Nor berg mother, Sandsvall, Sweden; Noagc- ly, Theo, seaman. residence, Elizabeth N. J., next of kin, Louis Graf, guardian, s64 Elizabeth avenue, Elizabeth N, J.i Thorson Anton, ordinary seaman, resi- dence. New York, next or Kin Elias Thor son. father. Wickoff avenue. near Broad way New York; Rooster. Julius Alfred. turret captain. first class, residence. Chi- cago, H.. next of kin, John Peterson. uncle, 345 West Huron street Chicago Athey. Ellis Homer, seaman residence, Parkersburg, w. Va, next of kin w. E. Athey, father. lO6 Twenty-flrst street. Parkersburg. w. Va.
 The following dangerously injured by accident. recovery doubtful: King. Will liam, ordinary seaman. residence, Apple ton City. Mo-. next of kin. Mrs. Alice Cox, Appleton City, Mo.
 Sends Message of Coincidence.
 The following message of condolence was teiegraphed tO the commander In chief Of the fleet Admiral Evans, by Acting Secretary Newberry:
 "Evans. Maine. naval station caiman- era Department Ia deeply grieved by the unfortunate accident on board the Rear sarge which occasioned the death and injury fin the performance of duty Of afA. and ir, thn Faas it extends its heartfelt sympathy to the injured and wishes for u speedy recovery from their wounds. Spare no effort to ease the sufferings of the injured in every possible manner. and show every honor to the dead. NEWBERRY.
 Takes News to President.
 Acting Secretary Newberry carried the cablegram to the President and was au- thorized to send the foregoing expression of sympathy. He also communicated the news 10 Secretary Bonaparte in Balti- more over the long distance telephone. Meanwhile officials were finding the ad- dresses of the relatives of the victims, and sending telegrams to them. Nothing more can be done in Washington until further details are received from Admir- al Evens.
 The dead sailors have been buried at Guantanamo. The officers at the navy department are surprised that the acct- dent resulted in so little loss of life. The Kearsarges forward turret is of the sii- per-imposed type: In other words. 1t is an eight Inch, gun turrei set on rhir- teen-inch gun turret. In the lower turret were twenty-four men. and in the upper turret sixteen An ammunition hoist connects the two. and had the powder in the lower hoist exploded. probably every man in the two turrets would have
 ftaf1 f.ha of m ffar for a thlrteen-inch gun Is too large 10 be handled by one man. so it is divided
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 (ContInued on Second Paoe)