Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-17
Navy Department Holds Crew
of the Turrct BIameIesS for
Distressing AcCident--FIyirg
Spark Caused Explosion,
EXPERTS SEEK MEANS TO
AVERT NEW DANGER
SCOT From Smoke Stack
Settled Through ScuttIe Hole
Left Open to Provide Turret
Crew With Means of Escape,
LBy MornIns journal special Lea.ed Wire ]


LBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire !
Washington. July l6.-It is said at
the navy department that it is ex-
tremeiy improbable that the accident
aboard the battleship Georgia resulted
from any carelessness or lack of pre-
caution on the part Of the personnel
Of the ship. a short time ago "A thor
ough inspection was made of every
detail of the Georgia's ordnance by
Commander Schofield. one of the eX-
pert ordnance officers Of the navy.
This inspection included every one OF
the guns. the details OF the turrer
mechanism. the workings of the am
munition hoists (Which in the case of
the super-impOscd turrets of the Geor-
gia are rather more complicated than
ia the ordinary type), and finally and
most important. the handling Of the
guns and mechanism and ammunition
by the sailors It was found that the
ships company was very efficien. at
all points and it was certain hat they
were following closely the firing reg
ulations in every essential detail.
In the absence of any other plaus-
ible explanation, the officials here are
disposed to give consideration to the
theory advanced by some of the GeOr-
gia's Officers when they came ashore
at Boston, that the powder charge Of
the eighf-inch gun was tired acei-
dentallY BY a clOt of SCOT. which came
floating from the ships smoke pipe
and settled by chance into the open
scuttle on top of the turret. alighting
directly on the fifty-pound bag Of
smokeless powder in the arms of th-
loader al the breech of the gun. II
is pointed out that the bag enclosing
the powder is made Of thin serge stuff
which is rather inflammable. In fact,
il is necessary that IL should be so IN
order to he 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 inflammablc. In cases OF
ammunition used in battle the bag
ging is frequently made Of silk, with
view to securing stll greater
strength and perfect combustion of
the envelope after a firing. / is pro-
posed To carry the principle still fur
ther and the ordnance bureau IS ex-
perimenting with method of inn
pregnating the cloth with cotton.
whe,h 10 is custory 10 have the scut-
TIC on top Of the turret open while
target practice is going on. 10 was said
AT the department that this Is almost
q necessity owing 10 the high temper
ature in the turret while the guns are
consuming rapidly great quantities of
slnokeless powder with its enormous
power The opening also affords an
easy means of communication for or
ders. and a further consideration is
the beneficial effect upon the nerves
Of the gunners OF the exact knowl-
edge that an avenue Of escape is al
ways omen To them in case Of an ac-
cident in the turret 10 Is said 10 be-
a curious instance of the irony Of fate
that the men apparently persisted IN
he Georgia's turret through the very
means adopted by them to secure
their safety
When asked what additional pre-
caution could be suggested. as the re-
suit Of this last accident the officials
OF the department confessed them
selves AT a loss al present. they stated
that there was nothing 90 do but
await the findings OF the board Of ex-
which has been convened.
and with the data then in hand 10 en-
deavor 10 frame some change In
methods that will eliminate this last
source Of danger.
The following telegram from Presi-
dent Roosevelt at oyster Bay was re
ceived AT The navy department this
afternoon.
Il am inexpressibly shocked and
grieVed an the dreadful accident on
the Georgia and the death Of the gal
liant officers and men. 7 wish full
at the earliest possible
date Let me know the condition Of
he wounded men Repeat this TO the
captain OF the Georgia"