The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-16
EIGHT DEAD AND
THIRTEEN HURT
CONTINUED from Page one,)

| Flames, smoke and nauseous gases fill
| ed the superstructure in which more than
score OF men were confined. but mas
much as the powder was not confined
there was no deafening report, nor did
the vessel suffer any injury but every
nook and Granny OF the turret was filed
with flame.
Blinded by the smoke and flames. chok-
ed by the ccrid, penetrating gaseous
| flames and maddened with pain, the men
| screamed in agony.
Some staggered blindly up the ladder
TO the hatchway in the top of the turret,
while others crept along the turret floor,
begging piteously for assistance.
Lieut.. Goodrich and Seaman Malech be-
came crazed, staggered up the iron ladder
10 the top of the turret and then threw
themselves headlong into the sea in de-
spairing effort TO choose death by
drowning in preference to death by slow
fire.
Before the smoke of the burning pow
der had cleared away the shipmates Of
the unfortunate men rushed TO their as
sistance and tenderly the suffering sail
ors were lifted out of the fire-blackened
turret and quickly conveyed TO the ships
hospital. where their burns were dressed
by the surgeons.
The surgical staff OF the Georgia was
soon reinforced by the surgeons of the
other vessels OF the fleet, who had been
informed of the accident. and summoned
TO the scene by the combined use of wire
less telegraphy. signal flags and the wig
wag system.
CAPT. McCREA'S STATEMENT.
After the Georgia sailed away at sos
o clock one OF the navy yard officers gave
out a brief official statement from Capt.
McCrea, which read as follows:
About 10 a. m, July Is. while engaged
in record target practice with the eight
inch guns mounted in the after superim-
posed turret firing at the target at the
time. powder charge became ignited, in
turing about 20 men and doing some dam
age TO the turret
Until thorough investigation is mads
by the board convened by the division
commander. Rear Admiral Charles NJ.
Thomas, u. S. N. we have no theory to
advance as to the cause of the deplorable
accident which resulted in the serious in
jury OF 20 brave men. seven of whom
have since passed away.
"A charge OF powder had Just been
stopped at the breech of the gun ready
for loading. Suddenly one OF the powder
bags was found burning in the leaders
hands. II created great heat and all in
the turret were badly wounded.
Two OF this turret's crew their cloth
ing ablaze. hurried out the only exit and
plunged quickly overheard, being picked
up by our steamer nearby. Chief Car
penter Yates. in charge OF the repair
boat. luckily saw these two men jump
and hastened to their succor
when Admiral Thomas was informed
OF the extent and serious nature OF the
resultant injuries the Georgia was i'm
mediately directed to proceed posthaste to
Boston"
THREE MORE MAY DIE.
OF the l3 men injured as a result of the
ignition of a bag of powder which was
being carried to one OF the guns in the
after superimposed turret of the battle
ship Georgia: which engaged in target
practice In Cape Cod bay yesterday,
three, although alive today. were believed
to have but small chances OF recovery.
The 13 injured are at the United states
naval hospital in Chelsea, where they
were taken from the Georgia when she
breaking run from the cape.
The three men whose lives are de-
SPARED of by the physicians at the hos
pital are Edward ]. Walsh. a seaman of
Lynn, Mass, whose chest and face are
badly burned Louis o. Meese, of Berea,
O.. an ordinary seaman, whose arms, face
and chest were burned. and James +.
Thomas, ordinary seaman, OF Brooklyn,
n. Y, whose face, arms, chest and back
were burned.
A constant watch was kept at the hos,
pital during the night over the bedsides
OF the injured men. and the heavy ban
dages which covered their burns were
constantly saturated with oil TO assuage
the pain.
When the Georgia arrived here yester-
day she carried six of her crew who had
died as a result of their frightful burns
on the way from the target grounds 10
the hospital. and last night two more sue
cumbed to their painful injuries. one OF
those who died during the night was
Lieut.. casper Goodrich on Brooklyn, N.
Y a son OF RearAdmiral Casper F.
Goodrich. commandant OF the Brooklyn
navy ward.