The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15
(3y Associated Press

f. {.
(l3y Associated Prcss) NIL 55Si N
WASIlNGTON,D c., April 14,-1'ws#
years to n day later than the fatal NJ s-&
souri, disaster. and as every sa lor tmme--5 Il
2tliatcly recalled on Friday, and tile
18th Of the month, six men were done 70 1
death In the forward turret or the Lat
tlcshlp Kcarsarge by one OF those acct
dents which acquire addit lonal terrorEf for
sailors, because of their obscure origin
and almost inpossbillty of prevention
The Atlantic fleet. the strongest nght-E
ing fleet America has ever owned, had Y
cen for weeks engaged In the most severe
itliils$in5 the waters OF the Caribbean Sea,
eliminating i'll the quarterly target praG$-.8 I
.tice. III "a EN- Ss55tS 5
This practice was just about conclud-M
Ing with most satisfactory results unto
yesterday .4antl 1t was confidently expect
ed at the department, upon the basis OF
preliminary reports received, 1T hat all req
ords would lie broken In the matterSof
5rapdity Of fire and efficiency Of the
Eunners But today. Just at 1.-THE close /;
Of the weeks work at the department.
came cabegran from Rear-AtlnlralB
Evans, comnandcr-in-chef Of the Allan
tic fleet telling OF dreadful accident
on one Of his best ships. the llea rsarfe.s
The news came from Calmamera, a little
.tanamo Bay. indicating that the kear
sarge itself had arrived mt that place.
Those Killed.
The message read as follows: siss
&c aln1anera, April ~, 1908.
Secretary Of the Navy,
"WashIngton, D. c.:
s"on April 18th, about a:t5 p. NJ.
shortly after completion Of target
practice OF kearsarge's forward tur.
ret. While the powder was going be- "a S5
z low three sections Of a thIrteen.lnch iS
charge Of powder were Ignlted
Charge Of powder In other HIT Just
below and on section inside thirteen e
Inch remained Intact. Cause not yet @
determined nor accountability. Mat {Sl
ter Is being nvestlo Lieutenant i
Joseph w. Graeme, gun umpire, has
been sent to the Maryland In a very VA
critical state about 9 r., M. The fol.3igJS
lowing have since died: HI
"Llcutenant Hudgns, turret officer, "a
"Peter Norberg gunner's mate. }ii
"Theodore Naesey, seaman. is
canton o, Thorson, ordinary sea-
man. t 4
"JulIus a. koester, turret captain,
first class.
"EIIIs n. Athey, seaman,
1.-THE following was dangerously In 4
Jured by accident; recovery doubtful,
W. King, ordinary, seaman.
"Wlll bury dead at Guantanamo,
Vessel unlnjured."
The following message OF condolences
was telegraphed to the communicating
chief OF the fleet. Admiral Evans, by
Acting Secretary Ncwbcrry: ,
washington, prl IA, 1905.
Evans, Maine, Naval Station, CAT MI
nlancra. st54s
1.-THE department Is grieved by the 81
unfortunate accident on board the
Kearsarge. which occasoncd the death SS
and injury In tho performance ofduty, 7s3
brave officers and men in the navy.l{s
and 1t extends Its heartfelt sympathy 8
to tho Injured and wishes for a speedy
recovery from their wounds. Spare
no effort to ease tho sufferlngs OF tho
injured in every possible manner and I'D
show every honor to the dead.
(sgncd) ''NEWRERRY,"
Native OF Virginia.
Lieutenant John NJ. lludgins tho only h
officer who lost his life by the expIO- h
sion on tho Kearsarge, was a native Of
Virginia, and was appointed to tho Naval y
Academy from that State September 5. RI
1890. l1n WAS assigned to the engineer
corps upon leaving the academy IN 1894. IL
because Of his particular aptitude to1
engineering and his mechanical skill. ~
lie took an especial interest In the SUBJ
ject Of wireless telegraphy, and became
expert IN that line. He was personally
identified with tho development OF thu Il
wireless system as now IN use by the
navy having been attached to the bus
reau of equipment during the expert, y
ments and inauguration of the system.
After short service In 1895 he was
sent TO London for Il special course OF
instruction, and while In that city was
attached to the American embassy.
Since then he has served respectivelylon
the New Orleans. Glacier, Manila and Z
Petrol and In October. 1908, began HIS
service on the Kearsarge, He reaehad
the grade OF lieutenant In September,
1901 Lieutenant Hudginss wife resldas
with her parents In this city
lieutenant Grneme was appointed tosthAs
Naval Academy. from Pennsylvania. He
il a son of Thomas Graeme, Of WILKES
barre. Pa lie Is married ard his wife,
according TO tho, departments informA-
itlon, is With his father.
Immediately upon receiving the catlss