Evening star., 1924-10-21
6 KILLED IN BLAST
ON NAVY CRUISER;
4 40THERS MAY DIE
Cause of Trenton Explosion
During Target Practice Is
Still Unexplained.
BY the Associated Press.

II! tne AhSoelhteu fress.
NORFOLK. Va. October 21.-Six
men, one commissioned officer. are
dead, four are in a dangerous condi-
tion and not expected to live, and
sixteen more are seriously injured
as the result of an explosion aboard
the L. S. S. Trenton about 40 miles
east of Cape Henry late yesterday.
The explosion. occurred in the ships
forward turret and was of such great
force that the rear steel door was
forced open and five men were blown
overheard, of which one was drowned.
The ship was engaged in target prac-
rice at the time of the accident.
A message from the Trenton re-
ceived by naval officials here said
powder and shell were being hoisted
into the tprret at the time of the
explosion, and that "all safety pre-
cautions had been observed" No shot
had been fired. and electrical trouble
was not regarded as the cause.
Four Fall Overheard.
Immediately after the explosion"
the message added. the access door
in the rear of the turret was opened
and four men fell overheard because
of the overhang. Three were rescued
One (Walker) apparently was badly
burned and drowned. but his body
was not recovered"
The scout cruiser Raleigh took up
the search for Walkers body as the
Trenton sped to port, where hours
later casualty list of 20 names was
made public, although prior to the
death of Cholister 1t had been re-
ported that 4 were dead and Is in
jured. The less seriously injured in
cluded one officer, John Arthur Sedg-
wick, lieutenant. junior grade, of
Winthrop, Mass, the others being en-.
listed men.
Ensign Drexler's was the outstand-
ing name in the stories Of heroism
told by some of the men taken to
the Portsmouth hospital. He was
near the turret when the explosion
rocked the ship. throwing men to the
deck fore and aft. Rushing into the
blaze, he dragged three men to safety.
His face a mass of burns and his
clothing in flames. He was turning
back into the fiery turret when he
dropped dead.
The Trenton was s- commissioned
about six months ago, shortly before
the turret explosion aboard the bat
tleship Mississippi off the California
coast, which caused Al or 4S fatal
tiles. She had just completed
shakedown cruise around Africa by
bringing home the body of Robert
w. Imbrie, American vice consul, who
was killed at Teheran by mob of
Persian religious fanatics. She is
commanded by Capt. E. c. kalbfus
and is designed to carry crew of
about 400.
Rushes to Hampton Roads.
Imme ediately after the accident the
Trenton headed full speed for Hamp-
ton Roads, where arrangements had
been made to remove the injured to
the naval hospital at Portsmouth.
Several men who were not seriously
injured were treated on board ship.
Most of the men were burned about
the face and body. In some instances
the dead were so badly burned that
recognition was almost impossible.
The men in the ill-fated turret
were hosting and loading shells in
the guns when the explosion occurred.
1t is believed that the powder became
ignited in some manner before the
breach of the gun was closed. There
was no powder outside the maga-
zines except that which was being
used to load the rifles. Capt. Kalbbus.
fContinued on Page 2, Column 60