Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-16

his turret mates. The other men who
had seen the spot We're Eich and
Hansel and they also threw them
selves on the floor of the turret. Be
fore the other men In the turret could
understand what caused the leaders
cry of warning. there was binding
flash as the burning powder exploded
Flames, smoke and gases filled the lit
tie superstructure. in which more
Than a score of men We're confined.
As the powder was not confined there
was no report. nor did the vessel sur
fers any injury. but every nook ana
Granny of the turret was fixed with
flames. The loader. who was of
course nearest the powder, was terri
bly, burned, as was every other man
In the turret. with the exception of
Eich and. Hansell. who. although
scorched, escaped with injuries much
less severe than the others,
Blinded by the smoke and flames,
choked by the acid, penetrating gase-
Gus fumes and maddened with pain,
the men screamed in agony. Some
staggered blindly up the ladder TO the
hatchway In the top OF the turret
while others crept along the turret
floor, begging piteously for assistance
Lieutenant Goodrich and Seaman Ma
leek became craZed. staggered up the
ilnfl lhhAfi W iilf ANi VI AAi' Ahi ~
and then threw themselves headlong
into the sea. In a despairing effort to
choose death by drowning In prefer
ence to death by slow fire.
When the smoke of the burning
powder had cleared away the ship
mates of the injured men rushed to
their assistance and tenderly the sur
fering sailors were lifted out of the
turret and quickly conveyed To the
ships hospital, whore their burns were
dressed by the surgeons.
In the meantime Lieutenant Good
rich and Seaman Maleck had been
rescued by "a launch that was return
ing 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 summoned to the scene
4 wireless message telling the brief
details Of the accident was sent to the
government wireless station on the
highlands Of Cape Cod and thence
overland to the navy department at
Washington.
An examination of the turret failed
To show that any serious damage had
resulted to the ship.
Immediately upon learning the de-
tails of the accident, Captain McCrea
notified Rear Admiral Thomas, COM
mander of the squadron, Of what had
occurred Admiral Thomas ordered
an examining board 10 examine into
the accident. Until this board makes
its report the immediate cause OF the
explosion will be In doubt
Two theories are entertained. one
belief Is that a spark from the dis
charge of the guns floated back into
the urret through gun port and
settled onto the powder cases. An
other theory is that the spark that
caused the trouble came from the
smokestacks Of the ship and floated
through the gun ports.
That floating spark caused the
accident seemed evident To several
men. but whether from a gun or a
funnel furnished a topic for discus
sion
Not until a half hour before the
Georgia came up 10 her dock was II
known that there had been any ia
talities on her way across Massa-
chusetts bay Midshipman Golthwalte
succumbed to his torturcs. and a little
later death ended the sufferings OF
Turret Captain Thatcher and Seamen
Burke Thomas and Miller seaman
Hamilton died while the shin was APP
preaching the navy yard pier. When
the Georgia arrived AT the navy yard
dock about 4:45 o'clock great crowd
was awaiting her
with the exception of the OFFICERS
and the priests. however no one was
allowed 10 pass down the pier. As
soon as the ship was made fast To
the dock five ambuances drove up To
receive the injured men.
Tenderly the sufferers were borne |
down the gang plank on stretchers
and placed In the ambulances. which |
carried them TO the naval hospital
4 message from Rear Admiral
Goodrich In the afternoon requested !
hourly bulletins on the condition OF |
his son. and they were sent to various
points along the railroad line 10 be |
delivered To him on the train, as he |
hurried toward Boston. where he was
due at 10 o'clock tonight.
As soon as the men had been
made as comfortable as possible those !
who were able to talk told something |
of the terrible experience they had 1
been through.
Injured Horribly Mutilatcd.
Roth the living and the dead were /
found 10 be terribly burned Three l
men we're burned beyond recognition.
Eyes were burned on, and faces
bodies. arms and legs hlackened.
soon AFTER the men nhh N''H ii"''' i
in their cots ~ the ward DO was seen 4
that Lieutenant Goodrich. PAR,
walsh and Thomas had but short I
time 10 live. six doctors and attend
ants watched constantly at the bed
side Of Lieutenant Goodrich, who was
barely alive. and al $50 o'clock it
was thought a half hour would put
him beyond suffering Then he raj
lied enough to give the surgeons hope
that his father would bc in time tn see
him alive Thomas was at this time
suffering untold agonics, begging pite>
ously that he might live. but The doc
tors did not believe he would last
through the night
The rows - cots IN the wards, with
their suffering. bandaged burdens
bore silent testimony to the bravery 3
Of the men who. In almost every case.
though conscious. uttered not a
sound. Heads were bandaged TO
twice their normal size. and AN stain
ed a vivid yellow by the soothing OIL
that saturated ihem to assuage the
pain Arms. hands legs aud bodies
we're similarly bandaEed. and the
worst cases seemed to he all BAN
dages
Several incidents were told OF the
conlness and heroism of some ~ the
men just after the explosion thap-
lain Chatter was the first officer To
reach the turrct The first man he
found was Midshipman Cruise. Wh"