Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-09
HEROIC FIREMAN
IS LAID TO REST
VICTIM OF DISASTER BURIED
AT SAN PEDRO
Rupture in Boiler Tube Occurred Un-
der Normal Conditions-Other
Injured Now at Hospital
Resting Well

John S. Maxfield, the negro fireman
who died at the Angelus hospital, Los
Angeles, Sunday night as a result of
injuries sustained Friday morning in
the boiler tube explosion on the United
States cruiser Tennessee, off Point
Hueneme, was buried at 10 o'clock yes
terday morning in Harbor View ceme-
terry, San Pedro, overlooking the ocean
and in sight of the war vessel on
which he had met deah in the dis
charge of his duties.
Maxfield was the seventh on the list
of dead; four of whom were killed in
stantly. The body of j. p A. Carroll,
who died Saturday night at the same
hour was also prepared for burial. but
at the last moment, as the funeral pro-
cession was leaving the Fifth street
wharf, San Pedro, Admiral Sebree re-
ceived a telegram from Washington,
D. c., instructing him to hold the body
until further orders.
Maxfields funeral was conducted
with full naval honors The casket
was literally covered with floral trib-
utes from friends, shipmates and 9TH
ers, and included many handsome
wreaths from the citizens of San Pedro.
Flags were kept at half mast during
the funeral ceremonies. Two hundred
and fifty men, including officers, ma
rines and sailors, besides many citi-
zens, escorted the funeral cortege,
cruiser Tennessee.
Inquiry Board at Work
The board of inquiry appointed by
Admiral Sebree to investigate into the
cause of the boiler tube explosion on
his flagship, the Tennessee, in which
seven were killed and many others
badly burned. two of whom yet have
only a fighting chance of recovery, was
again in session yesterday morning,
and testimony was taken with view
of locating the cause of the accident
and placing the blame.
So far the testimony has developed
no new facts beyond what already has
been published in The Herald. The
findings of the Sebree board, presided
over by Captain Fox Of the South Da-
kota, will be forwarded to Washington
when concluded and will be used there
by the special board appointed by the
secretary of the navy to look into the
quality of the boiler tubes used on GER
tain battleships and cruisers.
The most important fact yet brought
out by the board is that the fatal
boiler tube exploded from a defect de-
Among the witnesses examined yester-
day were Lieutenant Commander Ash
ley L. Robertson, chief engineer of the
Tennessee, who was in charge of the
engine and fire rooms at the time of
the explosion.
Might Have Occurred Any Time
Captain Thomas B. Howard, COM
manding the Tennessee, stated this
afternoon that the accident could just
as well have happened while steam
was In the boiler with the cruiser
lying at anchor, as just as much pres
sure had many times been put on the
disabled boiler on the voyage around
from Hampton Roads to Puget sound
and back to San Pedro, and that the
defective tube would have been just
as likely to give way when the vessel
was not under forced draft as when
she was. Captain Howard expressed
great appreciation on behalf of HIM
self, Admiral Sebree and the officers
and men of the Tennessee for the
patriotism and sympathy expressed by
citizens and for the iloral offerings
sent at the time of the burial or the
victims of the accident.
The Tennessee will remain here until
it is assured that the seriously injured.
who are now in the Angelus hospital,
Los Angeles, will recover.
Repairs to the damaged boiler tube
will be made here.
All four of the victims of the explo-
sion now under treatment at the An
gelus hospital are resting more easily.
1t was given out at the hospital late
last night that hopes are entertained
for the recovery of the entire four.
although two of them are severely
burned and all are suffering great
agony.