The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-17
LIVED THROUGH TURRET FIRE
MEN TELL or AWFUL EXPE-
RIENCE ABO ard THE GEORGIA..


BosToN. July I~e.-Ssaman Edmund J.
Walsh Of Lynn one Of the CROW Of the battle
ship Georgia. died at the Naval Hospital
in Chelsea this afternoon. making nine
fatalities due TO the powder explosion.
The surgeons say there IL hardly a nance
Of Seamen James p. Thomas of Brooklyn
and Louis q. Meeae " Cincinnati living
through the night.
Both of these men nave been kept under
the influence Of opistes ever since they
were brought to the hospital because 81
the painful nature Of their burns.
Three more Of the injured are likely to
die. the surgeons say. and two others Arr
in a critical condition.
John Thomas Of Newport, father Of Sea-
man Thomas. arrived at the hospital this
forenoon with two of his sons. They were
quickly ushered to the bedside Of the young
sailor. Although in "a critical condition the
boy recognized them. They remained with
him only "A few minutes
BopIEs SENT HOME.
The bodies of six Of the dead have been
claimed by relatives and were sent home
to-day. The others will lie sent Tomorrow.
Rear Admiral Goodrich. oommsndant Of
'sV "Sohyh "oNN y'N ohN -" Wv
and two daughters left Chelsea this fore-
noon after they had arranged for sending
the body Of the Admiral's son. Lieut.. Caspar
Goodrich. who died last night. TO Stone
Church, y. j.. where the funeral will he
held on Thursday.
Admiral Yamamoto Of Japan sent Lieu
tenant Commander Taniguohi, Naval At
tache OF the Embassy of Japan at WASH
n.rt, o, th. haanst.l th,a aNr,,n q,
express the sympathy Of the Admiral. He
also sent flowers to be put on the coffins Of
Lieut.. Goodrich and Midshipman Gold
thwaite and bouquets to the injured men.
THE
Midshipman Luoien Kimball was the only
man Of the twenty-one in the turret tU
escape injury. He told this story Of what
happened when the explosion occurred:
There were just twenty-one Of US in the
tnrret. Lieut.. Goodrich was In command
and | was his subordinate.
The projectile had just been rsmmed
into the port $ inch gun n the charge Of
powder had come up from the magazine
in the carriage. IL was contained In two
bags. each holding ffty-two pounds
Seaman Thomas had lifted one bag from
the osrrisze and was about to put il under
the electric ram 10 the loader. The other
charge lay on the carriage
that moment | was facing aft close 10
the wall Of the turret. There wa a sudden
kissing puff Snd a draught of air against
my back. lnstinctively | held my breath.
ducked and drew my cap over NV face
Though ] suppose II was but a few seconds.
il seemed an age that the flames missed
around me and ! felt the heat clustering my
body.
1T wsa awful. 1 could hear ths men
screaming and gssping for breath in the
suffOoating gas created by the burning
powder.
Then I turned and tried to put out the
fire in the clothes Of the men piled o
in heaps. Thcy lsy sround four or five
Oh top Of one another. My injuries amount
to nothing but a few burns ON my hands,
Il guess IL was sparks from the tunnels
that came through the opening in the top
% the turret hat caused tho trouble. A
spark probably landed on the bag of powder
in Thomas's hands"
NoTHk MANS EXPERIENCE.
The following story Of the disastsr 10
told by Acting Gunner's Captain Charles
II. Hansell. who IL one Of the least seriously
injured:
None OF US knew nuch ABOUT " th u
was all over, II was 20 quick. when
saw that hrst naah instinct told me what
was mp and I kept presence Of mind enough
To dodge back from the sheet OF name maj
began to euveiop the turret.
Il got down on the floor. orawled under
the gun and out the port hole As far as I
could get. Here l could get some air and
was 50 low down that the name did not
hurt me seriously. kimban was with me
THE instant the nash came Lieut., Good
rich, who was in charge OF our turrst. rushed
for the ladder to the hatchway on top OF
the turret. thinking TO get out before the
turref filed with smoke and gas. but the
po"uer was Voo duloA io' nm a"u LAO "aS
horr1oiy Ourneo oe'oFe ie cou'a se' 70 the
AR anu saiety'
'oa'nan Maieck WAS s't"ns Oh Top :"
me currst' ~here ne was atrohe 10 teke
gauges WIN ms reg. hanging oo"n the
naVon"sy' ihnuenoeo proosp'y ny iHent'