The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-22
FAILED To REVOLvE
BLOCK THREE TIMES
CONTINUED from First page.l

mechanism has peeu worn to such an
extent by frequent usage that II
would have failed TO prevent a pre-
mature discharge such as occurred In
tine fatal explosion.
In loading the big guns time IS So
important feature that frequently
the gun is released and rising tn an
upright position for flring before the
breeeh block has been turned
Because OF this. man is stationed
on tae upper platform to turn ana
4 lock the hreech G-ock after the gun
: has risen ~ u fsssttter, for firing
Probable Cause.
In cases of target practice such
haste is often displayed that tho man
attaching the lanyard To the primer is
Obliged to hook the lanyard ia place
while the gun Is rising and before the
breech block has been turned and
locked II the mechanism had been
so worn AS To be ineffective, 1t Is
possible that a jerk on the primer
az the lanyard was being attached,
caused the explosion.
This undoubtedly. it is believed,
was what occurred in the fatal ac-
cident.
The breech block from the gun was
Intact. showing that IL had been
screwed into place. and in no other
way known To the ordnance officers
could the explosion have occurred.
This IL the first occasion In which
the safety device has failed 10 work
properly. In target practice and in
ordinary drills in which the primer is
exploded the device is used In the
course of year IL is operated hun
dreos OF times. The possibility of ITS
being defective by wearing has been
- - IA.
I dition to frequent inspection. the men
In charge OF the batteries are direct
ed TO report any cases in which the
safety mechanism appears to work
improperly.
Neglect of Duty
Assuming that this theory is cor
rect. thu accident might have been
prevented If the men Of the battery
had observed and reported to the au-
thoritics the defect in the mechanism.
To this trititng inattention TO duty
10 In all probability due the explosion
In which they lost their lives, many Of
the officers be]ieAsf
il thorough examination Of theeCon-
dittons prevailing at the time OF the
accident is being made by a board
which has been designated for that
purpose Every detail Is being gone
over thoroughly.
The report will probably not be
completed for a week. IL then will
be forwarded to the war department
The fact that the explosion oc-
CURED as the gun was being loaded
for the first spot the officers say dis
poses OF the question Of defective
powder or improper swaboing as the
b cause Of the accident.
So far as they know. there was
NJ s3eS1- lErgi
they believe the accident undoubted-
~ was due to the defect in the mech
anism Of the safety devices
Continue Practice.
Most OF the score of officers who
we're at Fortress Monroe during the
target firing arrived In Washington TO-
day, and there Was much comment on
the heroism displayed by the men.
and the efficiency Of those who di-
recfea the firing which demolished the
two big targets
Major General Leonard Wood. chief
7 of staff OF the army. in a telegram 10
the commandment at Fortress Monroe,
to-day expressed the sympathy Of the
1 department over the DEATH OF the men
killed In the accident, and commend.
ed those who had displayed extraor-
binary bravery in the work Of rescue,
AT the coast artillery corps IL was
announced that there would be no sus-
pension OF the regular pans outlined
I AT the fortress because of the disas-
ter
Despite the accident In batter ,pe
nWsky, the guns ~ the other batteries
continued firing their allotted rounds
u yesterday, and the entire practice. with
the exception OF one battery. was over
before the fact OF the accident be
came generally known.
on the two targets which were tow
I'd at a range Of 5000 yards; one was
smashed 10 bits and the other was
hit d number of times,
Forfy-three shots In all we're fred
and the artillery officers estimated
a that at least so per cent of these were
AkaftEs
Had the targets aaen battleships
V which they were designed Ia repre-
sent. the vessels would have been
hammered 10 pieces by the heavy pro-
Il 5ec<.ies and sunk before they had
Vassed dozen yards.
Yacht Clubs Cruise.
N5e The Ri3fssnnr4 Yacht Ctuh uitl