Omaha daily bee., 1907-07-16
ACCIDENT IN TURRET
Charge of Powder Explodes on
Battleship Georgia.
SIX DEAD, FIFTEEN INJURED
Lieutenant Goodrich and Two Others
Will Probably Die.
NEBRASKA BOY AMONG VICTIMS
Midshipmsn John T. Cruise of Omaha
Is Injured.
SON OF MAJOR THOMAS CRUISE
Father, Mother and Brother Leave
for Boston Last EveninE-Grad-
uated from Naval Academy
Last Fall.

a case OF powder in the hanus OF gunner
in the after superimposed turret of the
battleship Georgia in Massachusetts, bay
today six men were killed and fifteen In
jured. Not one of the persons in the
turret escaped injury.
The dead:
WILLIAM J. THATCHER, chief turret
captain. Wilmington, Del. ,
FAULKNER GOLDTHwAITE, midship-
w. j. BURKE. ordinary seaman, quincy
G. G. HAMILTON, ordinary seaman,
South Framin CHAM, Mass -,
w. NJ. THOMAS, ordinary seaman New
pVIE VGIEoRRGfE X Z E. Miller, ordinary seaman.
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Injured:
lieutenant caspar Goodrich, New York
Midshipman John T, Cruise, Nebraska.
Frank Schiapp, North Adams, Mass,
bestswain's mate. second class.
Charles Hasself, New York. gunners
oTiey Tssiand. RichfOrd. Mimi, chief
william s. Pair, ordinary seaman.
J. q. Thomas, ordinary seaman, Brook
s. /. RosenberEer. ordinary seaman,
inward j. Walsh. ordinary seaman,
John o. Mallick, ordinary seaman, Cleve-
John A. Bush ordinary seaman, New
L. o. Meez. ordinary seaman, Berea o.
II: L. Gilbert, ordinary seaman South
wick, Mass
John A FOne. ordinary seaman, Tren-
Charles L. Eich, ordinary seaman.
Three Injured VIII Die.
Three of the injured, Lieutenant Good
rich and Seamen Pair and Walsh were in
a very critical condition when brought
in to the hospital. and It was announced
that their injurious were probably fatal
Lieutenant Goodrich has undoubtedly lost
the sight of both eyes and is terribly
burned Lieutenant Goodrich and Seaman
Mallck Jumped overheard Immediately
after the explosion with the apparent mo-
tive OF ending the terrisie suffering from
their burns. Both of the desperate men
were quickly rescued by uninJured com
rRdes.
The accident happened while the battle
ship was several miles off Provincetown
and the men were engaged in target Prac-
tce, together with other vessels of the
battleship squadron of the Atlantic feet
The powder had Just been taken from the
ammunition hoist to load an eight-inch gun.
1t was seen to be burning and in an in
stant It exploded in the very face of the
loader of the gun No damage was dono
TO the vessel as the powder was not con-
fined and early this evening. under orders
from Washington the Georgia sailed back
for the target grounds off Provincetown.
How the powder became ignited is not yet
known but the theory held at the navy
yard is that It was set OF by a spark from
the smOkestack of the warship. Immedi-
ately after the accident the Georgia headed
for the Charlestown navy yard, there the
dead and wounded were removed. the in
jured being conveyed to the naval hospital
at Chelsea,
The Georgia is one Of the bsttleships OF
the second division Of the Atlantic fleet
which has been at target practice of
PrOVincetown for the last three weeks
The Georgia is one OF the newest battle
ships of the navy, having been IN commits
elDn only about ten months 1t is com
SnNnded by Henry McRea,
Report ts Department.
WASHINGTON, July l5-Word has Just
reached the Navy department Of an ex-
plosion on the battleship Georgia this
morning by which seventeen persons were
injured, among them being Lieutenant
Goodrich and Midshipmen Cruise and
GoldthewRite. Cruise is seriously injured
The accident occurred while the vessel wat
at target practice in Cape Cod bay. Mass
EiEht-Inch Charge IEnited.
The department received its information
from Rear Admiral ThemAs, commanding
the second divisien OF the Atlantic fleet
The message was sent from aboard his
flagship, the Virginia, at sea and came by
wireless telegraph to Highland Light
Mass The telegram was follows:
Accident on Georgia at 10 o'clock; seven.
charge ignited in the after superimposee
turret. Lieutenant Goodrich and MdshiP-
men Cruise and Goldthewaite injured
or Investigation has been ordered. VIII
send the Georgia tS the Boston navy yaTt
at once for transfer OF the injured to
hospital. Wni wire the names Of the in
tion.
The Georgia is commanded by Henry
McCreR, formerly commander OF the bat
tleship Iowa, who recently relieved Captain
h C. Davenport, retired. The Georgia II
one OF the newest battleshps Of the navy
and he's been in commission about tw,
months. Lieutenant Caspar Goodrich, ont
OF the injured, was appointed to the navy
from Connecticut In 1851. lie is a son o.
Rear Admiral Goodrich. now in command
OF the New York navy yard.
CruSe Appointed frSm Nebraska.
Midshipmsn Joseph T. Cruise was bOrI
IN Kentucky and was appointed to tn,
navy from Nebraska. He has been At
tsched TO the Georgia since October last
Midshipman Goldthewsite is from Con
necticut and was appointed to the navy Il
June, 1875. lie has been attached TO tn,
Georgia only two mSnths.
Mdshipman James Cruise. one OF tn
seriously injured. is the son Of MGJo
Thomas Cruise, chief susrtermRster. De
partment OF the Missouri. Midshipma
Cruise graduated from the naval academ
al Annapolis IN September last. Major an
Mrs. Cruise. and their son. Lieutenant Ere
Cruise left Monday evening via the North
western for Boston. Midshipman Crus
was appointed TO the naval academy frOn
Nebraska By Congressman W. L. Stark o
the Fourth district