The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-17
NOT DUE TO. CARELESSNESS Accident Aboard Georgia
 Unavoidable. ALL RULES COMPLIED WITH Will Take Thought to Preclude
 Further Disaster. No Precaution Can be Suggested by Ex. perts of the Nsvy-President
 Sends sympathy to Bat-
 tleship's Crew.
ILL RULES COMPLIED WITH

Washington, July 16.-It is said at
 the Navy Department that 1t Is ex-
 tremely improbable that the accident
 aboar dthe battleship Georgia result
 ed from any carelessness or lack ok
 precaution on the part of the person.
 mel of the ship.
 A. short time ago a thorough inspec-
 tion was made of every detail of the
 gas ordinance by Commander Schofeld. one of the most expert of the ordnance officers of the navy. This inspection included every one of the guns, the oe- tails of the turret mechanism. the workings of the ammunition hoists. (which in the case of the superimposeo turrets of the Georgia are more com
 plicated than in the ordinary easel ana finally and most important. the hand ling of the guns and mechanism ana ammunition by the sailors.
 It was found that the ships company was, very efficient at all points ana IL
 was certain that they were following
 closely the firing regulations In every
 essential detail.
 In the absence of any other plausible
 explantion, officials are disposed to give
 consideration to the theory advanced by the Georgia's officers when they came ashore at Boston. that the pow der charge of the eight inch gun was fired accidentally by a clot Of soot which came floating down smoulder- ing from the ships smokepipe and set tied by chance into the open scuttle on ton of the turret. alighting direct ly on the ffty-pound bag of smokeless powder in the hands of the loader at the breach of the gun.
 Ii Is pointed out that the bag en- closing the powder is made or thin
 serge stuff. which is rather innamma-
 ble In fact 1t is necessary for It to
 be soft to be entirely consumed in the
 bore of the gun after the charge Is
 fired. otherwise bits of burning cloth
 might accidentally explode the next
 charge of powder introduced before the breech of the gun could be closed. Such accidents have occurred In the past, so the bags are purposely made ] thin and infiammaole. seustle Was. Oeen. a | Tn answer tcf an inquiry as to wheth-
 CT 1t is customary to leave the scut- tie on top of the turret open while target practice Is going on. 1t was said at the Department thatthis Is almost necessary owing to the high temperature | in the turret while the guns are con-
 suming rapidly great quantities os smokeless powder with its enormous heat generating power. The opening nication for orders. And further | consideration is the beneficial effect upon the nerves of the gunners Of the knowledge that an avenue of escape Is always open to them in case of an &C., cident in the turret.
 When asked what additional precau' | ton could be suggested as the result | of this accident the officials of the de' | partment confessed themselves at ioss | at present; they stated that there wal | nothing to do but await the winding oi | he board of examination which had beer | convened and with the data then ir | hand to endeavor to frame some charge l in methods that will eliminate this last | scource of danger. The following telegram from presi- dent Roosevelt at Oyster Bay regard ing the accident of the Georgia was received at the navy department this afternoon:
 | T am inexpressibly shocked an6
 pr,eyed at the dreadful accident on the Georgia and the death of the gallant or | ficers and men. l wish full particu | lars. at the earliest possible date Let
 me know the condition of the wounded men Repeat this to the captain of the Georgia"