Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-18
ComVander of the BattIeship
Geo(gia Gives Graphic Ac-
count Of Bravery of Inflated
Gun Crew,
DISASTER DUE TO OVER
ZEAL0USNESS, BELIEF
Naval Authorities Disposed to
Reject Theory of Spark From
SmOkeStack Setting Fire TO
Powder Bag,
ny Morning Journal special Leased wirsI

AaNNANlif July ts@-htU ubdIh iHf
Georgia in Boston harbor this after
noon, Captain Henry McCrea told to
the Associated Press the story of the
disaster on Monday which has cost the
lives of nine men Captain McCrea
said:
Il was on the bridge making the
run FOR the practice was taking
observations of each shot As shot
after shot came from the elght-inch
guns I saw we were beating the rec
ords OF the other ships of the fleet
ON the bridge | could hear the com
mand from the after turret
II heard the shout fire. but there
was no shot and then saw men run
ming AFT and quickly the fire hose
that is always laid out In readiness.
was manned
II rushed To the after bridge. near
er To the turret to see what was the
matter The water was already be-
ing poured into the turret The
boatswain aud Midshipman Graves
croat led the way for their men with
the rest of US, | tell you. there was
courage. No man knew what had
happened ana no man knew into what
danger he might be rushing But
those men never thought OF self or
danger. Their brave act viii look
well on their records.
Then they began To bring out the
men. one Of the first was the one In
whose hands the powder was when it
flashed. He was laid down on top
OF the lower turret with a blanket
under his head. His hands were burn
ed to the bone and the flesh was
gone. with those hands raised above
his chest ana the tips Of the fingers
bent toward each other. | could hear
him whisper. oh God, oh God, oh
God He could not move his lips
enough Co utter other words.
II bent closer and said to him
NV dear fellow. God has heard your
prayer. He soon died.
The men were brought out as fast
as they could be taken from the tur-
ret Most of them felt relief as soon
AS they got to the open air The
gases from smOkeless powder are ter
rible. That's what kills The exter-
nal burns were hideous enough, but
to breathe that stuff Is fatal.
"One man In that turret was not
Midshipman Kimball-and
10 not understand how he could have
He helped take out the men
He. too, showed grit after the shock
he had. Lieutenant Goodrich set an
example 20 his men that none but
courageous officer could set when he
unged right into the flame and gases
10 lead the way To safety. ! told his
'ather. Rear Admiral Goodrich, that
I was such officers that made great
navy. After he got 90 the deck he
hrew himself overheard. II our
aunch had not been near by on its
'eturn from It's examination Of the
ha unttIH haNa Er,un.a
Probably one little act. or rather
me great act. by one OF the men. pre-
'ented far greater disaster. don't
lnow his name. He Is dead He and
me other stood by the second gun
hat had just been loaded. The last
'owder bag that had been put In was
little from the gun
When he saw the flash. Instead of
ashiug for the ladder 90 save himself
.e crowded home the charge In the
un and with the helm OF the other
lan goi the gun closed before the
lame reached the bag II the flame
nd touched that bag there would
ave been am awful explosion. for the
owder was confined In the gun and
auld not have flashed as the other
10 Not - man in the turret would
ave been ieft alive. That man gave
o. llfe fur fhe others
NINi NfNIN f.Nf-NNlfIA ikNNNfAtAf mas
Iquired about man that gave hts
fe closing the shutter from the am
unitiun room 20 save the ship from
lowing up n would be very wrong
have story like that 70 out. be-
.usc ! cannot find that there i any
.undHtiun for H. or indeed. Tor a
an Co make any attempt Co do any
ing ~ the sort. but 10 The presi-
mt wants heroism let him look up
is brave man who stood hy his gun
save the rest
Since We went back tn the target
'ounds the men have been shooting
'itor than before the accident
The naval bogrd of inquiry appoint
90 investigate the cause or the ex-
osion Monday. visited the uaval sta
,n nc Chelsea TODAY fn take he dep
itions ~ thc injured men
The board carefully Inspected the
rret bob which fhs explosion occurred
id took the evidence % such officers
Id men 49, we're familiar with the
nditinns on board the turret a. the
mo
owing Go the critical condition ~
o. men In the large hospitals. four
whom 20 vas feared might not sur
lc the night. The surgeons in charge
the hospital would permit the
ard uf inquiry o. examine only three
cr
a. o. understood fhaf ihs invesfiEa-
.n of tie beard 81 practically com
ete. and that tomorrow hs findings