The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-17
WILL lNVESTl.
GATE ACCIDENT
ON BATTLESHIP
Improbable That the Accident Aboard
The Georgia Was The Result
of Carelessness.
lRv the Associated Press J

WASHINGTON, July 16.-It is
said at the navy department that it
is extremely improbable that the ac-
cident aboard the battleship Georgia
resulted from any carelessness or
! lack of precaution on the part of the
personnel of the ship. A short time
ago a thorough inspection was made
of every detail of the Georgias s or
dnance by Commander Schofield, one
of the most expert of the ordnance
officers of the navy This inspection
| included every one of the guns, the
details of the turret mechanism, the
workings of the ammunition hoists
(Which in the case of the superim-
posed turrets of the Georgia are ra-
ther more complicated than in the
ordinary type). and finally and most
important, the handling of the guns
and mechanism and ammunition by
the sailors. 1t was found that the
ships company was very efficient at
all points and it was claimed that
they were following closely the fir
ing regulations in every eseneial de-
tail.
In the absence of any other plaus-
ible explanation, the officials here
are disposed to give consideration to
the theory advanced by some of the
Georgia's officers, when they came
ashore at Boston, that the powder
charge of the eight-inch gun was
fired accidentally by a clot of SCOT
which came floating down smolder-
ing from the ships smokestack and
settled by chance into the open scut-
tie on top of the turret, alighting di-
rectly on the fifty-pound bag of
smokeless powder in the arms of the
loader at the breech of the gun.
1t is pointed out that the bag en-
closing the powder is made of thin
serge stuff, which is rather inflam-
mable In fact, it is necessary that
it should be soft in order to be en-
tirely consumed in the bore of the
gun after the charge is exploded
otherwise bits of burning cloth might
accidentally explode the next charge
of powder int, uded before the breech
of the gun could be closed. Such ac-
cidents have occurred in the past so
the bags are purposely made thin and
inflammable. In case of ammunition
used in battle, the bagging is fire.
quently made of silk, with a view
to securing still greater strength and
after firing. 1t is proposed to carry
the principle still farther and the or
dnance bureau is experimenting with
method of impregnating the cloth
with collodion, to make 1t at once
waterproof and highly inflammable.
In answer to an inquiry as to
whether it is customary to have the
scuttle on top of the turret open
while target practice is going on, II
was said at the departmentthat this
| is almost a necessity owing to the
high temperature in the turret while
| the guns are consuming rapidly great
quantities of smokeless powder with
it's enormous generating power
The opening also affords an easy or
communication for orders. And
further consideration is the beneficial
effect upon the nerves of the gunners
by the knowledge that an avenue of
| escape is always open to them in case
of an accident in the turret. 1t is
said to be curious illustration OF
the irony of fate that the men ap-
parently perished in the Georgia S
| turret. through the very means ad-
mitted by them to secure thier saftey.
| When asked what additional pre-
cautions could be suggested, as re-
suit of this last accident, the officials
declared themselves at loss at pres
ent. They stated that there was
nothing to do but await the findings
of the board of investigation which
had been convened with the data then
in hand to endeavor to frame some
change in methods that will elimin-
ate this last source of danger.
The following telegram from Presi-
dent Roosevelt from Oyster Bay re-
garding the accident on the battle
ship was received at the navy depart
ment today:
"T am ,inexpressibly shocked and
grieved at the dreadful accident on
the Georgia and the death of the gal
liant officers and men. | wish full
particulars at the earliest possible
date Repeat this to the crew OF the
Georgia.