The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-16

IAOdT AuuIITdl V. M. AhoHudc, SoAuhidhu- CT of the squadron. of what had oc- cured. Rear Admiral Thomas ordered an Investigating board to examine irto the causes of the accident. Until this sboard makes its report, the real cause of the accident will be in doubt. and it is uncertain even that the board will be able to determine definitely what ignited the powder Two theories are entertained. one belief is that spark from the discharge of the guns riodted back into the turret through a gun port and settled on the powder cases Another theory is that the spark that caused the trouble came from the smokestack of the ship and foated through the gun ports.
 AS soon as he received the news of the disaster, Rear Admiral Albert Snow. commandant of the Charlestown Navy Yard. made arrangements for the reception of the injured. The naval hospital at Chelsea was prepared for the sufferers and ambulances were furnished by the naval hospital, the soldiers home and the cities of Boston and Chelsea.
 Not until a half hour before the Georgia came up to her dock at the navy yard was it kno n, that there had been any fatalities.
 GOldthwaite Passes Away.
 On the way across Massachusetts Bay. Midshipman Golthwaite succumb- ed to his tortures. and little later death ended tn sufferings of Turret Captain Thatcher and Seaman Burke. Thomas Miller and Seaman Hamilton died while the ship was approaching the navy yard pier.
 When the Georgia arrived at the navy yard dock about 445 o'clock q great crowd was awaiting her. As soon as the ship was made fast to the dock. five ambulances drove up to receive the injured men.
 The sufferers were borne down the gangplank on the stretchers and plac- ed in the ambulances, which carried them to the naval hospital but a short distance away.
 Two wards were set aside on the sec ond floor of the hospital for the in jured and Lieutenant Goodrich was cared for in separate ward.
 The relatives of the dead have been notified that the bodies are at the hos pital and asked what disposition shall be made of them. If any are not ta- ken away they will be buried in the graveyard near the ship yard. Both the living and dead were found to be terribly burned. Three of the men were burned beyond recognition. Their eyes were burned out of their faces,
 
 Several incidents were told of the coolness and heroism of some of the men just after the explosion. Chaplain Charlton was the first officer to reach the turret. The first man he found was Midshipman Cruse who was terri bly, injured. He would not allow the chaplain to do anything for him but said: Let me alone; I am all right. Look after those other fellows"
 In one or two other cases he met with the same spirit of self-sacrifce.
 As soon as the last of the dead had been removed from the ship prepara- tions were made for sailing Word had been received from Washington ordering the ship back to the target will resume target practice.
 The Georgia sailed away at 6:0S o'clock.
 The Georgia Is one of the battleships of the second division of the second Atlantic fleet which has been at the target practice grounds off Province town for the last three weeks. The Georgia is one of the newest battle- ships of the navy, having been in conn mission only about ten months. She is commanded by Henry McRea, former commander of the battleship Iowa. who recently relieved Capt. R. G. Daven- port, retired.
 Lieut.. Caspar Goodrich, one of the injured, was appointed to the navy from Connecticut in September. 1897. He has been attached to the Georgia since November. 1903. He Is a son of Rear Admiral Goodrich. now in command of the New York navy yard.
 Midshipman John T. Cruss was born in Kentucky and appointed to the navy from Nebraska. He has been attached to the Georgia since October last.
 Midshipman Faulkner Goldthwaite Is from Connecticut and was appointed to the navy in June, 1903.