New-York tribune., 1907-07-18
DIED TO SAVE OTHERS.
HEROES ON THE GEORGIA
Captain McCrea Tells the Story Of
Disaster ON BdttleShip.

Boston Harbor this afternoon Captain Henry
McCrea told the story of the disaster on board
the battleship on Monday which has cost the
lives OF nine men of the United States navy and
caused injury, in some cases probably fatal to
twelve others.
Il was on the bridge" said Captain McCrea'
making the run for the practice l was talk
ing observations of each shot. AS shot after
shot was hit from the S-inch guns, saw we
were beating the records of the other ships of
the fleet. on the bridge 1 could hear the COM
mand from the after turret. So I knew when
the next shot was coming
Il heard the shout Fire" but there was no
shot, and then I saw the running aft. and
quickly the fire hose that is always laid out in
readiness when there is firing going on was
manned.
I rushed to the after bridge near the turret,
to see what was the matter The water was
already being poured into the turret. The
boatswatn and Mdshipman Gravescroft led the
way for their with the hose. tell you,
there was courage. No man knew what had
happened and man knew into what danger
ne might he rushing. But those men never
thought of self or danger That brave act VIII
look we'll their record
Then they began to bring out the men. One
of the first was the in whose hands the
powder was when it flashed. He was laid down
head went to him. could not recognize hln'
His hands were burned TO the bones The flesh
was gone With these hands raised above MS
chest and the tips of the fingers bent toward
each other l could hear him whisper % God!
O God! Cod He could not move his Hps
enough to utter other words
"I bent closer and said 10 him, My dear fei-
low God has heard your. prayer lie was
breathing but in short gasps, and soon died
The men were brought out as fast as they
could be taken from the turret Most o1 thelh
.folt relief as soon as they got 20 the open air.
The gases from smo<eless powder are terrible
That's what kills. The external burns We're
bideous enough. but 10 breathe that stuff is
fatal.
INSTANCES OF HEROIsM.
cone man in that turret was not hurt-Mid-
shipman Kimball-and do not understand "'N
he could have escaped He helped take out
tbe men He too showed grit after the shock
he had had. Lieutenant Goodrich set an eX-
ample to his men that none but courageous
officer could set when he plunged right INTO the
flame and gases 10 lead the way 70 safety. l
told his father. Rear Admiral Goodrich, that
it was such officers that made a great navy.
His example Will not be forgotten. After he
got 10 the deck he threw himself overheard.
II our launch had not been nearby on ITS re
turn from its examination OF the target he
would have been drowned.
Probably one little act, or, rather one great
act OF one OF tNe men prevented a greater QS-
aster don't know his name. He's dead. He and
one other stood by the second gun that had just
becn loaded. The last powder bag that had been
put In was protruding a little from the gun
When he saw the fash. instead of dashing for
the ladder 20 save himself, he crowded home
the charge in the gun, and with the help OF the
other men got the gun closed tight before the
fame reached the bag. II the flame had
touched the bag there would have been an
awful explosion. for the powder was confined
III the gun, and would not have flashed as tie
otner did but would have exploded Not \
man in the turret would have been left arf,-n
Whatever other damage might have been done
Ihat man gave his life for the others"
/ am told President Roosevelt has ino,,frad
about man that gave his life in CLOSING tba
shutter from the ammunition room TO save tba
ship from blowing up. II would be very, vroD,
70 have story Ike that go out because I cannot
find that there is any foundation for II. or need
for man 10 make any attempt 10 do anvtbinp
Of the sort But If the President wants berofsrn
let him look up this brave man who stood bv his
gun to save the rest.
Since we went back 10 the target grounds
the men have been shooting better than before
the accident. We haven't finished practice and
we are going back to the targets and break the
record"
CONDITION OF THE INJURED
Four Of the twelve survivors of the explosion
are in an extremely critical condition in the
United states Naval Hospital AT Chelsea The
condition Of Louis @. Meesc. a seaman who en-
listed at Berea. Ohio. so dangerous that the