Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-17
Navy Department Holds Crew
Of the TuHet BIameIeSS for
Distressing Accident Flying
Spark Caused Explosion,
EXPERTS SEEK MEANS TO
AVERT NEW DANGER
SCOT From Smoke Stack
Settled Through ScuttIe Hole
Left Open to Provide Turret
Crew With Means of Escape.
IRy MornIng Ionrnal specIaI Leased WIrs.I

IBy Morning journal Special Leased WireI
Washington. July 16.--It is said at
the navy department that it is ex-
tremely improbable that the accident
aboard the battleship Georgia resulted
from any earelessness or lack of pre-
caution on the part of the personnel
Of the ship. A short time ago a thor
ough inspection was made of every
detail Of the Georgia's ordnance by
Commander Schofield, one of the ex-
pert ordnance officers of the navy.
This inspection included every one OF
the guns. the details of the turret
mechanism. the workings of the am
muntion hoists (Which in the case Of
the super-imposed turrets of the Geor-
gia are rather more complicated than
in the ordinary type). and finally and
most important, the handling of the
guns and mechanism and ammunition
by the sailors. II was found that the
ships company was very efficient at
all points, and II was certain that they
were following closely the firing reg
ulations in every essential detail
In the absence Of any other plaus-
ible explanation, the officials here are
disposed to give consideration to the
theory advanced by some of the Geor-
gia's officers when they came ashore
at Boston. that the powder charge OF
the eisht-ineh gun was fired aeci-
dentally' by eliot OF SCOT, which came
floating from the ships smoke pipe
and settled by chance into the open
scuttle on top of the turret, alighting
directly on the fifty-pound bag of
smokeless powder In the arms of the
loader at the breech of the gun. II
Is pointed out that the bag enclosing
the powder is made Of thin serge stuff
which is rather inflammable In fact
II Is necessary that It should be SO in
order to be entirely consumed in the
bore Of the gun after the charge Is
fired. otherwise bits of burning cloth
might accidentally explode the next
charge Of powder introduced before
the breech of the gun could be closed
Such accidents have occurred In the
past, so the bags are purposely made
thin and inflammable In cases of
ammunition used in battle. the bag
ging Is frequently made of silk. with
a view to securing still greater
strength and perfect combustion OF
the envelope after a firing. II is pro-
posed to carry the principle still fur
ther and the ordnance bureau Is ex-
perimenting with a method of inn
pregnating the cloth with cotton.
In answer to an inquiry as to
whether II Is custory to have the scut-
tic on top of the turret open while
target practice Is going on, II was said
at the department that this Is almost
necessity owing to the high temper
ature in the turret while the guns are
consuming rapidly great quantities of
smOkeless powder with Its enormous
power. The opening also affords an
easy means of communication for orr
ders. and a further consideration Is
the beneficial effect upon the nerves
of the gunners Of the exact knowl-
edge that an avenue of escape is al
ways open to them In case Of an ac-
cldent In the turret II Is said to be
curious instance Of the irony Of fate
that the men apparently perished In
the Georgla's turret through the very
means adopted by them to secure
their safety.
When asked what additional pre-
caution could be suggested, as the re-
suit of this last accident the officials
If the department confessed them-
selves at loss at present: they stated
that there was nothing to do but
await the findings Of the board Of ex-
animation which has been convened,
and with the data then In hand to en-
deavor to frame some change In
methods that will eliminate this last
source OF danger
The following telegram from Presi-
dent Roosevelt at oyster Bay was re-
ceived at the navy department this
afternoon:
Il am lnexpressibly shocked and
grleved at the dreadful accident on
the Georgia and the death Of the gall
liant officers and men. wish full
particulars at the earliest possible
date. Let me know the condition Of
The wounded men. Repeat this to the
captain OF the Georgia"