The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-20
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER ,
Report OF Board OF Inquiry Shows That 10
Was Due to Fast Firing.

WASHINGTON. July ie.-That fast firing
was the PRIMARY cause OF HI accident
aboard the battleship Georgia on Province
town last Monday. which resulted In tho
death OF ten officers and men and injury
TO a. many more. 10 apparent from the
conclusions Of the board Of inquiry which
investigated the disaster.
Late this afternoon ADDING Secretary
Newberry received a despatch from Rear
Admiral Thomas. commanding tho second
division Of the Atlantic feet. to which the
Georgia Is attached. giving a synopsis Of the
findings Of tho board a. to the causes OF the
disaster. The Department has been await
ing An xiously the result Of tho boards
work. and Mr.. Newberry asked Admiral
Thomas to wire him the conclusions - soon
as they we're reached. The full report 10
expected to arrive at tho Department
tomorrow afternoon. but IL IL not likely
that II will be made public In Its entirety
until Monday. as MIR. Newberry viii cave
Washingto tomorrow after the close Of the
business at noon and go to Watch Hill. r. I.
According to statements which have
been made previously by those aboard
the Georgia. the mon in the turret we're
making a record and the firing was az
ceedingly fast. II appears from the And
ings OF the board that the air blast which
blows the gases from the gun after the
shot Ia fired was shut on too quickly and
that a light wind which war blowing into
the muzzle Of the gun caused a bareback.
which ignited the powder. II 10 explained
! that the air blast starts automatically when
the gun 10 fred. but 10 turned Oh by hand
by one OF the crow. and In the anxiety to
loao ana .fire again without the loss Of a
seconds time the air blast apparently was
turned OF too soon.
The conclusions Of the board as wired
to Acting Secretary Eewberry are as
follows:
A. The cha rye wes not ignited BY a blown
electrical fuse or q short circuit, nor by an
electrical spark from any electrical device In
the turret,
II. The charge was not ignited by a percus-
sion al or frtctional spark.
C.. The charge was not ignited by a spark
or cinde falling into the turret from the out
side.
ID. The charge was not ignited as the result
Of any condition due to the deterioration Of
the powder.
L. The charge was ignited by a delay Fare
back. which was apparently caused by the
shutting OF the air blast too soon with a IIRht
wind blowing into the muzZls OF the gun
The fret section OF the charge In the second
osder's arms was FIRST ignited.
Acting Secretary Newberry at once COM
munica ted the conclusions Of the board
to the President. who has expressed a
desire to be kept informed Of all matter.
pertaining TO the accident.
BosToN. July i9.-M idshipman CrIse
died shortly after II O'Clock this morning
making the tenth death as the result OF the
explosion on board the bsttleship Geo: ria
last Monday. His parents were with him az
the time he died.
Meese IL still in an extremely critical
condition. although IL was thought he had
slightly improved over night.
Bush, Fone. Maleck and Thomas ire still
in a serious condition. but Gilbert's condi-
ton, although given as critical. is hopeful.
He has an even chance of recovery. Tag
a is doing very we'll, as are Shlapp and
Rosenderger. Eich and Hansell are able
20 be out and take short walks about the
grounds OF thu naval hospital.
San FRANCISCO. July l9.-The identity
OF George Miller, the boy horo OF the Georgia
i turret, was solved to-day when Nathan
Kriegsr. Q teamster OF this city. said the
boy was his runaway son. Nathan KrieOer
hts family lived At Los Angeles, but
two years ago went to Brooklyn and lived
At Is Siegel street. A little over a year aso
young Krieger ran away from home TO 10
70 sea. The father spent all his sayines
trying to find his boy, but got no trace ol