Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-07-25
Commander Of the Battlsship Gsorgia
Relates Some Particulars 0f
: the Accident.
COOL IN THE FACE OF DANCER



day afternoon Capt. Henry McCre
told 10 the Associated Press tn
story Of the disaster on board IN
battleship on Monday, which ha
cost the lives Of nine men Of tn
United States navy and caused IN
jury in some cases probably fata
to 10 others. Capt. McCrea said:
II was on the bridge making tn
run for the practice. was takin
observations Of each shot. AS shu
after shot was hit from the Sine
guns saw we were beaking the rec
ords Of the other ships Of the fleet
on the bridge / could hear the com
mand from the after turret So
knew when the next shot was com
Ing.
II heard the shout, Fire bu
here was no shot, and then ! saw
men running aft, and quickly the
fire hose that Is always laid out II
readiness when there Is firing gone
on was manned.
Il rushed to the after bridge, near
the turret to see what was the wat-
ter. The water was already being
poured into the turret The boats
vain and Midshipman Grayescroat
led the way for their men with the
hose. tell you, there was courage
No man knew what had happened
and no man knew into what danger
he might be rushing But those
men never thought Of self or danger.
That brave act will look well on
their records.
"Then they began to bring out
the men, One Of the first was the
one in whose hands the powder was
when II flashed. He was laid down
on top Of the lower turret with o
blanket under his head. went to
him. could not recognize him
His hands we're burned to the bones
The flesh was gone. With those
hands raised above his chest and tle
tips Of the fingers bent toward
each other, | could hear him
whisper: o God. 0 God o God He
could not move his lips enough to ut
ter other words.
"The men we're brought out as
fast as they could be taken from
the turret. Most Of them felt relief
as soon as they got to the open air
The gases from smokelss powder are
terrible. That's what kills. The
external burns were hideous enough,
but to breathe that stuff is fatal.
zone man in that turret was not
hurt--Mldshipman Kimball-and l
do not understand how he could
babe escaped. He helped take out
the men. He. too. showed grit af-
ter the shock he had had. Lieut..
Goodrich set an example to hist
men that none but courageous Of
ilcer could set, when he plunged |
right into the flames and gases to
lead the way to safety. | told his
Iather, Rear Adflral Goodrich. that |
L was such offictrs that made
great navy. His example will not be
forgotten. After he got to the deck
ie threw himself overheard, II our
aunch had not been nearby on its
-eturn from It's examination Of the
arget he would have drowned.
Probably one little act or rather
me great act Of one Of the men.
PREVENTED far greater disaster.
lon't know his name. He's dead.
1e and one other stood by the sec
md gun that had Just been loaded.
The last powder bag that had been
nut in was protrudlng alittle from
he gun. When he saw the flash,
instead OF dashing for the ladder
0 save himself. he crowded home
he charge in the gun and with the
elp Of the other men got the gum
losed before the flames reached /
he bag. II the flame had touched
hat bag there would have been an
wful explosion, for the powder was
onfined In the gun and would not 7
ave flashed as the other did. but )
'ould have exploded. Not q man in /,
he turret would have been left alive, 1
neither other damage might have {
cen done, That man gave his life
n the others. =
Il am told President Roosevelt
as inquired about q man that gave
Is life IN closing the shutter from !
le ammunition room 70 save the (
lip from blowing up would be q
sry wrong 70 have q story like that I
, out, because can not find that !
lers & any foundation for Il Or !,
5ed for q man to make any attefpt =
DO anything Of the sort But II 4
70 president wants heroiEm let 4
m look up this brave man who D
GOD By bis gun 70 save the rest. q
"sincs We went back 70 the target :,
omds The men have been shooting :
liter than before the accident
We havon't finished practico and
. are going back 70 tie targets Q.
d break the record.
chiutautta sesn Collapsed. =
Evansville. ma. Iulg la.-BT TIE
49, : ...-rl.-.. - -. :. AL