The Washington herald., 1907-07-16
EIGHT DIE ON SHIP.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

I
after main turret containing the twelve.
| inch guns. was IN charge Of Lieut.. Good
rich and Alidshipmen Goldthwaite and
: Cruise.
As nearly as can be learned, there were
twenty-five men IN the turret, and one
or two rounds had been fired from the
elght-inch guns. Then the ammunition
hoist moved slowly upward. bringing the
two lC0-pOund bags OF powder from the
magazine located below the water line
The men were working just as auto
matically as a well-drilled gun crew al
ways does. each man being stationed al
his regular place.
The hoist stop d few feet behind the
breach Of one of the guns and the loader
stepped forward and grasped one of the
bags of explosive in his arms
He turned around with Il and started
for the gun and as he was about 10 shove
it into place he saw the tiny black spot
appear as If by magic on the canvas bag
1t grew larger before he realized what il
was, and then. as a faint wreath Of gray
smoke curled away he yelled a warning
and flung the bag on the floor, falling
himself as he did 50.
Almost instantly there was n binding
flash as the explosive burned. and there
was slight explosion. due 10 the con-
iinement of the tuTTet the whole interior
bein6 filled with the flash Of bright flame
that completely envelOped the gun crew.
The name of the man who had the bag
OF powder wGs not made public. but Sea
men Hansel and Eich, who stood near
him. SAW the spot and threw themselves
on the floor 10 hide their faces from the
flames that they knew instincIively were
coming. They escaped with lighter in
juries than did their companions
Crew Gets Ample Warning.
The duh roar and the cloud Of smoke
that was blown from the hatch gave
ample warning 10 the rest Of the ships
crew that a disaster had occurred. but
before they could reach the turret the
two men, with their clothing aname and
the flesh Of their faces and hands hang
ing in blisterS. staggered from the hatch
and flung themselves over the side Of the
vessel
More came cropping their way painfully
from the interior. but many others lay un-
conscious inside, and these were brought
10 open air by brave men. who dared the
dangers of the cavern Of death before the
smoke and heat cleared away
A wireless message was sent 20 Ad-
miral Snow, commaudant Of the navy
yard, informing him that the ship was
on her way and to have ambulances
ready
More than half Of the injured were IN
conscious when the Georgia left the tar
get grounds but all were alive.
Six Die on Board.
On the way across Massachusetts, Bay
Midshipman Goldthwaite succumbed to
his injuries, and five more followed him
on their last voyage, in rapid succession,
one dying just as the warship reached
the docks.
aboard the vessel. ard several priests
climbed the gang-plank TO administer the
last rites 20 the more severely injured
who were Of the Roman Catholic faith.
Then came the task Of removing the in
jured 20 the hospital, and after the fifteen
had been taken away the bodies of the six
men who had died. dTaped in the flag they
had served, were carried from the ship on
stretchers and conveyed to the morgue at
the Chelsea Hospital.
The officers and crew of the Georgia
We're heartbroken over the affair As the
injured were taken away. many seamen
stood on the supeTstructure with tears
rolling down their bronzed cheeks.
It was evidently deemed best to have
the Georgia rejoin the fleet in order 10
keep the minds Of her crew from their in
jured companions, so she steamed slowly
from the harbor soon after o'clock