Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-07-25
GEORGIA SAILOR GAVE
LIFE FOR MEN IN TURReT.
damned Home Charge IN Second Gun.
Prevented Explosion That Would
haye Killed AIl-csptain Nc
Crea's Graphic Story.

Boston, July 17.-On board the Geor-
gia in 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 prob
ably fatal. to thirteen others. Captain
McCrea said
1 was on the bridge making the run
for the practice. was taking observa-
ton of each shot. As shot after shot
hit from the S-inch guns saw we were
beating the records of the other ships
OF the fleet. On the bridge could hear
the command from the after turret. So
snew when the next shot was coming.
Il heard the shout Fire, but there
was no shot and then saw men running
aft, and quickly the fire hose that is
always laid out in readiness when there
is firing going on, was manned.
RUSH BRAvELY INTO UNKNOWN.
rushed to the after bridge near
the turret to see what was the matter.
The water had already been poured into
the turret. The boatswain and Mid
shipman Grsvescroft led the way for
their men with the hose. tell YOU.
there was courage. No man knew
what had happened, and no man knew
into what danger he might be rushing.
But these men never thought of self. or
danger. That brave act will look well
on their records.
Then they began to bring out the
men. One of the first was the one in
whose hands was the powder when il
flashed. He was laid down on top of
the lower turret with a blanket under
his head. went to him. 1 could not
recognize him. His hands were burned
TO the bone. The flesh was gone. With
these hands raised above his chest and
the tips of the fingers bent toward each
other, could hear him whisper. Oh
God, o God, o God He could not move
his lips to utter other words.
81 bent closer and said to him. ''Mv
dear fellow, God has heard your prayer
he 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 of them felt relief as soon as thew
got out in the open air. The gases
from the smokeless powder are terrible.
That's what kills. The external burns
were hideous enough.
One man in that turret was not hurt
-Midshipman Kimball-and don't un-
derstand how he could have ESCAPED. He
helped take out the men. He. too.
showed grift after the shock he had had.
GASES FROM POWDER KILLS.
Lieutenant Goodrich set an example
to his men that none but courageous
officer could set, when he plunged right
INTO the flame and gases to lead the
way to safety. told his father, Rear
Admiral Goodrich, that it was such Off
GERS that made great navy. His ex-
ample will not be forgotten.
After he got to the deck he threw
himself overheard. If our launch had
not been nearby on its return from its
examination of the target he would
have been drowned.
DEAD HERO PREVENTED EXPLOSION.
Probably one little act, or rather
one great act of one of the men. pre-
vented far created disaster. / don't
know his name. He's dead. He and
one other stood by the second gun that
had just been loaded. The last powder
bag that had been put in was protrud-
ing little from the gun. When he
saw the flash, instead of dashing for
the ladder to save himself he crowded
home the charge in the gun and with
the help Of the other man got the gun
closed before the fame reached the
bag.
The flame had touched that bag
there would have been an awful explo-
sion, for the powder was confined in the
gun and would not have flashed as the
other did, but would have exploded.
Not man in the turret would have
been left alive, whatever other damage
might have been done. That man gave
his life for the others.
REAL HERoIsM HERE.
Il am told President Roosevelt has
inquired about a man that gave his life
IN closing the shutter from the ammu-
milton room to save the ship from blow
ing up. 1t would be very wrong to
have story like that go out, because
cannot find that there is any founda.
ton for it, or need for man to mako
any attempt to do anything of the sort. |
But if the President wants heroism let
MIN look up this brave man who stood !
by his gun to save the rest"