The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-16
KILLED ON THE KEARSARGE
Fatal Accident in Forward Turrat Of
Big BattIeship.
TWO OFFICERS, FIVE MEN DEAD

Inquiry is Now Under Way Crew
BAD just Completed Target Practice,
and While the Powder Was Going
Below Three Sections of a 13-Inch Gun
Charge Were IgnIted-.ship Not Injured
Washington, D. C.-!The ignition of
three sections Of a charge for a thiri
teen-inch gun in the forward turret of
the battleship Kearsarge, in the viciD-
ity of Guantanamo. Cuba, resulted in
the death Of two officers and five en-
listed men and the probably fatal in
jury of another enlisted man. Lieuten-
ant John NJ. Hudgins, whose home was
in Washington, and Lieutenant Joseph
w. Graeme, attached to the United
States steamship Maryland. who was
acting as gun umpire at the time of the
accident, were the officers killed. The
Kearsarge had just completed target
practice at the time Of the accident.
The news of the accident came to the
Navy Department in a dispatch from
Captain Herbert Winslow, command
ing the Kearsarge. Beyond the an
nouncement of what had happened and
the names Of those who we're killed
and injured, the dispatch contained
few details. It seems clear, however,
that there was not an explosion, and it
is presumed that the smokeless powder
burned up, suffocating or burning to
death the men within the turret.
A charge for a thirteen-inch rife is
composed Of four sections. According
to Captain Winslow's message, Il Sec
ton of the charge in the gun and an
other charge in the hosting car used
to carry powder from the handling
room below to the t~urrets, remained III
tact. Upon these details the theory is
based that there was not an explosion,
as both the section of powder within
the gun and the charge in the lift be-
low would have been ignited, causing
the death Of many more men and prob
ably completely wrecking the forward
part of the vessel.
The cause of the accident, according
to Captain Winslow, has not been de-
termined, but an investigation is now
under way. 1t is supposed that as soon
as possible following the ignition OF
the explosive Captain Winslow made
for Guantanamo and from there made
his report. His dispatch to the Navy
Department is as follows:
"On April Is, about 3.15 p. M, short
~ after completion Of target practice
on the Kearsarge in the forward turret,
while powder was going below, three
sections Of q thirteen-inch charge were
ignited. Charge of powder in other
lift just below and n set lion inside
t~hirteen-inch remained intact. Cause
not yet determined nor accountability.
Matter Is being Investigated. Lieuten-
ant Joseph y. Graeme, gun umpire,
sent to the Maryland in a very critical
state about 0 p. m. The following
have since died: Lieutenant Hudgins,
turret officer; Peter Norberg, gunner's
mate; Theodore Naegely, seaman; An
ton O. Thorson, ordinary seaman; Jul
Illus A. Koe:ter, turret captain, first
class; Al,is II. Athey, seaman. Fol.
lowing was dangerously injured by ac-
cident, recovery doubtful, W. King,
seaman. Will bury dead at Cuantan-
amo. Vessel u%ninjured."
Secretary of the Navy B%onaparte is
in Baltimore and in his absence Act
ing Secretary Newberry sent the fol.
lowing to Captain Winslow:
"The Department is deeply gricved
by the unfortunate accident on board
the Kearsarge which %occasioned the
death and injury in the performance
of duty of brave officers and men OF
the navy, and it extends lis heartfelt
sympathy to the injure.. and wishes
for a speedy recovery from their
wounds. Spare no effort to ease the
sufferings of the injured in every pos.
sible manner and show every honor to
the dead"