New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-07-21
Captain Bowling, Lake
Denmark Commandant,
Gives Thrilling Account
of Heroism, Suffering
and Destruction.

New York, July 81 H,-seated &,
an lnPalld's chair, his face bruised
and bandage covering one of his
eyes, Capt. c. C. Bowling, comman-
can't OF Lake Denmark, n. j.. naval
arsenal, today told the naval court
Oh inquiry dramatic story of Tho
origin OF the disaster on July 10 that
look a toll of 81 lives and cansed
damage estimated at nearly $40 :
100000. "'V'-
1t was a tale of heroism, in which
TWO men, both patients at the naval
hospital, Brooklyn, worked Will
Shells exploding all around them to
put out fires and prevent further
loss OF life. Capt. Downing told how
MS own life had been saved bv pri-
Vate Casimer Kehsick of the mar
ines, whose home is in uarntrooi,
near Detroit.
Was Sitting On Porch
was sitting on the parch of NM,
residence at the northern end ,of H.
reservation when the storm came y
capt. Bowling said. at was moi e.,
very severe storm. ! began to count
.ne nashes If lightning, thinking i
could tell how near they were The
Hashes seemed to be nearly MIL
away well out of the reservation
counted eight flashes, which in
Guided the last one.
a lew minutes later the telephone
rang 1t was thu sentry at the
south gate. He was afterwards hin
co. He said a fire had started i,
ohe Oh me magazines. hoped in
my car and opened 1t I'D TO abont
OV' heading for the south gate. 7
slowed down for a party of marines
thinking to load some of them IN
the car. 'ii III
Terrific Flare
My car was stopped on the road
l could see curl of heavy black
SIN oke arising from either slore
mouse No. L or storehouse No. & 7
uldnt know which one. ] had iust
stepped to the road. Nv hand w.
on the door of my car. There came
terrific flare. Both storehouses
disappeared. 1 was knocked down
on my face. I was dazed and blind
cd got up and CROPPED along NV
car. my
Private Kensick took nv arm
ana helped me along. l could see
nothing. 1 was too dazed even 70
hotlce other explosions. He finally
sot me into the army arsenal
grounds, which adjoin.
L was SO dazed / did not be,-
me Following explosions, but ] could
ieel their impulses. and we we're
shocked to the ground several times
| NY eyesight began to clear. ! look-
ed around. The whole eploded arao
was ablaze, a terrible fire that lean
eu hundreds of feet into the air. We
went back to the naval arsenal and
fought out way through 10 the now,
er plant, where ] tired to formulate
/ plan of action"
AT the power plant, Capt. BOWL.
ing found Chief Division Clerk Wad.
Mans whose wife was killed Cant
lowing instructed him to remain al
'ne power plant and keep it going
ana Wadhams stayed. OF this noint
capt. bowling said, he decided inn,
could be done to save the otbo,
tstorehouses. Shells were BURSTING
all around him and debris, HURTING
from above, fell beside him wber.
ever he went.
Il returned to my own Quarters
ne said, Private Kensick was had,
ly shocked. ! think he was mar.
tialIy bereft of his senses, but he
stuck by me.
Animals Running Loose
, The horses and mules. wbici
were stabbed at the northern end
were running loose. Kensick and
tried to round them up but the,
were badly frightened and we coulc
not catch them. Wadhams came II
tell me nothing could be done as thu
steam lines had burst. I sent Ken.
| CY/vDnNy