The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
Serious Accident In the For
ward Turret Of The
Big BatteShip.
LIEUT.. J. M. HUDGINS DEAD.
Lieut.. Graeme Receives Probably
Fatal Injuries.

The kcarsarge HI Just Completed Target
Practice and While the Powder Was
Going Below Three Sections OF a I3.
Incn Gun Charge Were Ignited-Besidc
Lieut.. Hudglns Five seamen We're Killed
and Another So Badly Injured That He
Ma, Not Rpcovcr-Ship Not Injured.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE ignition OF
three sections Of a charge for a 1S-inch gun
in the forward turret of the battleship
Kearsarge, in the vicinity of Guantanamo,
Cuba. Yesterday afternoon resulted in the
death of one officer and five enlisted men
and the probably fatal injury of a second
officer and another enlisted man. Lieut..
John NJ. Hudgins, whose home was in Wash
ington. was the officer killed and Lieut..
Joseph W. Graeme, attached to the United
States steamship Maryland, who was acting
as gun umpire at the time of the accident,
ia the officer who was injured. Lieut..
traene WAS lTdISltIltu I Nlt Ahdi civ
last night at o o'clock. The Kearsarge had
iust completed target practice at the time
Of the accident.
The news of the accident came to the
NAVY Department late this afternoon in a
despatch from Capt. Herbert Winslow,
commanding the Kearsarge. Beyond the
announcement of what had happened and
the names of those who were killed and in
iured. the despatch contained few details.
1t 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 l3-inoh rife is composed
Of four sections. According to Capt. Wins
lows message. one section OF the charge
in the gun and another charge in the hoist
Ing car used TO carry powder from the
handling room below 10 the %turrets, re-
NAMED intact. Upon these details the
theory is based that there was not an en-
plosion, as both the section OF powder
within the gun and the charge in the lift
below would have been ignited, causing
the death Of many more men and probably
completely wrecking the forward part of
the vessel.
The cause of the accident, according to
Capt. Winslow, has not been determined,
but an investigation is now under way.
Just where the Kearsarge was at the time
Of the accident is not made clear in the
despatch, but it was probably at Man
2anillo Bay, about $50 miles west of Guam
, tanamo, where nearly all Of the vessels OF
The Atlantic fleet have been engaged in
target practice since April /. This idea
is further ~substantiated by the fact that
Capt. Winslow was Unable to get a report
to Washington until more than twenty
four hours after the accident happened.
1t is supposed that as soon as possible oil
lowing the ignition OF the explosive Capt.
Winslow made for Guantanamo and from
there mGde his report. His despatch to
the Navy Department is as follows:
q April II. about 3l5 p. NJ, shortly after
completion of target practice on the Rear
sarge in the forward %turret. while powder
was going below, three sections OF a l3-inch
charg" were ignited. Charge OF powder
N other lift just below and one section inside
l?-tuch remained intact. Cause not yet
determined, accountability (slcl. Matter is
being investigated. Lieut.. Joseph W.
Graeme. gun umpire, sent to the Maryland
in a very critical state about 8 p NJ. The
following have since died: Lieut.. Hudgins,
turret officer. Peter NorberR. gunner's mate;
Theodore Naegely, seaman: Anton U. Thor
son, ordinary seaman: Julius A. Rooster.
lurret captain, first class; Ellis II. Athey.
seaman. Following was dangerously in-
!ured nv accident, recovery doubtful w
King. seaman. viii bury dead at Guam
tArsmo. Vessel uniniured."
Secretary of the Navy B%onaparte is in
Baltimore to-day and in his absence Acting
Secretary Newberry sent the following to
Capt. Wlnslow-
The Department Is deeply grieved by the
unfortunate accident on board the kearsarge
which occasioned the death and injury
IN the performance OF duty of brave officers
ana men Of the navy. and it extends It's heart
ielt sympathy to the injured and wishes for
aspeedy recovery from their wounds Spare
" thNt VIZ llk VI Nv W
IN every possible manner and show every
honor to the dead"
Lieut.. John NJ Hudgins, who was killed
was appointed a naval cadet from Vir-
GINA IN September, 1890. He was gradu.
ated from the Naval Academy in June, 1894
and was sent to serve on the Detroit at the
Norfolk navy yard. In July, 1895, he was
promoted to the grade Of assistant engi'
heer and continued service in that capacity
at the Norfolk Navy Yard until the follow
ing August, when he was detached and or
oered to London for a course Of instruction
curing which time he was attached TO the
american Embassy. On March 3, 1890
Lieut.. Hudgins's rank was changed from
assistant engineer to ensign. He subse.
quently reached the grade OF Lieutenant,
junior grades and was mads Lieutenant
'he rank he held at the time OF his death
on SpUtapnLa1 ~ tOnt L. u.,. nNNoAhox