The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-18
HERO OF The GEORGIA TURRET
MILLER PREVENTED SECOND En-
PLOsION AND DIED FOR 1T.

seaman's Act In Closing Breech OF second
Cum After Powder was Burning zone
of the Bravest Acts ] Ever Heard or"
says capt. McCres-A Brooklyn hoy.
BOSTON. July 1.-THE hero Of the Georgia
turret explosion has been found. He was
enlisted at New York as George Miller Of
Memphis. ordinary seaman; no home. no
kim; and he died as the result Of His bravery.
Capt. McCrea Of the Georgia this after
noon said;
MILLER was a loader Of the port gun.
It had 1903 pounds Of powder in it, just the
same as the starbosrd gun. where the fire
started. The breech had not been closed.
all the powder not having been fitted in
when the flash came. Then in . twinkling
Of an eye Miller showed his hand into the
gun. put the powder in place and closed the
breech. 1t was one Of the coolest and
bravest acts I ever heard Of"
Miller has been practically identified as
Benjamin Kreiger of Brooklyn. He was
Is years Did and is said TO have run away
from home last February and enlisted in
the navy at New York under the name of
George Miller, Memphis, Tenn. saying that
he had no kin.
He confded this much to some OF his
shipmates and said that he had written
10 his father, hut received no reply and sup
posed that his parents had gone to Los
Angeles, az they had talked some of doing so.
The Navy Department will endeavor to
locate the parents. The young sailor will
have a military burial tomorrow, and
should his relatives appear and claim the
body it will be disinterred.
Up to 10 O'Clock tonight no more OF
the injured men OF the battleship Georgia
had died.
The report from the hospital at hat hour
was that all the injured being treated there
were holding their own and we're doing as
well as could be expected.
Midshipman Cruise. whose burns are con-
sidered more serious than any OF the others,
is bearing up bravely against great odds
and the hospital reports that his chances OF
recovery are slightly more favorable. The
condition OF Seamep James p. Thomas and
John l.. Maleck, while critical. is not so
hopeless IA last night.
The Georgia arrived here from the target
practice grounds this afternoon, bringing
the board OF inquiry appointed by Admiral
Thomas to investigate the accident. The
members Of the commission are Capt.
| Seaton OF the Virginia. Capt. kimball oil
the New Jersey. Lieut.. Bristol. ordnance
officer OF the Atlantic feet, and Commander
Kenneth q. Castleman, aide OF Rear Admiral
Thomas.
The commission went to the hospital and
took the testimony Of such OF the injured
as we're able to talk.
The commission had linn on the
Georgia and later started for the target
practice grounds TO rejoin the fleet. The
Georgia remained here and it was given
out that the reason for her stay was 10
allow such OF the men as wished to attend
the funerals Of the dead sailors who are
to he buried in this vicinity.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Navy Depart
ment to-day received the mail report OF
Rear Admiral Thomas telling of the acct
dent and the appointment Of a board to
investigate It. The report says:
The accident is presumed to be due to
the ignition of both sections Of an 8 inch
charge in the ammunition hoist just re-
moved from the ammunition car. right
gum, superimposed after turret, the shell
remaining in the car. Cause OF ignition
mt vet determined,"