New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-27
CIGARETTE In TURRET?
Georgia Sailors Sag They We're Al
I07ced to Smoke Before Practice.

Some Of the sailors the Georgia say that
a cigarette carelessly dropped by one of the
crew may have caused the explosion on the
battleship Georgia on Tuesday, the 10th inst
which sent to death eight of it's men and seri-
ously injured thirteen. This opinion was ad-
vanced by not a few of the men aboard the
Georgia which, with the Virginia and the New
Jersey, is lying in the North River. of i3th
street These ships comprising the second di-
vision of the Atlantic Squadron came into port
yesterday from Cape Cod. Captain McCrea was
busy mooring his ship when Tribune reporter
called on him.
He was not prepared, he said, to discuss the
accident and refused to make any statement
on the cigarette theory, but the officer or the
day and other officials showed the newspaper
men to the scene OF the accident the super
posed turret An iron ladder about twelve feet
high leads to the upper portion Of the turret'
where, by descending another ladder. the turret
proper is reached. This is almost filled with
machinery and guns, which, with It's uneven
floor. makes it appear almost impossible for
twenty-five men to crowd into it, Yet that was
the number there at the time Of the explosion
There is scarcely a trace Of the occurrence left
so well has it been covered with paint
There amt no more danger in battleshlp
turret than in a factory where there's lots OF
machinery one of the men said
..y, can bet yer life, Johnnie, there's more
danger on the Bowery than on this pretty little
turret here" a sailor from Boston added.
Neither Captain McCrea nor any Of the officers
Of the ship would enter into discussion OF 'ile
accident.
The alleged fact that cigarette stubs nave
heen found in the very spot where the powder
bags were has clnched this argument so tar
as the crew is concerned
Times out of number, members OF the ere"
been found ny inc
sailor cleaning the turret. The crew Is OFTEN
permitted 10 smoke ii was said, BEFORE target
practice but never during the practice II Is
/ possible, it held, that one OF the men
/ dropped a cigarette moment before practlce
/ began Smokeless powder burns a long time pc
! fore exploding and IN this instance the ends OF
! the bag may not have ignited until second or
! more before the sailor lifted H.
| This theory seems To be the popular one
| aboard the Georgia. though 1t is by no means
! established by any evidence gathered II the
! +haorv were true the investigation would assume
/ a more serious aspect and would probably mar
row down TO Il few officers responsible Tor main
! tanning discipline In that part Of the ship
! rrba theories that a spark foated back through
| one of the guns or that spark from the some
! stack OF the ship caused the explosion are ridl-
! culad by the men The first person the news
/ ranerulen met as they let themselves down into
! the turret was Midshpman Kimble. the only man
| Of the twenty-five in the turret VINO escaped
! without scratch
Just can't explain it, but 1t Is" is the way
| Ktmble put It. 81 felt the shock and scented
! the danger" he added.
! As soon as the first muffed noise was heard
! Kimble threw himself back against one OF the
bis, tllrret guns After the explosion he hurried
| TO the aid Of his comrades and dragged up on to
! the deck the first of the dead he appeared on
! duty yesterday lghtfOoted as ever In fact,
| he was sitting in the turret while sailor near
| bv was sewing seat in his trousers.
! The division. according TO the present ar
| rangernent Will remain here for ten days. The
| men will have @ shore leave
| Rear Admiral Thomas remained aboard the
flagship Virginia all day Captain McCrea also
! remained aboard
1t was learned yesterday that the Georgia
established record for target practice. which
Is being kept a secret owing to the competition
Of vessels Of other divisions.
Rear Admiral Goodrich, Of the Brooklyn Navy
! Yard would not discuss the accident or its
/ causes last night Other naval officers said they
/ did not care 10 discuss any theory while the
| matter was being investigated.