Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-26
FATAL EXPLOSION
IS DELIBERATE ACT
Official Report Declares Disaster
at Mare Island Navy Yard
Not an Accident.
GUILTY PARTIES UNKNOWN
Investigation Cause of Break Be-
tween Secretary Daniels
and Navy League.
GUILTY PARTIES UNKNOWN
Try Associated Press. i

WASHINGTON. August 25.-The ex-
plosion at Mare Island Maynard in
July. killing Ave and injuring more
than thirty, is pronounced. in an Of
flcial report made public to-day by
Secretary Daniels. to have been the
deliberate act OF some one unknown.
and not an accident.
Secretary Daniels to-day made pub
lie synopsis OF the report made after
investigation by the Bureaus OF Ord
nance and Navigation and the judge
acknowledgement of the navy. All
those branches of the service agreed
that there had been no "hampering in
structions or restrictive directions Of
the methods of investigation"
It was the Mare Island explosion
investigation which led to the re-
cent bitter controversy between
Secretary Daniels and the Navy
League. which eliminated in Mr..
Daniels cutting all relations between
the naval establishment and the
league.
In statement recently, tho ac-
knowledged purpose OF which was to
force publicity Of the investigation.
the league declared that II had been
Informed of evidence that time fuse
powder magazine in which the eI-
plosion occurred. showing criminal
conspiracy. and that the investigation
was being hampered by powerful labor
influences.
Secretary Daniels holly denounced
the charge that any influence was
holding up the investigation. and cut
all connections with tho league. AS
to the truth of the charge that fuse
had been discovered. Mr.. Daniels said
TIA report on the investigation was
not then available
BOARD NOT HAMPERED
IN ITS INVESTIGATION
After the customary formalities OF
opening a report, the synopsis, signed
by all the investigators. says:
"A careful reading OF the orders
creating this board and the record of
daily proceedings clearly indicate the
absence Of any hamperins instruc-
tions or restrictive direction as to the
inquiry was conducted with the
utmost latitude and thoroughness.
1.-The board found that the explo-
sion occurred at 1855 A. n. July 8.
1917. and was confined to building No.
40. known as the black powder maya
zine. This building was a modern
structure, built especially for black
powder storage. There were no cleo
trio lines into the building; no tele-
phone or telegraph wires: no win
dows or other openings. with the e1-
ception of the regulation magazine
doors. Under the existing rules and
regulations. access TO this building
was restricted to comparatively few
authorized persons.
The only persons seen to enter this
building on the morning of the ex-
plosion was Ordnance Man Neil c.
Damstedt, trusted employee OF
twenty-one years continuous maya
Zinc service. Damstedt, according to
the testimony, unlocked and opened
the magazine door about thirty sec
onds previous to the explosion, and
was probably in tho act of entering
the building when the explosion oc-
CURED. Damstedt was killed.
THE board, in its findings, states
that it is OF the opinion that Dam
stedt was in no way implicated in the
explosion. and that the testimony and
attending circumstances do not in any
way implicate any ammunition depot
employee or any member of the am
munition depot guard.
UNABLE TO FORM OPINION
AS TO METHOD EMPLOYED
Further. the board states that. at
ter having carefully considered all
testimony and attending circumstances.
1t is of the unanimous opinion that
the explosion was not an accident, but
was due to the deliberate act of some
person or persons unknown. The
board, however, was unable to form
an opinion as to the exact method en-
ployed by the party or parties guilty
Of having destroyed this magazine;
such evidence. IL any existed. was de-
stroyed in the explosion.
1.-THE department and its experts are
engaged in a thorough review and
analysis Of all available evidence in
this case.
Every effort is being made to ap-
prehend the guilty parties, and to
definitely ascertain the exact manner
In which this destructive explosion
was accomplished.
For obvious reasons, the details of
procedure cannot be made public"