Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-03

accident on the battle ship Georgia
on July 10. With the exception of
the Boards statement that the fatal
| bareback occurred because the air
gas cjcctor was shut off too soon. the
report was approved by Mr.. Newbcrry.
The board finds that ut the time OF
the accident the smoke from the fun
ncls was carried over the starboard
quarter, clear OF the after turret. but
the smoke and gasscs of the Discharge
of the gun were blown back. so rs to
tend To cloud the sights OF the
gun and the wind was blow
ing nearly into the muzzlc OF the gun
All firing rules We're Observed and all
safety precautions adopted. except il
appears that after the firing of the
right gun Immediately preceding the
accident the air blast was shut off and
the ammunition car consequently
brought above the turret floor before
the bore was clear of dangerous
gases
Powder Was All Right
The powder was put up at the M.
val magazine at Iona Island. in Sep
TENDER, 1906, properly inspected. and
kept In a magazine in which the high
est temperature recorded was eighty
five degrees for one day. The powder
was tested on June 30, and found per.
fectly satisfactory.
When the charge was irnited the
two powder sections had been removed
from the ammunition car. and one
was on deck and the other in the
hands of the second loader. Tho burn
inc nj Tho t,nkN1a,. Toll al
most through the apeltures of the
automatic shutters into the S-inch and
Pinch handing rooms. These npcr-
lures are to provide clearanccs for the
hoist ropes OF the ammunition cars
The automatic shutters do not en-
TREY accomplish the object for which
they are designed and much greater
accident was only avertcd hy the
prompt and thoughtful action of those
in the S.inch handling room. If there
had been powder in the ammunition
cars in the Finch rooms the burn
ing grains from above would have
fallen directly OH the charges through
the large direct opening between the
S-inch and 12.inch handling rooms.
Therefore. the Board In addition to
recommending that the automatic
shutters be fitted so as To effectively
close the trunks from the turrets TO
the handling rooms. urges that these
rooms be isolated from one another
Fitting of Spray MOBILES.
Spray nozzlcs, the Board reports,
should IL fitted to instantly drench
all the powder in the handling rooms
ana turrcts by the simple motion of a
lever. Cartridge bags should he made
Of a material less easily ignited than
the cotton now in use. Loading trays
that will obstruct the jets of the gas
electors should not he put in place in
the gun until after the bore is clear.
The ammunition car should he kept
below the level of the turret floor I'M
til the air blast is closed off and the
man in charge signals bore clear; up
car"
Acting Secretary Newberry gave the
necessary orders today to have these
recommendations put into effect Hc
and other officials are now satisfied
the cause of the accident was a flare
back, and this is Il welcome conclu
sion, because ii is believed such flare
lacks can be dealt with safely. a
careful analysis of the proceedings OF
the board of inquiry made by Rear Adj
mral Mason. chief OF the Bureau of
Naval Ordnance. has satisfied the of.
fcials that the disaster was due sole.
~ to a bareback