Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-22
SHELL EXPLODES
ON U.S.STEAMER
ON way TORRANCE
Two Red Cross Nurses Killed
and One, Miss Matzen
Of Columbus, aeb.,
Injured.

New York, May 2l,-Victims Of an
explosion during the pratiee firing of
a gun on the American armed mer-
chantman at sea Sunday afternoon,
Mrs. Edith Ayers and Miss Helen
Burnett Wood of Chicago, American
Red Cross nurses, bound for war duty
in France, were killed, and Miss
Emma Matzen, another nurse Of
Columbus, Neb., was injured, although
not dangerously. The steamship,
only one day out from New York, re-
turned here today and naval investi-
cation is under way to determine the
cause of the accident.
Unofficial reports were that de-
fective shell was responsible. One ac-
count had it that the shell exploded
prematurely after leaving the gun, an
other that a breach explosion oc-
Cured.
Cartridge as Boomerang.
1t was learned, however, that the
opinion OF those aboard the ship best
competent to judge was that the shell
was not defective, but thatAn some
unexplainable manner portion of the
structure of the cartridge had been
diverted from its course boomerang
fashion. The shell itself hit the mark,
it was said, but fragments of brass,
apparently from the metal disc that
separates the powder charge from the
shell, were picked ort of the flesh OF
the three women. The gun itself, AZ
inch, was not damaged, according to
the accounts.
One of the two womer> killed was
struck in the heart and the other in
the head. They were members of base
hospital No. u, with a personnel of
more than $50.
Women All on Deck.
1t was a beautiful afternoon when
the tragedy occurred and nearly all
the sixty women nurses OF the hospi-
tai were OH deck watching target prac-
tice. According to Major Frederick
Besley, professor of surgery at North
western university and commander of
the unit, the gun crew was not aware
that anybody had been killed until so
informed, which seems to dispose OF
the theory that it was breach ex-
plosion.
Major Besley said that the moral
of the nurses and surgeons after the
accident and since was splendid. Miss
Nation received prompt attention and
is said to be on the road to recovery
at the New York navy yard hospital
An informal inquiry was made aboard
ship and statements were taken OF the
circumstances in affidavit form.
No Exact Evidence.
"There is no accurate evidence"
said Major Besley, "to warrant max
ing a positive statement as to the
exact cause of the accident. That will
be determined in an inquiry to be
made by naval board"
The ship will be held here, it is un-
derstood until the evidence necessary
for the navy inquiry has been OBJ
tanned.
Columbus, Neb., May 2l.--(Special
Telegram. miss Emma Matzen, Red
Cross nurse, who was injured while
on her way to France, is daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. r K. Matzen of
Columbus. She was born near Leigh,
Neb., thirty-fve years ago and graduAt
ated from the Illinois Training
School for Nurses and attached to
Cook county hospital in 1913. She
has been practicing her profession in
Chicago.
Two of her sisters, Misses Mamie
and Stella Matzen, who reside here,
are also registered Red Cross nurses.
Four other brothers and sisters also
live here.
Miss Matzen left Chicago with the
Red Cross unit to which she was at
tached last Wednesday evening.
Gwinn Knew Nurse.
When Bert Gwinn, Union Pacific
station agent, residing at Salina, Kan,
saw The Bee bulletin announcing the
explosion of the ship, he Immediately
made inquiries as to the whereabouts
and welfare of Miss Ola Reed, who
was on the same ship.
The name of Miss Reed does not
appear in the list of injured and Gwinn
is anxious to know if she escaped. He
received letter from her few days
-ago, stating that she would leave on
the ship carrying the Red Gross
nurses to the battlefield in France,
but she did not give the name of the
ship nor its sailing date. He says he
is well acquainted with Edith Ayres
and has met Emma Matzen.