The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-17

Boston, July IS - Seaman Edmund J.
Walsh. OF Lynn, a member of the Grew OF
the battle ship Georgia, died at the Naval
Hospital in Chelsea this afternoon. MAX
ing the number Of fatalities due to the
powder explosion total nine.
The surgeons say that there is hardly a
chance of Seaman James P. Thomas. of
Brooklyn. and Lewis 0. Meese of Cincin-
natl living through the night Both these
men have been kept under the influence
Of opiates ever since they were, brought to
the hospital, because of their dreadful
burns.
Three more Of the injured are likely to
die, so the surgeons say, and two others
are in a critical state.
John Thomas, of Newport father of
Seaman Thomas. arrived at the hospital
to-day with his two sons. and they were
quickly ushered 10 the ward Of the young
sailor. Although in a critical condition,
the boy recognized them. They remained
with him only few minutes.
The bodies Of six OF the dead were
claimed to-day by relatives and were sent
home. The others viii be dispatched to-
morrow.
Rear Admiral Goodrich. commandant of
the Brooklyn navy yard with his wife
and two daughters, left Chelsea to-day.
after they had perfected arrangements
for the transportation Of the body OF the
AdmiraTs son, Lieut.. Caspar Goodrich.
who died last night. The body was sent TO
Stone Church, n. J., where the funeral
VIII be held on Thursday.
YamRmOto Sends Flowers.
Admiral Yamamoto of Japan. sent
Lieut. Commander Taniguohi. naval at
tache Of the embassy Of Japan at Wash
ington. to the hospital to-day, Taniguohi
bringing the sympathy Of the Admiral
He also sent splendid floral tributes, 70
be placed upon the caskets OF Lieut.
Goodrich aud Midshipman Goldthwaite,
and handsome bouquets for the injured
men,
Midshipman Lucien Kimbal was the
only man Of the twenty-one in the turret
TO escape serious injury. He told the fol-
lowing story Of what happened when the
explosion occurred;
There were Just twenty-one Of US in
the turret Lieut.. Goodrich was in COM
manG and I was his subordinate.
The proJectile had just been rammed
into the port S-inch gun, and the charge
of powder had come UP from the maga-
zine in the carriage. Tt was contained in
two bags, each holding fifty-two pounds.
Seaman Thomas had lifted one bag
from the carriage, and was about to put
it under the electric ram to the loader.
T'1n NJ nnV oHarga low ~, D.. ..--s.~~o
that moment I was facing aft, close to
the wall of the turret. Instinctively I
held my breath, ducked, and drew my
cap over my face. Though suppose IL
vas but few seconds, il seemed an age
while the flames hissed around me and I
felt the heat biistcring my body It was
awful I could hear the men screaming
and gasping for breath in the suffocating
gas released by the burning powder.
Men Piled I'm Heaps.
Then I turned and tried to put out the
fire in the clothes Of the men piled around
in heaps. They lay four or five on top
OF each other.
My injuries amount TO nothing but a
few burns on my hands guess 1t was
sparks from the funnel that came through
the opening in the top OF the turret that
caused the trouble. A spark probably
landed on the bag Of powder in Thomas
hands"
The following story of the disaster is
told by Acting Gunner Capt Charles II.
Hansell, who is one Of the least seriously
injured:
None Of US knew much about It until
It was all over, it was so quick When
/ saw that first fash. instinct told me
what was up, and I kept presence of
mind enough TO dodge back from the
sheet Of flame that began to enveloD
the turret.
I got down on the floor, crawled under
the gun. and out the port hole as far as
! could get Here ] could get some air.
and was so low down that the harles. did
not hurt me seriously. MIR. Kimban was
with me-
kThe instant the flash came. Lieut.
Goodrich, who was in charge OF our tur
ret rushed for the ladder to the hatch
way Ola top of the tuTret, thinking TO get
out before the turret filed with smoke
and gas, but the powder was too quick
for him, and he was horribly burned he
fore he could get TO the air and safety
Seaman MaleCk was sitting on top of
the turret where he was stationed TO
. take gauges, with his legs hanging down
the hatchway Influenced probably by
Lieut.. Goodrich, who. maddened by his
sufferings. plunged into the sea, he threw
himself overheard, too
THE first flash was followed quickly bv
q second from the other bag Of powder
That v4s a moment Of terror to all who
were still conscious. and they were few.
Men were lying in heaps, moaning. dying.
unconscious baking and suffocating. The
next moment seemed eternity. Help from
outside came quickly, and the men were
rapidly lifted and taken away 20 be care1
for. But living man could not enter
the tuTret until the heat had been sub
dued by pornig water in. which also set
tied the smoke and dispelled the gases
10 some extent.
We had fred nine shots and made nine
hits, and still had time enough 10 fire
two shots more and be within two min
utes. Now, when you fire eleven shots
with S-inch guns in two minutes. you're
doing some shooting"
ACADEMY M0URNS VICTIMS