The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-04-19
FEARFUL EXPLOSION
ON The KEARSARGE
Seven Killed in Target Practice
on Battleship While in
Caribbean Sea.
WAS ON FRIDAY THE 18Th
Tars Recall the Anniversary of Another
Accident on the Missouri Which
Occurred Two Years Ago on
Friday, the 18th.

Washington, D. c., April 1.-two
years ago to a day later than the fatal
Missouri disaster and as every sailor
Immediately recalled, on a Friday on
the 18th of the month, six men were
done to death in the forward turret Of
the battleship Kearsarge by one OF
these accidents which acquire addi-
tiona terror for ailor because of
their obscure origin and almost i'm
possible of prevention.
The Atlantic fleet, the strongest
fighting fees America has ever
owned, had been for weeks engaged
in the most severe drills in the waters
of the Caribbean sea, eliminating in
the quarterly target practice. This
practice was just about concluding
with most satisfactory results up to
Friday and it was confidently expected
at the department upon the basis of
preliminary reports received, that all
records would be broken in the matter
of rapidity of fire and efficiency Of the
gunnerS.
But Saturday, just at the close of the
weeks work at the department, came
the cablegram from Rear Admiral
Evans. the commander in chief Of the
Atlantic fleet, telling of a dreadful &C
cident on one Of his best ships, the
Kearsarge. The cable came from Cal
manera, a little cable station at the
mouth of Guantanamo bay, Indicating
viz LNSCIA stt . Z llSSlL 1iSiU -
that place. A slight Geographic error,
requiring the consumption Of some time
to effect the d~ecipherirg of the mes
sage added to the anxiety of the Of
,ficials as soon as they had made out
the fact that a serious accident had
occurred.
Text of the Message.
When the message was finally reduced
to form it read:
AT, 81 1oop -
the Navy, Washington, D.. c.: On April
l3, about 3:l5 p. m, shortly after compile
ton of target practice Of kearsarse for
below three sections of a 1s-inch charge
Of powder was ignited. Charges of pow
der in other lift just below and one sec
ton inside 13-inch remained intact. Cause
not yet determined, nor accountability.
Matter is being investigated. Lieut.. Joseph
". Graeme, gun umpire, has been sent to
the Maryland in a very critical state. The
following have since died:
LIEUT.. JOSEPH W. GRAEME, u
umpire.
LIEUT.. HuGGINS, turret officer.
PETER NORBERG, gunners's mate.
THEODORE NAOGELY, seaman.
ANTON O.. THORSON, ordinary sea-
JULIUS A. KOEsTER, turret captain,
first class.
ELLIS II. ATHEY, seaman.
The following were dangerously injured,
recovery doubtful:
w. King, ordinary seaman. .
VIII bury dead at Guantanamo.
Vessel un:njured. Evans,
Commanding.
Residence and Next Of Kin.
The residences and next of kin of tho
victims were as follows:
NORBERG, PETER, gunner's mate,
third class; residence, New York; next of
kin, Margaret Norberg, mother, Sands
vail. Sweden.
NAOGELY, THEODORE, ama resi-
dence, ELIZABETH, n. j.; next of kin, Louis
Graf. guardian, Elizabeth, n. J.
THORSOM ANTON CLAUS, ordinary
kin, Elias Thorson, New York city.
KOESTER, JULIUS ALFRED, turret
captain, first class; residence, Chicago, ILL.,:
next of kin. John Peterson, uncle, Chicago,
ATHEY, ELLIS HOMER, seaman: resi-
dence, ParlIersburg, w. Va: next of kin,
w. e. Athcy, father, Parkersburg, w. Va.
The following were dangerously wounded
by the accident and recovery is doubtful:
King, William, ordinary seaman: res
ldence, Appleton City, Mo; next of kin,
Mrs. Alice Cox, Appleton City, Mo.
Message of Coincidence.
The following messages of coincidence
"as telesraphed to the commander in
thief of the fleet, Admiral Evans. by Act
ing Secretary Newberry:
April IA, 19OG.-Evans. Maine, Naval Sta
ton. Caimanera: The department is deep
~ grievcd by the unfortunate accident on
BOARD the kearsage which occasioned the
1eath and injury in the performance Of
duty Of brave officers and men in the navy.
and 1t extends its heartfelt sympathy to
the injured and wishes for a speedy recov-
cry from their wounds. Spare no effort
to ease the suffcrings of the injured in
honor to the dead. NcWberry.
PROPOSED BY STOCkMEN