The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-10-17
"NO Comment"
On Reports
Of Sabotage
Possibility

BOSTON M-Navy investigators
swarmed over the wounded carrier
Leyte today seeking az explanation
of a violent explosion and fire
that spread death and destruction
in her compartments yesterday.
The known dead numbered 80
and at least 20 more were injured.
Many Of the latter were critically
burned.
Asked about published reports
that Navy intelligence men and
agents Of the Federal Bureau Of
Investigation were investigating
the possibility Of sabotage, the FIJI
answered, mo comment.
Court Of inquiry Mendsy
As the Navy made plans to con-
vene q court Of inquiry possibly
Monday. Rep. Thomas ]. Lane
(D-Mass) wired Defense Secretary
Wilson sharp demand for an ''im-
mediate and thorough investiga.
tion."
81 am ut q loss to understand
how such a tragedy could occur In
our own Boston Naval Shipyard,"
he said. when your department
has at its disposal every precau-
tionary measure to guard against
such unfortunate occurrences, es-
pecialls while the carrier Is in
port"
The blast occurred forward on
the port side Of the big, "a, 500.ton
carrier that cost 30 million dollars
when she was launched at Newport
News, Va, in is4s. Unofficial re-
ports said 400 officers and men
were on board when tragedy
struck.
+ II WIS IN isorst Nay explosion
in peacetinse since - men died
aboard the battleship Mississippi
loff the California coast June IL,
1924.
A court Of inquiry was expected
to be convened by Vice Adm. John
u. Ballentine, Atlantic Fleet air
commander.
Trial Run Wednesday,
The 856-foot-long Leyte, locked
for overhaul after combat action
Ioff Korea in October. December,
1850, came here last December
and was almost ready to 90 to
sea again. She had been out for
a trial run only Wednesday.
The cause of the blast was not
known. The Leytes skipper. Capt.
Thomas A. Ahroon, 46, Of Norfolk,
Va, in command Of the ship less
than three weeks, said the fire
may have started on the deck i'm.
mediately below the hangar deck.
But he could not be sure, il
happened 50 fast.
In his cabin when the blast shook
the ship-"a dull rumble like a
subway train going through
Ahroon found the second deck cut
off by smoke and climbed through
an escape hatch to the hangar
deck.
Damage control and firefighting
parties already were in action, he
said.
Timed ~ 3:ls p. m.
Capt. Ahroon timed the explosion
at 3:l5 pm, EST, and the first
fire alarm was sounded a minute
later. At 3:4s q second alarm was
sent in. More than so Boston fire
trucks and rescue companies raced
to the shipyard.
Virtually every available ambu-
lance in Boston-about 75-covers-
ed on the area as officials dis
covered the extent of the disaster.
Civilian doctors and nurses joined
Navy hospital eorpsmen from
other vessels.
Hospitals rushed whole blood and
Iplasma.
The injured, many 30 eharred
and battered as TO make identif.
cation difficult, were taken to City
Hospital. to Carney Hospital In
South Boston and to the naval
hospital in Chelsea.
Names Wishhsia
The Navy, following regulations
for notifying next Of kin, withheld
names until today. But of those
taken to the two civilian hospitals,
a high proportion we're Navy g.