Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-15
SEVERAL KILLED.
MANY INJURED
Vessel Undergoing Test Of New Edison
Batteries at Time Of Disaster-sams
Batteries Successful on Other Cow
ernment Boats-Gases Drive Rsseu-
ers out Of Hold and Vessel 10 Flooded
Z to Put Out Fire-offieiaIs Withhold
Particulars.

sion aboard the submarine E-2, in dry
dock at the New York navy yard,
caused the death today of at least three
members of the crew and injured 9TH
ers, variously reported at from Six to
twenty. One was killed outright and
two died later at the naval hospital.
Six seriously injured were taken to the
hospital after the explosion. which oc-
Cured at 1:45 p. m. At o'clock others
were being brought in.
The explosion was said to be due to
hydrogen gas ignited while the new
batteries, invented by Thomas A. Edit
son, were being recharged.
Newspaper men were barred from
the yards and authentic details could
not be obtained during the first two
hours following the explosion. Some
reports had II that eight OF, nine were
instantly killed
Rssousfs Overcome.
The cause Of the explosion, which
was said to have opened up several
plates Of the craft. could not be learned
some time after the disaster, and sew
eral rescue parties which undertook to
enter the submarine were driven back
BY heavy gas fumes. Several officers
who were lowered into the craft were
pulled out unconscious.
Testing New Batteries.
1t was reported that the engineers
in the navy yard were testing one of
the new Edison batte4ies Installed in
the craft at the time df the explosion.
These batteries were intended to ,bvi-
ate the danger to crews of submarines
from gas fumes. Recently submarines
of the E class were reported to have
made successful trips with the batter
les In use.
The submarine was afire inside. 1t
was said, and in order to put out the
flames the little craft was flooded.
At the time of the explosion the E-2
was on the stocks in dry dock No. 2.
Daniels Starts Probe.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels was
at the National Democratic Club in
this city at the time Of the explosion
delivering q lecture. He was notified
of the accident, but after the Interrupt
tion went on with his address.
Secretary Daniels. however, dis
patched one of his aides to the Brook
lyn naval yards to learn the details
and to report to him as soon as pos
sible. ~
Built in 1910.
The submarine E-2 was built in DO
and displaced 43O tons She was cap
able ofstraveling IA knots on the sur
face and II knots submerged. In
Sept 1, 1914, she had a narrow escape
from an accident similar to that which
befell the F-4 While she was en-
gagged in maneuvers off Brenton reef
light ship. Ensign Gillian detected
chloric gas when the vessel was sub
merged fifty feet. He ran to the sur
face and the coming tower was quick
ly opened to give the crew fresh air
Every one of the 191 members of the
crew. 1t was said, was more, or less
affected by the gas some bleeding
from the nose and mouth.
AS a result OF the accident Ensign
Gillian was under medical treatment at
the naval hospital in Las Animas,
Colo, for several months.
Withstood Tests.
The E-2 was the only vessel in the
world equipped with the Edison Nick
ellis batteries and she made her first
trip successfully with them Dec. last.
With Lieut.. Charles M. Cooke, Jr, In
comman the E-2 made an extensive
run on the surface, then dived and
maneuvered for several hours.
After these experiences the E-2 made
a successful run submerged. The run
proved. 1t was declared on excellent
authority, that the new batteries gave
better speed with less fuel.
The E-2 went into commission at
Boston in the spring Of 1912. The boat
was built in the wards. Of the Electric
Boat Company at Fore Rover. Mass.
The E-2. with her sister ship. Ell,
were the first two naval vessels to be
equipped with the Deisel oil burning.
interior combustion engines and they
were the first submarines to be
equipped with wireless telegraph ap-
paratus. "a = "A
conesitsd. S.
what - d self made man, father r
N,lf-made man, my boy, il one