Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-01-16
INQUIRY TO Be HELD
BY NAVY DEPARTMENT
Cause of Disaster Is Not
Known as Yet-Bodies of
Two Men Hurled Into Air
From Boat, Which Was in
Drydock.

New York Jan. ls.-while workmen
were installing batteries specially de-
signed TO prevent such undersea dis
asters as the loss Of the IA in Homo
lulu hsrbor, the United States subma-
rine E-2 was wrecked by a mysterious
internal explosion which killed four
men and injured 10 others this after
noon. The accident occurred while the
+ boat was in dry dock No. at
Brooklyn navy yard.
A dull muifled boom was the first
indication TO werkmen on boats nearby
that something had gone wrong. A
second explosion Immediately followed
and yardmen saw first the ladder, then
the bodies Of two men hurled into the
air through the main hatchway, amid a
mass OF debris, The yards big fire
song changed. the gates swung shut
and armed sailors ran to guard them
while Officers and workmen came on
the run from every part OF the big
yard.
The black huh OF the E boat lay
silently in the dock. The first indica-
tion to the rescue party Of what had
happened to the 50 men inside her was
the crackle of flames and the smell of
smoke and gas.
AT the moment the frst rescuers de-
scended into the wrecked and burning
interior Secretary OF the Navy DAN
iels was going TO address the Demo-
cratic club in Manhattan. At his side
was Rear Admiral Usher. command
ant OF the Brooklyn navy yard.
Chaos Within the Beat.
rAe H..
chaos. The injured men were battling
the flames and dragging out the dead
and wounded. Lieutenant Commander
Charles NJ. Cooke, the only commits
stoned officer aboard at the time OF the
explosion and who was on the tiny Il
boat deck within few feet of where
the TWO men were blown into the air.
stood there and calmly directed the
work OF rescue and fire lighting.
Pieces OF human flesh, bits OF bona
and tatters of clothing and personal
effects and tools and a hodge -podge OF
other things were blown through the
open coming tower and hatchways.
hundreds Of feet into the air. and away
from the scene Of the explosion.
Worlxmen who did not arrive in time
to join the first rescue party gathered
up and kept as souvenirs these things
as they found them. 1t seemed but a
few moments after the sickening boom
Of the first explosion that four ambu-
lanoes were drawn up and the dead
and injured were being loaded into
them.
injured Appeared as Dead.
The clouds of white smoke that had
helched up from the round openings
in the oval steel sea ighter had given
way TO carling gray fumes and the
stencil Of burning human flesh. The
( injured appeared dead as they were
hauled up through the sman iron
mouth OF the death trap. blackened.
bleeding and unconscious.
/ As the rescuers hoisted into view
the torn and unconscious forms OF
Miles. the dapper and popular little
chief electrician OF the E-2. muttered
curses Of mingled sympathy and anger
came from the group OF laborers and
enlisted men standing about. Miles
was seriously injured and may die as
( the result Of his bruises and burns.
4 The mother ship Tallahassee immedi-
atelN drew up and received August
Kaplin. one Of the injured yard work
men. the upper part OF whose body was
badly scorched and blistered. Kapfin'
was conscious and insisted on walking
aboard the hospital ship. telling those
who wanted to help him to go aud
get the others
! In the midst Of the rescue work Ad-
nairal Usher arrived. having left the
political meeting immediately when he
was told of the accident He ordered
all outsiders excluded and instantly
started = preliminary investigation.
Investigation to Be Instituted.
Secretary Daniels announced that an
immediate and thorough investigation
would be Instituted. Cshers board Of