The Washington herald., 1907-07-17

The Navy Department is anxiously
awaiting the report Of the special board
appointed by Rear Admiral Thomas, COM
handing the second division Of the At
lantic fleet, to investigate the cause OF
the Georgia disaster.
While the board Is expected to be as
expeditions as possible, it may be sew
eraI days before il will be able to reach
definite conclusion, owing TO the fact
that the members may have 10 return to
Boston to get the statements Of those of
the injured who are in condition TO tell
anything concerning the matter
Until the report Of the board is received.
naval officers generally are disinclined 10
discuss the cause Of the catastrophe. The
opinion prevails among many OF them.
however. that the theory that a spark
from the smokestack of the ship may
have floated down the open scuttle on
top of the turret upon the powder charge
is sound. II is explained that the sack
In Which the powder is encased is made
OF iniiammable material in order that it
may be easily and readily consumed in
the bore Of the gun after the charge is
fired. otherwise bits OF burning cloth
might prematurely explode the next
charge.
In some instances the sack is made OF
silk, in order that IL may be strong and
LAT The same time easily combustble. The
ordnance department is now experiment.
ing with material for saclSing which will
be waterproof and still more indammable
than the present sacks
Must Have ScuttIe Open.
II IS further explained that il Is neees-
sary. when the big guns are being fred
rapidly. to have the scuttIe open, as the
turrets become hot.
In several instances Of disaster in the
turrets like the present one, the result
has been some Improvement calculated .
afford greater safety and convenience.
The Kearsarge accident resulted IN the
application OF the automatic shutter in
the ammunition hoist, which shuts OF the
upper from the lower turret. and In the
event Of an accident in one turret pre-
vents gas OF flame from being communl-
In this instance it is evident that the
shutter worked all right. and perhaps
may have prevented stil more serious
accident. II was suggested yesterday that
inasmuch as II Is necessary TO have the
scuttle open when the guns are being
fired. il might be possible and practicable
TO have an electric fan at the opening.
which would blow away SCOT or sparks
which might possibly come down through
this opening.
snow Reports on Injuries.
Yesterday afternoon the Navy Depart.
rnent received the following dispatch from
Rear Admiral Snow. giving the condition
Of the injured:
Condition Of injured at 8 a m. July
6.-Midshipman Cruise, worse; Seaman
Walsh, fatal; Ordinary Seaman Meese
worse. Seaman Bush. critical; Seaman
Fone. critical but hopeful; Boatswain's
Nate Sehlapp. favorable; Chief Yocman
Tagland. critical but hopeful: Seaman
Gilbert. critical; Seaman Rosenberger,
fairly good: Ordinary Seaman Elch. fav-
orable: Gunner's Mate First Class Han
sell, favorable; Ordinary Seaman Malek.
critical
Georgia returned 10 target ground. BY
order Of Admiral Thomas. Immediately
after transfer Of injured. Commanding
officer could not explain cause Of explo- j
sion. Relatives will be kept informed"
Later in the afternoon word was re-
ceived at the department from Admiral
Snow announcing the death OF Seaman
Edmund Walsh. which occurred at 2:45.
President is Notified.
Acting Secretary Of the Navy New
berry yesterday sent the President
brief dispatch informing him officially Of
the disaster. The President throughout
the day manifested much concern and
twice wired the department for informa-
ton
In response to the Presidents request, /
Acting Secretary Newberry wired him /
the report Of Rear Admiral Snow. giving /
the condition of the injured men. In 4
compliance with his order, his message /
was also telegraphed 10 Boston. where |
1t was communicated by wireless to the /
Georgia.
Many Condolences.
Various expressions of sympathy and /
coincidence came in to the department /
One Of the first received was from Lieut. /
Pfster, naval attache Of the italian en-
bassy. He sent the following dispatch:
"On behalf Of the Italian embassy and |
myself, I send, through you, TO the navy
the most sincere sympathy and condo
lence for the disaster on board the bat
tie ship Georgia"
A dispatch received from the Victorian /
Club, of Boston, reads;
The President, officers. and members
of the Victorian Club Of Boston. Mass
(British) deeply grieve deplorable acct
dent to officers and men of the L. 5. S.
Georgia, and express their profound SYM
pathy for the comrades and relatives Of |