Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-17
Crude Oil Blamed
for E=2 Explosion
Possible That Plumbers Torch Raised Temporal
ture in the Submersible Causing Oil to Volatil-
ize Causing Gas Press sure

ally accepted and the one credited by
Rear Admiral Usher himself in the
absence of any official report from his
investors.
The explosion occurred just after the
workmen, who were overhauling and
repairing the boat, returned from
luncheon, and 1t was said by some of
the workers in the yard that ducts Of
the new batteries had been opened
shortly before the men went to lunch
con. Naval experts stated that the new
Edison battery gives off about twice
as much hydrogen as the batteries in
general use by the navy, and it was
believed that hydrogen which had es-
capped through the ducts during the
lunch hour was ignited by a spark
from a workman's tool.
The new batteries were being tested
as a life saving device Mr.. Edison
devoted long labor to them in an effort
to replace the old style batteries that
gave off chlorine gas when salt water
leaked into the leaden compartments
containing sulphuric acid. The chic
rine gas of the old batteries has re-
suited in a number of fatalities in sub
merged submarines, but never before,
according to the navy records, has
there been a fatality in the American
underseas fleet due to exploding hy-
drogcn from batteries.
The workmen in the boat Saturday,
1t was said, were installing a new ven-
tilatins system to carry off excessive
hydrogen. this measure having been
decided upon when the test boat made
a few trial runs near the navy yard
a few weeks ago and the officers dis
covered the excessive amount of hy-
drogen that was being created.
Perhaps Vol atiIized Crude Oil
Another theory advanced as posi-
BILE cause of the explosion was that it
was due to volatilized crude oil be-
coming ignited by a spark or other
means. The E-2 was propelled by a
Diesel engine consuming heavy oil.
I'm the case of the boats using gas
oline. all tanks are emptied as soon as
the boats are brought into the dry
dock" Rear Admiral Usher said Sat-
urday evening. 1.-The E-2 had been in
the drydock only two weeks, and as
the heavy oil is not nearly so volatile
as gasoline. a quantity of it maye have
been left on board. I don't know that
this was the case-it is one Of the
things that must be determined by a
searching examination. The fumes from
this oil might have exploded if it had
been caused to volatilize"
Among the workers in the submarine
at the time of the explosion was a num-
per OF plumbers, but Admiral Usher
could not learn today whether they were
using acetylene or other flames In their
work. The heat caused by such flames.
it was pointed out. might have raised
the temperature within the submarine
sufficiently to make the crude oil vola-
tilize rapidly.
A third theory was that an acetylene
| tank brought into the submarine for the
use of the plumbers might have explod-
ed. but until tomorrows minute examina.
ton of debris to learn if there was such
a tank aboard. 1t will be impossible to
tell whether there is foundation for this
theory.
A fourth was that one of the compress
ed air compartments of the submarine.
used for the discharge of torpedoes, ex-
ploded. but the extent of the damage
seemed to make this improbable.
Admiral Usher said that it would not
have been possible for an outsider to
cause the explosion. as none but per
sons working on the boats in the dry
docks were allowed anywhere near them.