Richmond planet., 1907-07-20


just been sent up through the amusuni-
tion hoist and were i'm the arms or the
loader, whose name was withheld by
the ships officers. The loader stood at
the breech Of one Of the eight inch
guns all ready TO insert the charge
At this instant the turret was seen
to be smoky. and two men who stood
near the loader saw a black spot on
the bag. indicating that the charge had
ignited and was smOldering The load
er discovered the spot at the same in
slant and threw himself forward on his
face. at the same time shouting n warn
ing 10 his turret mates. The other men
who had seen the spot were Eich and
Hansell. and they also threw them
selves on the floor OF the turret
Before the other men i'm the turret
could understand what caused the load
er's cry OF warning there was a blind
ing flash as the burning powder ex-
ploded Flames. smoke and nauseous
gases filed the little superstructure in
which more than score OF men were
confined. InaSmuch ms the powder was
not confined there was no deafening
report. nor did the vessel suffer any
AMlMA nMA ~ 81 NNNk NAifA aAWMN NA
the turret was filed with flame
The loader. who was. OF course. near
est the powder. was terribly burned.
as was every other man i'm the turret.
with the exception OF Eich and Han
sell who. although scorched. escaped
with injuries much less severe than the
others.
Blinded 10y the smoke and flame
choked by the acrid. penetrating gas
eous fumes and maddened with pain.
the men screamed I'm agony. Some
staggered hliudly up the ladder 90 the
hatchway in the top OF the turret. while
others crept along the turret floor. beg
/ ging pteously for assistance.
| Lieutenant Goodrich and Seaman
Maleck became crazed. staggered NJ
the iron ladder 10 the top OF the turret
aud then threw themselves headlong
into the sea I'm a despairlng EFFORT TO
choose a death by drowning in prefer.
cnce 10 death 10y slow fire.
When the smoke Of burning powder
had cleared away the shipmatcs of the
unfortunate men rushed 90 their as.
sistance. and tenderly the suffering
sailors were lifted ont OF the fire
blackcned turret ana quickly conveyed
/ 20 the ships hospital. where their
burns were dressed 10y the surgeons.
In the meantime Lieutenant Good
| rich and Seaman Maleck had been res.
cued boy the launch that was return
| ing from an Inspection 81 the target
The surgical StaG Of the Georgia
was soon REINFORCED 10y the surgeons
| OF the other vessels in the fleet. who
| had been informed OF the accident and
| summoned 10 the scene 10y the combin-
| ed use OF wireless telegraphy, signal
flags and the wigNvag system.
4 message came from Midshlpman
Goldthwai'e's parents IN Kentucky
asking II their son would live untr
they could reach hIm. The return mes
sage conveyed the Information that he
was dead
Several Incidents were told Of the
I coolness and heroism of some OF the
men Just after rhe explosion. Chap
lain Charlton was the first officer "a
reach the turret The first man he
found was Midshjpmnn Cruise. who
was terribly injured. Tie would not
allow the chaplain 10 do anything for
him, but said: let me alone. am all
right. Look after those other fellows"
In one or two other cases also ne
met with the same spirit OF self sacrl.
fee
Immediately upon learning the de
tails OF the accident Captain Henry
McCrea. commander OF the Georgia,
notified Rear Admiral Charles NJ
Thomas. commander OF the squadron
of what had occurred Rear Admiral
Thomas ordered an Investigating board
10 examine into the causes or the acct
dent. Until this board makes its re
port the real cause OF the explosion
viii be In doubt. and il ia uncertain
even that the board Will be able TO
! determine definitely what ignited the
| cases OF powder.
Two theories are entertained. One
belief is that a spark from the dis
charge OF the after turret guns foated
| back 10 the turret through gun port
| and settled on 70 the powder cases
| Another theory is that the spark that
! caused the trouble came from the
| smokestacks OF the ship and foated
| through the gun ports
After landing her dead and injured
1 the baitleship Georgia. under orders
! from Washington, sailed back TO the
| target grounds
Midshipmau Faulkner GOldthwaite
who died as a result Of his injuries and
< the second commissioned officer among
4 the eight who died. was horn Ia Calvert.
Tex, on May 24. 1888. ana entered the
| naval service as a midshlpman from
the state Of Kentucky on June s. 1903
| After serving the full four year course
at the Naval academy ne was on March
1. 1907. ordered 20 the Cnlted States
battleship Georgia. to which vessel he
was attached at the time OF his death.
| Midshipman ]. T. Cruse. who was In
jured. is a son of Major Thomas Cruise.
chief duartermaster. department OF the
Missouri. with headquarters at Omaha.
Major Cruise, accompanied by his
wife and son. Lieutenant Fred T.
cruse have -; for Boston 10 be with