New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-16
Victims Joking as
Boat Is Torn by
Inside Flare.
CRAFT AT DOCK
IN NAVY YARD
Fumes from Shattered
Edison Devices Halt
Rescue Work.

The United States submarine E-2,
lying in Drydock of the New York
Navy Yard, was racked by heavy
internal explosion yesterday after
noon. Four men, one enlisted and
three civilian. were killed. Four
sailors and six yard workmen were
injured.
The E-2 was equipped with the new
Edison storage batteries, and the ex-
plosion, the cause Of which is un-
known, apparently originated from
them. No external damage was done,
and navy yard officials rejected all
suspicion Of plot against the ves-
sci.
At 1920 p. m. the accident oc.
CURED. Members of the crew of the
E-2 were busy about the batteries.
readjusting the hydrogen exhaust
pipes, which carry away the large
quantities of this gas generated ny
the Edison invention, and discharg-
ing the batteries through rheostat.
Tn, submarine, which lies toward
the lock end Of Dock 2, below three
ether submersibles-D-1, Do and
D-3-was being overhauled also by
a gang Of yard workmen, who were
tinkering with the plumbing.
So far all that can be learned
about the explosion is 10 be read in
the roll of injured at the hospitals.
There was a roar inside the craft.
Smoke belched up through her open
hatchway, and human body shot
out and fell to the bottom of the
drydock.
Orders Seal Navy Yard.
Immediately the navy yard Off
cials isolated their territory from
the outside world. No one was al
lowed to enter or leave. Police Of
the 157th Precinct station, on Flush
ing Avenue, were told when they
cached the yard gates that this was
government affair and that their
help was not wanted. Men Of Har-
tor Squad A, who arrived in their
launch at a navy yard landing, were
hidden to withdraw.
Lieutenant Charles NJ. Cooke, COM
mander of the E-2, was aboard his
craft when the explosion occurred. He
escaped uninjured, and led in the work
of rescue. Men who attempted TO en-
ter the damaged boat were overcome
by fumes which welled up from the
inside and were obliged to withdraw.
These gases, navy men said last night,
were caused partly, at least, By the
burning practice heads" Of the tor
pedoes carried by the under-sea boat.
These are composed for the most part
of phosphorus, and it is believed that
they were ignited by the explosion.
Finally, when oxygen helmets were
brought, officers and men fought their
way into the interior OF the craft,
which was filed with a smoky haze.
At the same time another gang Of work.
ers wrenched frantically at the bot
tom plates of the craft, in the hope
that some OF the men trapped inside
might have plunged into the lower
compartments OF the vessel and could
be rescued this way.
The condition Of most of the rescued
was shocking. Some Of the bodies
were battered and smashed beyond i'm
mediate recognition. Others were
blackened and scared from the fire.
Several hours passed before the res
cuers, gropng in the blsckness Of the
submarines interior, finally came upon
the bodies of Logan and Peck, the last
10 be recovered. These were found
buried beneath the debris Of the bat.
teries on the forward battery deck.
During the work Of rescue Inspector
Dillon, uniformed head OF the Brook
lyn police, appeared with Captain Louis
Kreuscher, Of the l57th Precinct at
the gate TO the navy yard. They were
also refused entry until after o'clock,
when newspaper men were also sd-
mitted.
No ore was allowed in the vicinity OF
the dry dock until the last man had
been withdrawn from the submarine.
Electric motors were brought TO the
deck OF the Ed, and after long canvas
pipes had been introduced into the
hatchway, these began 20 fan current
of air through the interior Of the craft,
driving out the fumes. By o'clock
the board OF investigation appointed By
Rear Admiral Nathaniel r. Usher. com.