The Washington herald., 1907-07-16

Boston, July 15.-while the battle ship
Georgia. one of the newest Of Uncle Sans
battle ships. was engaged in target prac-
tice with other vessels of the North At
lantic fleet, off Barnstable. ii Cape Cod
Bay, about 10 o'clock this morning. a
charge OF powder intended for use in
one Of the after S-inch guns suddenly
igniJed in the turret and laid out the
twenty-five men who were inside.
Eight Of the injured succumbed to their
injuries and thirteen others were re-
moved 10 the naval hospital in Chelsea,
and it is feared that five more Of them
viii not recover from their injuries.
Four more men who were somewhat
burned remained in the sick bay on the
ship their injuries being mild enough to
respond to the treatment of the surgeons
OF board.
Lii Goodrich Dies,
Lieut. Goodrich did not survive through
the night. He was the most severely
injured OF the men brought ashore. The
eyesight of both eyes was destroyed and
his body was fearfully burned
He is the son Of Rear Admiral Good
rich, [. S. n, and was the latters aid
when he commanded the Pacific squad
ron. Admiral Goodrich was notified Of
the accident. and was reported tonight
10 be on his way here from New York.
Midshipman Cruise is another who died
late in the day. He and Midshipman
Goldthwaite had not been out OF the
Naval Academy very long.
The cause of the disaster has not vet
been explained. About all that is known
on shore is that two bags Of powder had
come up 70 the ammunition hoist inside
The after superimposed turret. Each bag
contained 100 pounds Of powder, but
whether both were burned could not be
learned 10 a certainty.
The hoist had stopped behind the gun.
and the loader taking one of the bags
in his arms, approached the gun, the
breech Of which stood open. As the man
started TO insert the powder behind the
prOjectile already in the gun, he saw A
black spot suddenly appear.
Gazes at Black spot.
He gazed at it with fascination for sew
eral brief seconds. as 1t grew steadily
larger. Then he gave scream. dropped
the bag. and fell on his face.
Two other men are said to have dropped
TO the floor OF the turret almost as
quickly, and then came a binding flash
as the mass Of powder hared up, filing
the turret with flames heat, and smoke
and bowling the men over like nine-pins.
Two Of the men. their clothing in
flames and crazed with the pain of their
burns, managed in some way to find their
way up the iron ladder leading to the
exit at the top of the turret. They stag
gered blindly about and then tottered over
the side Of the vessel. seeking relief in the
cold water from their terrible burns
These two men were Lieut.. Goodrich and
Seaman Malek.
A launch containing Chief Carpenter
Yates and some men was just coming
back from one Of the targets. They saw
the Two blazing seamen drop over the
side, and quickly rescued them.
Others Climb Turret.
Several others Of the less injured men
found their way out of the turret and
stretched themselves on the ton. scream
ing with pain. Officers and men from,
other parts of the vessel rushed n +bA
assistance Of their unfortunate con- |
rades, and, entering the death turret
brought the unconscious men to the open
air
All the surgeons in the feet were bur- |
ried aboard the Georgia in response 10
signals They did the best they couId
for the injured men. and then. in re- /
sponse to orders from Rear Admiral /
Thomas, commanding the feet. the Geor-
sia steamed at fun speed for Boston. |
where the injured could be placed in the
hospital.
The accident was in many respects sim
llar to that which occurred on another |
battle ship off the coast Of Florida sev- |
eral years ago. when a charge of powder |
was set off just as it was being placed /
IN big gun. Whatever caused the dis
aster win be discovered if such a thing
is possible when the board OF inquiry in /
vestigates the matter.
Only Priests Admitted.
No landsmen except priests were al
lowed aboard the Georgia when sbo
reached the navy yard at Charlestown
The big ship mOored alongside dol.
and the wounded were brought tende~l,.
down a gang-plank and placed IN e..
waiting ambulances.
The most seriously injured were ers,
taken to the hospital at Chelsea. most -
them being unconscious In three trins ~,
had been taken, not more than tbrea 80
the whole fifteen being able TO sit nm a.
they were driven away.
Newspaper men We're barred with .ha
rest Of the civilians from going aboard the