Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16
Some of Crew Were Absent

The number of men inside the sub
ma arne at the time of the explosion is
not definitely known. About twenty
were working on the craft, but all Of
them were not on the underwater boat
at the same time. 1t is not thought
possible that any one who was inside
could have escaped injury.
What caused the explosion has not
been definitely decided. Rear Admiral
Nathaniel X. Usher, commandant %
the navy yard. after an examination OF
the craft and questioning worhmen
who had been nearby, declined to eA-
press an opinion. He said
The men were at work in the bat
terry compa rtrlent OF the e., dIschafS
ing the new Edison batteries through
"A rheostat to measure the voltage, and
the explosion occurred in tnat com
partmcnt while they were working
there. The battery will generate no
kind OF gas and there was no gasoline
on board. The engine was of the OIL
burning Diesel type
Pending the appointment of an OFF,
cial board of inquiry by the Navy De-
pa rtment. Rear Admiral Usher named
temporary investigating COMMITTEES.
as follows:
Lieut. Commander Pope. Washington.
commander of the receiving ship
Maine; Lieut.. l.. NJ. Stewart of tn.
torpedo boat destroyer Mccall and
Lieut. Rush II. Fay, commander of the
submarine division to which the E-2
was attached. This committee immedi-
ately began to take the testimony of
men working around the E-2 when
the explosion occurred.
Probable Cause of Explosion.
The opinion was expressed that the
process of Withdrawing the charge
from the batteries might have caused
the formation Of hydrogen gas. The
explosions of that nature have been
frequent on submarines of all navies.
it was explained. and several have oc-
CURED on American boats within the
last few years None OF the others was
serious. however.
The E-2 was the only vessel in the
world equipped with the Edison nickel
batteries and she made her first trip
successfully with them December s
last. 1t was reported that the new bat
terieS gave better speed with less tuel.
The Edison battery, experiments
have proven. generates nearly double
the ordinary amount OF hydrogen dur
ing the process of charging. but on
discharge or while lying idle gives on
much less. During the battery trials
there were reports from her omcers
of an undue amount OF hydrogen. The
boat made one trip with observers
aboard. and it was reported that while
in operation not enough gas was gem
Grated to be dangerous.
There were three other submarines m
the dry dock. but they were about nfty
feet from the E-2, which had been
undergoing repairs since December
80 There were no torpedoes or gaso.
line aboard any of them.
Reports to the Secretary.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels was At
luncheon at the National Democratic
Club in this city when he was informed
of the explosion Rear Admiral Usher
was there also and the commandant
left for the yard Immediately, accom-
panied by Commander Daniel w.
Wurtsbaugh. an aid dispatched by the
Secretary. MIR. Daniels remained to ad-
dress the club.
Lieut.. Charles NJ. Cook. commander
OF the E-2. was not at the navy yard
when the explosion occurred. >
Commander Wurtsbaugh rep6ted to
Secretary Daniels this aftern pn the