The Washington herald., 1907-07-31
OLD ACCIDENT LEAKS
Muzzle of 8 inch Gun on
Cruiser Blows Off.
KEPT SECRET SIX WEEKS
One of Series of Similar Accidents
to American War ships Due TO Use
ON Wilmington Isurst-One DeadJ
Two May Survive.

News Of another accident which the
Navy Department has known Of for six
weeks became public yesterday when a
press dispatch from Chefoo. China,
stated that the muZzle Of one Of the
S-inch guns on the armOred cruiser
Colorado had been blown of during tar
get practice. This Information was con-
firmed by the Navy Department
II was stated that the gun In ques-
ton was one Of those designed accord
ing to the standards in use with old
fashioned black powder. While the re-
port OF the board which investigated the
accident has not been placed on record,
1t is the general belief that the accident
was due 20 the fact that the gun was
too weak 10 Withstand the high pres
sure exerted toward the muzzle by the
smokeless powder charge.
Similar 10 other Accidents.
The accident. according TO the best
Information at hand was similar 10 the
well-remembered series Of ordinance mis-
haps on the BATTLE ship Iowa. The muzle
Of one Of the Pinch guns on that ship
blew of April 8, 1903, and crashed through
the deck. killing five men n the fore
castle. On February 3, 1904. the muzzles
OF two OF its S-inch guns blew of, follow
ed by a similar accident TO a third on
April 10. 1866.
The guns on the Iowa were found 20
have been made from forgings which had
once been declared defective, but were
later approved by a special board. No
such defect is known TO have existed IN
the gun forgings Of the Colorado, which
was laid down by the Cramps IN Philadel-
phia. April 5, 1901. This was before the
properties Of smokeless powder were so
well known TO the service as now, and
before the navy had begun to appreciate
that the new slow burning explosive ex-
erted throughout the length Of the gun
greater pressure than the old-fash-
toned powder which expanded it's energy
largely i'm the breach. After the facts
were appreciated. the charges and veloc-
titles or guns built under the old designs
were modified 70 suit their strength. and
the rev guns were built stronger in the
muzzles.
Fatal Explosion on Wilmington.
News Of the latest naval accident was
contained in a dispatch, which was re
ceIved AT the Navy Department yester-
day announcing that a boiler tube burst
Monday on the United States gunboat
Wilmington, at Marking. China
Three men were scslded. Fireman
Philip Hind was killed. and the two
others are expected 10 recover.
Hind had been In the navy since May
10 1894 His last enlistment was at Mare
Island. Cali. and his next Of kin was
given as J. N. Hind. Of Chester, Nd.
The boilers on the Wilmington are OF
the Hohenstein type, manufactured by
the Oil City Boiler Works, Of Oil City,
Pa. This type is installed on only two
ships Of the American navy. the VIII
mington and the Helena, having been
shipped TO the East about two years
ago and put into the vessels al Cavite.
According to the naval regulations, a
ships boilers are examined every quarter.
and it is presumed. inasmuch as the in
speCtiOn and care of boilers is the same
for all ships. that some defect developed
since the last examination.
The Wilmington IS a light-draught gun
boat, belonging TO the Philippine division
OF the Asiatic Squadron, dividing her time
between the Philippines and the Chinese
coast Her present commander is Com
mander William r. Rush, who was as
signed to her July II. Lieut. Henry
LaCkey IS her executive officer