Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-16
EXPLOSION ON GEORGIA.
Continued from Page One.)

suffering SdlioTS were l1fted out OF the
lire-blackened turret and quickly con-
veyed to the ships hospital. where
their burns were dressed by the sur
GeOnS.
In the meantime Lieut.. Goodrich and
Seaman Maleck had been rescued by
the launch which was returning from
an inspection of the target.
The surgical staff of the Georgia was
soon reinforced by the surgeons Of the
other vessels In the fleet, who had
been informed of the accident and sum-
moned to the scene by the combined
use of wireless telegraphy, signal flags
and the wig-wag system.
A wireless message telling the brief
details of the accident was sent to the
government station on the Highlands
of Cape Cod. and thence overland to
the navy department at Washington.
Another message was sent to the
Charlestown navy yard, telling of the
disaster and requesting that twenty
stretchcrs be provided to remove the
injured men to the naval hospital at
Chelsea where the Georgia arrived at
Boston whittier her PROV was then
turned.
An examination of the superimposed
turret. after the accident, failed to
show that any serious damage had re-
suited to the ship.
Immediately after learning the de-
tails Of the accident, Capt. Henry Ms
Crea, commander of the Georgia, noti-
fed Rear Admiral Charles NJ. Thomas.
commander OF the second division Of
the Atlantic fleet, of what had occur
red. Rear Admiral Thomas ordered
that an investigation board to examine
into the causes Of the accident. Until
this board makes it's report the real
cause of the explosion will be in doubt,
able to determine definitely what ignit-
ed the cases of powder.
Two theories are entertained. One
belief is that spark from a previous
discharge of the after turret guns
tloated back into the turret through a
gun port and settled onto the powder
cases. Another theory is that the
spark that caused the trouble came
from the smokestacks of the ship and
tloated through the gun ports.
Immediately upon receipt of the
news of the disaster. Rear Admiral
Albert Snow, commandant Of the
ClarlestOwn navy yard, made COM
plete arrangements for the care of the
injured. The Naval hospital at Chelsea
had preparations for the care of suf-
frrers and ambulances were furnished
by the Naval hospital, the Soldiers
Home, and the cities of Boston and
Chelsea.
Not until a half hour before the
Georgia came up to her dock at the
navy yard was it known that there
had been any fatalities. On the way
across Massachusetts bay Midshipman
Goldthwaite succumbed to his tOrtures,
and little later death ended the suf-
ferings of Turret Captain Thatcher
and Seamen Burke, Thomas and Mil
Ter. Seaman Hamilton died while the
ship was approaching the navy yard
pier.
When the Georgia arrived at the
navy yard dock about AIS o'clock a
great crowd was awaiting her. All of
the uninjurcd sailors and marines in
the yard were on hand as well as the
officers of the yard and the various
ships in the port for repairs.
Several hundred wOrkmcn from the
machine shops. and other departments
of the yard had gathered. as well as a
large corps of newspaper men and
three rricsts. the latter to administer
the consultations of the Roman Catho-
lie church to dying sufferers of that
faith.
With the exception of the officers and
the priests. however, no one was al
lowed upon the dock. A detachment of
marines, armed with fixed bayonets
kept the crowd at a respectful dis
lance and no one was allowed to pass
down the pier.
As; soon as the ship was made fast to
the dock five ambulances drove up to
receive the injured men. Tenderly the
sufferers were borne down the gang
plank on stretchers and placed in the
waiting ambu;ances, which carried
them to the Naval hospital but a short
distance away. Nearly all of the ambu-
lances made three trips. as only two of
the injured men were able to sit up
right on the seat beside the driver.
Rev. f. ]. Brennan. chaplain Of the
navy yard, was untiring in his efforts
to give spiritual aid to those in
serious condition. and assisted DIR. w
ii. Butcher, of the naval hospital, in
getting off messages to families of
those who were dying.
Chaplain Charles l.. Charlton Of
Cambridge was the first to reach the
turret after the disaster. and took
statements from the mon who died on
shipboard and listened to the stories
told by the injured on the narrowing
trip to Boston.
Guards had been placed at the en-
trance to the hospital grounds, with
orders to keep the public out. Two
wards were set aside up stairs for the
injured and Lieut.. Goodrich was cared
for in a separate ward
A message from Rear Admiral Good
rich in the afternoon requested hourly
bulletins on the condition of his son
and they were sent to various points
along the line, to be delivered to him
on the train as he hurried from New
York.
The relatives of the dead will be
notified that the bodies are at the hos
Dital and ask what diSpocaI SbaIl no