Evening star., 1923-07-01
BAREBACK KILLS
FIVE ON DESTROYER
Three Others Burned When
Williamson Is Speeding
in Torpedo Test.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEWPORT, r. T., June 10.--F4ye
men are dead and three lie in a
critical condition as a result of u
bareback on the destroyer Williamson
as she was racing along at O speed
OF thirty-two knots on the outside
course OF the torpedo proving
grounds. off here this morning.
Ths dead are: Doc Abernathy MILL
can, nrst class fireman. Fairfield Ala:
larry Chaplin Lincoln, third class
nreman, Newbern, N: c.; Clifford
Lebanon, Ohio: JOSEPH pass Aleek h[emin, Gis.
quinto, water tender. second class,
Far Rockaway, N. Y; Louis Ran
aolph blanchard. first class fireman.
Springfield Mass
The injured are: Harry Amundson,
water tender: Haskell Bowler Field,
nrst class fireman. and Toney Rock.
first class fireman.
TWO OF the men who were injured
are IN very serious state and are
not expected to tive. AS matter
miracle that any one at ali was able
to be saved from the caldron of heat.
Ihe injured men were instantly
rushed to the Naval Hospital az
soon as the crippled boat managed TO
COMMANDER
sadler of the torpedo station was
lmm lately on the job, having been
notified by radio OF the accident.
Testing Long-Ranxe Torped0es.
The accident took place on the out
side proving grounds, while the Will
hanson was testing out long-range
torpedoes. In order to fire these ft
and the engines were racing at a ca
pacity clip. Suddenly the small pin
slipped, causing the cover OF the
ventilator to blower to close and
the blower, deprived OF air. started
racing.
The governor, which Is supposed
to throttle the blower down. failed
to function and the blower exploded,
cutting off the supply of air from the
nre room and creating q vacuum.
with the vacuum created, the terrific
aared BACK INTO she aces 'n OF sha snsaasan len
at work. attaining a temperature of
1t in its mission of death.
There were really only four acci
dents: the breaking Of the hot
water feed pipe; the breaking of the
steam pipes. the sealing of the fire
room and the bareback. any of
produce death, but the four COM
btned to take q fearful toll.
Any coherent story as to how the
fremen were removed could not be
obtained from the men on the ship.
all of whom were prostrated at the
accident
However, this did not prevent
them from acting decisively In the
emergency, nor Of administering ef-
fciently to the needs OF the wounded
men. Harry Amundson walked into
the hospital. but the rest OF the men
were from the first believed beyond
recovery and their condition now Is
still regarded as critical.
This is the most serious accident
OF this type that has ever occurred
In the Navy. Others have happened.
but particular care Is always taken
with this pin. because of the fact
that the danger OF such an accident
Is realized. Consequently 1t Is a
mystery how the pin happened 10
fall out Of place when Il should
have been securely fastened.
The Williamson was tugged to her
berth and Commander SadIer states
that rigid investigation will be
conducted to ASCERTAIN the cause of
the accident. The Williamson has
been attached to the torpedo station
for several months 49,