Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-22
four KILLED AND
NINE INJURED WHEN
BOILER EXPLODES
Cruiser San Diego Has Severe
Explosion Following
Annual Test
Low WATER In BOILER
TUBE GIVEN THE BLAME
Accident Occurred OFF Coast
Of Mexico Last Night
About SundOWn

San Diego, Cal, Jan. 22.-The fatal
explosion on board the United States
cruiser San Diego, flagship of the
Pacific fleet, off Guaymas, last night
came at the end of the most severe
test to which United States cruisers
are subjected, it was announced here
today
The cruiser left LaPaza early yes
ierday to begin the annual "a hour test
required Of all vessels in the navy.
For four hours of this "a the cruiser
is under forced draft, the most stren-
Oous test possible. Under forced draft
the San Diego is capable of making
22 knots.
1t was during this test or soon after.
ward according to naval Officials
here today, that the explosion on board
the San Diego occurred The wireless
station here was not notified until ten
0 clock last night AT that time the
San Diego was making her way to
Guaymas, the medical corps on board
doinr all in its power to care for the
injuied.
The details Of the accident received
here were forwarded at once to Wash.
ington and the order for an official
investigation of the causes which led
pp to the accident foaowed.
Two Of the victims Of the explosion
enlisted in San Diego, and had seen
service in the navy for only u short
time. Oscar j. Wyatt, whose mother
Mrs. Sadie Foster, resides in III Centro
came here from Los Angeles to enlist
only three weeks ago He passed the
examination for second class fireman
pnd was at once assigned to the San
Diego.
A. l., Hardes of Joplin, Mo-, en-.
listed here last September after sery
ing with the United States marines
here.
The San Diego was formerly the
California. The cruiser was re.christ
tened the San Diego last fall when It
was decided to give the name "Cali
flrnia" to dreadnaueht,
Early Report of Explosion
Washington, jan. 22.-lrour men
were killed and nine seriously injured
by an explosion on board the United
States cruiser San Diego, off the west
coast of Mexico, at 6 clock last night,
according to dispatch received to.
day by the navy department. Low
water in boiler tube caused the 0c.
cident
The San Diego is the flagship Of the
Pacific fleet. Few details Of the dis
aster were given out at the navy de.
portment.
Secretary Daniels today ordered an
investigation to fix responsibility for
the explosion.
The accident was reported by Ad.
miral Howard. The cruiser had just
completed speed trial when she maze
2t.i .i5 knots, and it is believed that the
machinery may have been put 20 too
severe a test. It is presumed that the
excitement of the test and' the posi-
bic negligence Of the crew may have
let the water get too low. The dis
patch did not give the exact cause Of
the explosion and did not say where It
occurred.
The san Diego left La Pas January
10 for Acapulco
Captain Ashley II. Robertson is com
mander Of the San Diego.
Az noon the navy department made
public Hhe following revised list Of the
dead and injured;
Dead.
William +. Elliott, Of Brooklyn.
Ambus L. IIardee, Of Joplin, Mo.
Clifford A. Western, Of Davenport
California.
Oscar J. Wyatt. Of III Centre, Cal
An Of the dead are second class fire
men,
Seriously injured.
Second class firemen r. V. Gliddcr
of indianapolis; William II. Miller. Of
Downs, Kan; Benjamin Tucker Of
leadmine, Mo-, and Ernest A. Ledwith
Of Pueblo Colorado.
Less seriously injured; George Ohm
water tender, Of Yutan, Neb.; Darrel
Varnado, second class fireman, Of Por
Arthur, Texas; Charles W Peterson
second class fireman of Racine, Wis
Emanuel A. Shappt seaman Of 1T
Porte Ind. aud Patrick A. Merriman
coal passer, Of Wolbach, Neh,
How Firemen Died,
San Diego. Cal. Jan. 22.---lIow fire
men. went to their death and other
faced death like real heroes yesterday
when an explosion in a boiler tube OF
the United stntes cruiser San Diego II
the Gulf Of California shook the flag
slip Of the United States Pacific fleet
Is told In radio message sent here 10
day by Captain Ashley H. Robertson
- ~. c.. MI.