The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-16

/ from the Georgia. the ship returned to
! the practice grounds of Nantucket Bay
almost as soon as the last streteher had
been carried down the gang plank The
big battleship is practically uninJured.
all the damage being confined to the
turret where the powder burned
Lieutenant Goodrich. who was the last
I TO die, survived until after the arrival
OF his father. Rear Admiral Caspar
Goodrich. who Immediately upon the re-
ceipt of the news at the New York
navy yard. hurried TO Boston, accom-
panied by his wife and two daughters.
The admiral left today for New York
I with the body Of his son. who Is the third
which he has sacrificed to the service
of his country One died at San juan
Hill and another while serving IN the
regular army.
Young Goodrich breathed his last at
I1:40 D. m. without recognizing his
family, who were around his bedside.
The Official board OF inquiry will be
Ehampered by the fact that all those
nearest the bag OF powder when II took
fire are dead Scarcely one of the men
In the turret will be IN condition 20 give
evidence for several days, and those
who can testify probably can give no
definite account OF what happened. The
/ only one not seriously injured Is Md
shipman Lucien Frank Kimball. who
was burned on the left hand so slightly
that his name Sc not included in the
official list OF wounded.
Kimball owes his life. probably. to the
Sact that Chief Yeoman Orly Tagland,
who saw the powder bag. threw him
self upon the young man, bearing him
TO the floor and sheltering him with his
body while the turret was filed with
binding. seething flames. Tagland es-
capped with burns that viii MAIN him
Tor life. but will probably live.
MldshipmRn Kimballs theory Is that
the bag OF powder. which was being
passed from the carriage TO the electric
rammeI, ignited from sparks from the
funnel which came through the open
ing at the top Of the turret. The most
general belief is that the powder was
fired by a spark. but whether IL came
from the funnel outside or from a par
tally consumed gun wad inside the
furret, may never be known.
Story of Midshipman.
MIdshlpman KimbalI tells the follow
Ing story:
There were just twenty-five Of US in
the tUrret when 1t happened. Lieuten-
aft turret. and l was his subordinate
in charge OF the superposed turret where
the accident occurred. The projectile
had just been rammed into the port
eight-inch gun. and the charge of pow
der had come up from the magazine
In the carriage. 1t was contained in
two bags, holding ffty-two pounds.
Seaman Thomas h ad lifted one bag
from the carriage and was about 10
pass IL under the electric ram 10 the
loader The other charge lay on the
carriage. At that moment / was facing
iaft close TO the wall Of the turret
There was a sudden kissing. a puff
and draft OF air against my back. In
stantly 1 held M breath, ducked. and
drew my cap over my face.
Ihougl I suppose IL was but a few
seconds, II seemed an age that the
1iames Kissed around me, and I felt the
heat blistering my body.
Awful Scene in Turret.
1T was awful I could hear the men
screaming and gasping for breath in
the suffocating gases released by the
burning powder. Then 1 turned and
tried 10 put out the fire in the clothes
OF the men piled around me IN heaps.
They lay around four or FIVE on top
OF one another. It was nothing 10 do;
anyone would have done the same on
my injuries don't amount TO much; just
few burns on my hand.
''Midshipman Geoldthwaite stood JUS
aft of the ordnance carriage and that.
probably why he was killed. Midship.
man Cruise was by the other gun and
escaped with serious burns
Gun Pointer Schlapp was on the port
side of the port gun; He was able Il
put his head out of the opening fer tn,
sighting telescope and that probably
saved his life"