The Washington herald., 1907-08-02

the cause Of the confusion occurred, for
he says: Almost instantly as l looked
down the hatch there was some confu-
sion"
Another witness, who seems to have
been the only observer who was looking
toward the right gun before the confusion
began. states that ne saw puff of smoke
come out of the right gun and travel 10
the rear-0r if not out of the gun, then
out of some place on a level with and
close TO the breech Of the gun.
The description by another witness, Of
the spot which he saw creeping on the
bag. suggests a spark, but Is not in the
least inconsistent with the local ignition
Of the bag cat a frayed point for exam
pie), from the flame Of a bareback, If
the flame had ignited the bag simultane-
ously at another point near the black
powder ignition charge, we should have
the conditions described-of a small fare
accompanied by a sound like that of black
powder burning, followed by two larger
flashes due 10 the powder charge
We have 10 account, then, for the fol-
lowing well established facts:
l. Immediately after the powder charge
was removed from the ammunition car
some incident occurred which startled all
p
ing them TO suspend work suddenly, and
creating sufficient confusion among them
10 attract the attention Of men near them.
Lasted but Moment.
This incident was Of such brief dura-
ton that 1t was lost to those who looked
almost instantly toward the point Of its
occurrence
. As a result Of this extremely fleet
ing incident, the bag Of one powder sec
lion was left burning in at least one
spot
g. The impression left upon the minds
Of the three people who are known to
have seen 1t points to a bareback and
TO nothing else.
f. There is 10 statement recorded which
lis inconsistent with the idea Of a fare
back
Finally, the only explanation other than
a bareback which suggests itself, or
has been suggested, is that a spark
alighted on the bag. 1t is hardly con-
ceivable that such an incident, even If
observed, would have caused the entire
stopping CT the drill and the confusion
c4ltAhAAS tAAN AlANA nAAAtAt At4Lo ~ ALANhJ
Well established.
Since the preparation Of these notes
Admiral Mason says he has talked with
Liuet Bookwalter. Of the Georgia, who
was q "spOtter' at the time of the &C
cident. And" SAYS the admiral from
( his talk and description of the surround
F ings I am all the more certain that the
( cause was a bareback, and that the
entering Of the circular loading scoop. or
/ tray, prevented the proper action of the
air jet which was opened up properly"
/ With a view 10 the adoption of precau-
/ tons against accidents similar to those
/ which occurred on the Georgia and other
/ vessels Of the navy, Acting Secretary
/ Newberry, Of the Navy Department, has
/ appointed q board Of naval officers 10 ex-
anime into and report upon construction
! and operation OF turrets.
! The members OF the board are Lieut..
! Commander Louis A. Kaiser. who has
/ been a turret officer on the battle ship
/ Illinois: Lieut.. Commander Carl 7. VogeI-
! gesang, who had charge Of the winning
! crew in the turret aboard the battle ship
! Wisconsin in 1904. and Lieut.. L. C. Pal
| mer, who has been on board the Missouri
! as a turret officer.