Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-07-17
THE ACCIDENT.
MIDsHIPMAN KIMBALL ONLY
MAN WHO LIVED THROUGH
TURRET FIRE


Mldahipnan Lneien Kimball was
the only man ~ lhs twenty one ~
the turret 20 escape Injury. He told
this stor, ~ what happened when the
explosion occurred
There were Just twenty-OBe Of -
ia The fufret. Lieutenant Goodrich
" A. IL command OF and ! Was his
subordinate. The pr0jeciile had 5ust
been rammcd into tbe port 5-incb gun
and the charge 81 powder lad come
40 from the magazine ~ the carriage.
II was contained IN two bags, each
holding nfty two pounds.
,.@eamau Thomas had lifted one bag
from tlie carriage and WAS about -
out ID under tho electric ram 10 the
loader. The other charge lay on the
carriage. AZ that moment 1 was fac
ing All close 10 the wall of the turrct.
There was a sudden kissing pun and
dranhgt Of air against my back. In
stinctigely ! held my breath, dneked
and drew my cap over my face.
Though I suppose IL Wis but few
seconds, II seemed an age That the
flames biased around me and I felt
the heat bllstrcjng my body.
III was awful. I could hear the
men screaming and gasplng for breath
in the gunocating gas created by the
burning powder. Then turned and
tried 10 put ont the fire in tie clothes
Of tie men piled around IN heaps.
They lay around four or five on top Of
each other. My injuries amount 10
nothing but q few burns on my hands.
guess 1t WAS sparks from the tunnels
that came through the opening IN the
top 0f the surret that caused the
trouble. A spark probably landed on
the bag of powder In Thomas ban1s. "
The following story Of the disaster
Is told by ActiDg Gunner's Captain
Charles ~. IIanscii, who ~ one Of the
least seriously injured.
None Df ns knew much about IL
fill IL WAS all over. II WAS 80 quick.
When I saw that first fash instinct
told me what was up and ! kept
presence Of mind enough to dodge
back from stllc sheet of fame That
began 10 cnyelop the tnrret. I got
down on the GoOr, crawlcd under the
gun and out the port hole as far a.
could get. Here 4 could get some air
and was so low down that fhe Game
did not hurt mo seriously. Kimball
as with me.
"Thc instant the fash came Lieu
tenant Goodrich, who was in charge
Of our tnrret, rushed for the ladder
10 tho batchway on top Of the tnrret,
thinking 10 get out before the tuTret
filled with smoke and gas, but the
powder was too quick for.hfm and he
.as horribly burned before he could
yet 10 the air and safety. Seaman
Maleck was sitting on top Of the tur-
ret, where ne was stationed TO take
guagcs, with his legs hanging down the
hatchway. Influenced probably by
Lieutenant Goodrich, who, maddeDed
by his suffering, plunged into the
sea, be threw himself overheard too.
'sTbe first fash was followed quick
ly by a second from the other bag Of
powder. That was a moment 0f ter
ror TO all who were still conscious,
aud they were few. Men were lying
In heaps, moaning, dying, uncOn-
scious, baking aud sunocating. The
next minute seemed eternity. But
help from outside came quickly and
the men were rapidly lifted and taken
away to be cared for. But living
man could not enter the turTet until
the heat had been subdued by pour
ing I'm water, which also settled the
smoke and dispclIed the gases to some
extent.
I'VE had fired nine shots and made
nine bits and still had time enough
TO fire two shots more AID still be
within two minutes. Now when you
Ere eleven shots with S-iDch guns in
two minutes you're doing some
shooting