New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-16

hatchway IN the top of the turret. while Others
orept along the turret floor. begging piteousIv
for assistance
Lieutenant Goodrich and Seaman NIa1ecL, he
came crazed, staggered up the iron ladder To The
top OF the turret and then threw themselves
headlong into the sea, in despairing effort To
choose death by drowning in preference to death
by fire.
When the smoke of burning powder had
cleared away the shipmates OF the unfortunasa
men rushed 10 their assistance and the sufferin-
sailors were lifted tenderly out of the fre-bIack
ened turret and quickly conveyed to the ships
hospital, where their burns were dressed BY the
surgeons.
in the mean time Goodrich and Malecs had
been rescued by the launch that was returning
from an inspection of the target
The surgical staff of the Georgia was soon re-
inforced by the surgeons of the other vessels in
the fleet. who had been informed Of the accident
and summoned to the scene by the combined use
of wireless telegraphy. signal flags and the wig
wag system.
\ message giving brief details of the disaster
was sent to the government wireless telegraph
station the Highlands of Cape Cod. and
thence overland 10 the Navy Department. at
Washington. Another message was sent 10 the
CharleStown Navy Yard requesting that twenty
stretchers be provided 10 remove the wounded
men the naval hospital when the Georgia ar
rived at Boston. for which port she sailed at
once.
an examination of the after superposed turret
after the accident failed to show that any seri-
Gus damage had resulted 10 the ship.
Immediately after learning the details Captain
Henry McCrea. commander of the Georgia. in
formed Rear Admiral Charles NJ Thomas. COM
mander of the squadron, of what had occurred
Admiral Thomas ordered an investigating board
to examine into the causes of the accident Tn
til this board makes it report the real cause OF
the explosion will be in doubt. and il is unCer-
tain even that the board will be able TO deter
mine definitely what ignited the cases of powder
Two theories are entertained one is that q
spark from the discharge of the after turret
guns foated back 10 the turret through gun
port and settled on the powder cases Another
is that the spark that caused the trouble came
from the srnokestacks of the ship and fOated
through the gun ports. That it was foating
spark seemed evident TO naval men. but whether
from gun or a funnel furnished topic for dis
CUssion.
AS soon as he received the news Of the dis
aster Rear Admiral Albert 5. Snow. command
ant of the Charlestown Navy Yard. made ar
rangements for the reception OF the injured
men. The naval hospital at Chelsea was pre-
pared for the sufferers. and ambulances were
furnished by the hospital. the SoldierS' Home
and the cities of Boston and Chelsea.
DIED ON WAY To HOSPITAL
Not until half an hour before the Georgia
there had been any fatalities. on the way
across Massachusetts, Bay Midshipman Gold
thwaite succumbed to his injuries. and little
later death ended the sufferings of Turret
Captain Thatcher and Seamen Burke. Thomas
and Miller Seaman Hamilton died while the
ship was approaching the navy yard pier
When the Georgia arrived at the navy yard.
about 4:45 o'clock. a great crowd was awaiting
her. All the unengaged sailors and marines in
the yard were on hand. as we'll the officers OF
the yard and the ships in port for repairs. Sew
eraI hundred workmen from the machine shops
and other departments of the yard had gathered,
as well as a large corps of newspaper men and
three priests. the latter believing that they
might be called TO administer the cOnsola-
tions of the Roman Catholic Church to dying
sufferers of that faith.
With the execution CT the officers and the
pIiests. however, one was allowed on the