New-York tribune., 1910-07-27
FIRE AT THE NAVY YARD
Fifty Cans of Powder Aboard
Ordnance Lighter Burn.
CREW JUMPS INTO WATER
Heroism of Sailor Saves Graft
Laden with Large Cargo
of Ammunition.

Flames spouting from about fifty cans OF
snokeless powder made the ordnance de.
partment's lighter Shrapnel, in Wallabou1
Channel. look like small volcano yester-
day morning. For q time there was much
excitement at the navy yard
The powder. which was being transferred
from the supply ship Culgoa, had been sent
from Boston for shipment to Iona Island
The shipment consisted of 1900 cans from
the battleship New Jersey. and was believed
to have become stale, In which condition it
is highly dangerous. The lighter was
promptly cast adrift from the side of the
Culgoa, and the fifteen men on board had
to jump into the river to get away from
the heat and the danger of explosion OF
some of the cans which had their tops on
tight.
The men were all picked up by launch
from the Culgoa, the only one seriously in
jured being Everett Mcdonald, who was
taken TO the naval hospital. Ensign John
R. BeardaN and Midshipman Raymond G.
Thomas were slightly burned in an attempt
to get the cans of blazing powder away
from those which had not ignited.
The hero of the occasion was a sailor on
the Culgoa's launch, who jumped on board
the lighter, and after falling on the deck
and dislocating his right elbow succeeded
in making fast the hawser by which the
Shrapnel was towed to a place where no
harm could come to the other ships He
then jumped overheard and was picked up
by a launch.
Tugs pulled the lighter out into the river.
where the powder burned itself out and the
flames on the boat itself were extinguished
The lighters deckhouse was DESTROYED her
crane boom burned away and some Of her
deck planks were charred. The CuIeoa had
some paint taken off on the port side for
ward and the ratlines of her port fore rig
ging were burned away, with her bridge and
searchhght weather cloths The receiving
ship Hancock escaped damage, although 1t
was feared she would be hit by the lighter
1t Is not known how the powder became
1gnited, but It Is generally believed that it
was due to spontaneous combustion Nc
Donald and another sailor named McPad-
den, were handling one of the cans. when
the top. which was only partly fastened
on, blew Off and a spout of yellow flame
shot out over the other cans on the light
er's deck. In a flash the cans were giving
an imitation Of a set of gigantic Roman
candles, with all hands rushing to save
the other vessels first and themselves after
ward, and the entire navy yard in an up
roar
Commander Harry Phelps of the Culgoa
and Captain Cowles of the Hancock had
their men busy on the instant. and the yard
tugs began pumping water on the fire and
trying to get line on the blazing lighter.
In ten minutes the danger was all over,
Dut 1t was a close shave for the Culgoa, as
there was a large quantity of powder still
on her decks and in her hold when the
plates of her port side were becoming
heated The total loss was estimated at
about 5000
Rear Admiral Leutze, commandant Of the
yard, and Lieutenant Commander Clark.
inspection officer. began an Investigation of
the accident, and information regarding it
was at once sent to the department in
Washington