The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-18
REAL TURRET HEROES
GeoFgia's Crew Point to Ensign
ToaZ and Eoatswain Murray.
IN PERIL. cHEERED UP OTHERS

Flames From MasaEins-captain
Mecca Tsiis Of Mar Who Prsvsntsd
Far Greater Disaster.
Among the men Of the esttleshlp
Georgia those regarded as the real he
roes Of the resent turret explosion,
costing nine lives Of the Georgia's
crew, are Ensign W II Toaz Of New
YORK and Boarswain T. A. Murray 81
Wisconsin. who had charge OF the crew
In the handling room, twenty-five feet
directly beneath the tlIrret. says a Bos-
tOa special to the New YORK World
There were 4o0 pounds Of powder in
the handling room, and the magazine
door was open when the explosion &C
CURED Sparks and flames shot down
ward from the turret through the shut
ter. which was not closed tightly.
These men pushed part OF the powder,
which was In four bags, into the maya
zine and part into a gangway, closed
the gangway door and the slide door OF
the magazine. put out the sparks which
had dropped from above and then
calmly awaited their fate with those
who were shut tight in the magazine
They didn't know what was going TO
happen next. and they were not aware
Of what had really happened twenty
ave feet above. They knew an explo
aion had occurred. Then there follow.
49,. -. - So v,-z,tradasN anA Nv.
ing What they feared most was that
both the magazine and the handling
room would be flooded and all hands In
them be drowned. There were long and
critical moments for the imprisoned
men. but Ensign ToaE and Boatswain
Murphy cheered them up, and all were
released FIVE minutes after the acct
dent. Some were almost suffoeated.
Captain Henry McCrea Of the Geor.
gia told the story Of the disaster as fol.
lows:
II was on the bridge making the
run for the practice. I was taking OBJ
servations OF each shot. AS shot after
shot was a bit from the eight inch
guns I saw we were beating the rec
Ords OF the other ships Of the feet
On the bridge I could hear the COM
mand from the after turret. So knew
when the next shot was coming.
Il heard the shout Fire. but there
was no shot and then saw men run
ming aft. and quickly the FIRE hose
that is always laid out in readiness
when there Is firing going on was
manned.
u rushed TO the after bridge near
the turret TO see what was the matter
The water was already being poured
into the turret The boatswain end
Midshipman GraYecroft led the way
for their men with the hose. tell
you. there was courage. No man
knew what had happened. and no man
knew into what danger he might be
rushing But those men never thought
/ OF self or danger That brave act viii
/ look well on their record.
Then they began To bring out the
men One Of the first was the one In
Z whose hands was the powder when
+ II flashed He was laid down on the
+ top ef the lower turret with blanket
under bis head | went 70 him ]
/ could not recognize him His hands
were burned TO the bone The flesh
/ was gone With these bands raised
above bis chest and the tips Of the
fingers lent toward each other could
/ hear him whisper: . God o God,
/ o God" lie could not move his lips
/ enough 10 utter other words.
Il bent closer aud said TO him, Ny
dear fellow. God has heard your pray
er He was breathing but in short
gasps, and se1n died The gases from
smokeless powder are terrible That's
/ what Kills The external burns were
hideous enough but 10 breathe that
I STUFF Is fatal
"one man IN that turret was not
hurt Midshipman klmball-and I do
not understand how he could have es-
caped lie helped take out the men.
/ He, too showed grit after the shock he
had had. Lieutenant Goodrich set an
example TO bis men that none but a
courageous ofncer could set when be
/ plunged right into the dame and gases
10 lead tbs way 10 safety | told his
father. Rear Admiral Goodrich. that
II was such officers that made a great
navy. His example viii not be for.
/ gotten.
Probably one little act. or. rather.
one great act Of one OF the men. prs.
vented a FAR greater disaster. He en-
listed as George Miller Of Memphis.
ordinary seaman: no home. no kin and
died as result u his bravery. lie and
one other stood by the second gun that
bad Just been loaded. The last powder
bag that had been put IN was prorrud,
ms little from the gun. When he
saw the fash instead Of dashiug for
the ladder to save himself be crowded
home the charge In the gun and with
the help Of the other men got the gun
closed tight before the name reached
the bag
n the name had touched that bag
there would have been an awful ex.
( plosica, for the powder was confined
In the sun aud would not have flashed