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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 22, 1910)
TIIE MORNING OREGON'IAN", FRIDAf, JULY 22, 1910. BIG GUN EXPLODES IN FDRT; 11 DEAD 1 f t t To!! of Death Would Have Been Larger but for Hero ism of Men. INJURED CRY, 'AID OTHERS' AVonnclcd Artillerymen at Fortress Monroe Forget Hurts That Un injured May Be Saved From Burning Powder. MANY SERIOUS BTXPI-OSIOSS RE SULT DURING RIFUK AM) iUN FKACTICE. CHICAGO. July 21. (Special.) Among the more serious accidents caused by explosions and faulty breech locks are the following: Battleship Kearsaric. West Indian waters. February 2. 1902. gun Jburst, hilling: Ave. Battleship Iowa. April S. 1903. ex plosion of Kun, killing three, wound Inn five. Battleship Massachusetts, off Cule Ira Islands. January lO. 1006. sun exploded, killing nine. Battleship Missouri, off Pensacola, Fla.. April 13. 1904. powder ex plosion. 33 killed. Bve injured. Battleship Massachusetts, at Phila delphia. December 14, 1H04. explosion In flreroom, three killed, four scalded. Gunboat Bennington, gan Diego, Cal.. July 21. 103, boiler explosion, killing .14. Injuring 60. Battleship Kearsarge, in Caribbean Sea. April 13, 1100. powder explosion, killing six. Battleship Georgia, in Massachu setts Bay. July 15. 190T, powder ex ptcslon. killing six. Injuring 15. Cruiser Tennessee. In California waters, June 1H. 1008, bursting- of boiler tube, killing 15. Torpedo-boat destroyer Hopkins, in California waters, exploding boiler, killed one. wounded five. Cruiser Charleston, March 28. 1910, In Philippine waters, breechlock ex ploded, killing eight, wonndlng four. Fortress Monroe, July 21, 1910, breechlock exploded, killing 11, Injur ing score. FORTRESS MONROE, Va., July 21. Eleven men of the coast artillery ara dead tonight as the result of the blow ing out of a breech block in one of the big guns while the fort corps was engaged in target practice this morn ing. A half dozen others are In the post hospital, one of whom may die. The cause of the explosion is' not yet definitely determined, although a board of inquiry was appointed imme diately after the disaster by orders from the War Department in Wash ington. The list of dead and wounded fol lows: The Dead. Sergeant Harry G. Haas, of Phoeni bus, Va., gun commander. Corporal Charles O. Adkins, address unknown. Corporal Albert Bradford, Dorothy, W. Va. Privates A. J. Sullivan, of Perkins, Ky. ; Roy Duffey. of Kenova, W. Va.; . A. Adey. Brandonvllle, W. Va.; C. V. King, of Dayton, O.; John W. CUad wick, of Tazewell. Tenn.; Alfred W. Smith, of New York; Judd E. Hogan, of Meyer. O., and James H. Turner, of Ripley, Tenn. The Injured. Second Lieutenant George L. Van Deusen; Privates Orville T. Rainey, Ellsworth Hoffman. Charles E. Parks and William C. Sulzberger, and Arlie Adey. The toll of death, it is believed, would liave been larger had it not been for the heroism displayed by the officers and men- In the battery. The wounded forgot their hurts and aided the unin jured in stamping out the burning powder that threatened the charge for a second shot. The explosion occurred, in Battery de Hussy. No. 1 gun doing the damage. The gun was In charge of Captain James Prentice, who had with him Lieutenants George P. Hawes. Jr., and George I. Van Deusen. Lieutenant Hawes had gone forward from the breach to examine the range wheel when the charge was exploded. He was thrown down and momentarily stunned, but otherwise uninjured. Fight Killed Instantly. Eight men were killed outright, their bodies lying scattered around the em placement. Captain Prentice and Lieu tenant Hawes foresaw a further sac rifice of life If the other charges caught from the cmolderlng sparks and the two sent out a call for surgeons while they attacked the flames with their bare hands. Captain Prentice reached the em placement first and pushing his way through the smoke and sparks, he car ried out a bag of powder. He then was Joined by Hawes and the two com pleted the task of avoiding a further explosion. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Van Deusen lay beneath the gun, his leg broken in two places. He was suffering agonies but when his brother officers sought to re move him he would not permit them to touch him. '9ee to the men first." he said, and propped against the gun carriage, he Bided in directing the work. Others Distinguish Selves. Corporal Humphreys and Sergeant Urinkloy. a gtm pointer also distinguished themselves. The former's head, body and arms were filled with pieces of flying con crete that had been blown from the em placement. In spite of his painful wounds he rushed to his dead and wounded com rades extinguishing their burning cloth ing and then hurrying to the nearby en campment for water. Sergeant Brinkley was close to the breech when it blew out. He was hurled over the right standard and when he regained consciousness he found himself hanging by one arm from the railing of the sighting platform. Although se verely bruised, and sutTering from - the shock. Brinkley declined to go to the hospital or permit surgeons to examine him until they had assisted his comrades. Colonel C. P. Townseley, commandant of the fort, promptly ordered an Investi gation. It is evident." be seid. "that the ex plosion occurred during the insertion of t he breech block Into .the gun and it had been rotated and locked in place. The safety devices on the gun are Intended to make a premature discharge lmnossi We. Just how they failed to operate probably never will be known. Every member of the detachment who could have explained It was killed." The inquiry, however. Is to be thorough, OREGON WOMAN WHO EE AFFIRMS INTENTION TO CLEAR MYSTERY sOF SON'S DEATH. III I.I. I I. IJ II I I .ii.i i.ii.i.ini ,., .1 . M .Hill ''l-s - I i 1 1 i P' - y , ; I -Hi W' I X t I FrH -f- -.it . t 3 -fM- 4 I ' " 'it t t i &tt&&ft&& ... .4 -"V ifhrtiinsiiinimihi' hrknitr-""- nr TV titan m n nv - n i j T 4 I Plioto Copyright by David B. Edmonston. I I MRS. JAMBS Bf. SUTTON. I ..... .......A Assisting: in the . investigation are some of the leading officers of the Army who were present at the time of the explo sion. Amonj? them are General Cro xier. Chief of Ordnance of the Army; Surgeon Carter. Assistant Chief of Staff; General Murray, Chief of Coast Artillery, and General Bixby, Chief of Engineers. The fatal accident occurred while tar get practice at floating targets built to the proportions of battleships was in progress. The ftriner was conducted as nearly as possible under battle conditions and was on a more pretentious scale than ever has been attempted before. CARBOX MOXOXIDE IS CAT7SE Highly Inflammable "Gets Explodes. Investigation Is Called. WASHINGTON. July 21. Lieutenant George L. Van Duesen, who was in jured at Fortress Monroe, was ap pointed to the artillery less than a week ago. He formerly had been an officer in the Eighteenth Infantry, but resigned and was reappointed to the Army from civil life. In the absence of any report from an official Investigating board, officers of the coast artillery can only com pare the explosion to some similar ones that have occurred in the Navy. The majority, however, appear to be lieve the explosion was caused by car bon monoxide, a highly inflammable gas which forms in the barrels of large guns and which Is especially dan gerous in rapid firing. The gun crew at Fortress Monroe was trying to make a rapid-fire rec ord. The theory is that the new charge of powder was hurried into the breech before the gases generated by the pre vious shot had time to dissipate and, before the breech could be closed, the powder exploded. A gun has been developed in the Navy which automatically clears Its barrel of gas as the breech is opened. Many officers of the Army and Navy staff had gone from here to be pres ent at the target practice. Major General Leonard Wood, the new chief of staff of the Army, was expecting te go direct from New York to Norfolk, but at the last moment changed his plans and returned to Washington. He had just reached his desk when news of the disaster reached Washington. A board of officers to investigate the accident was Immediately ordered, and began its wprk at once. SUICIDE IS EX -BROKER Cornforth, Once Minister, Had High Place In Stock Market. LONDON. July 21. (Special.) Cred itors of Athelston Cornforth. ignorant of his suicide in New York yesterday, met today in bankruptcy court. Corn- forth was a man of high attainments. He had been a clergyman and left the ministry to engage In business on the stock market. In the South African boom his house carried a larger volume of accounts than any other similar firm, in London. Domestic worries caused him to travel, and meanwhile his business be came bankrupt. His friends do not know why he lived in New York as Rev. Athelston Hall. HUNDREDS SUFFER IN CAMP (Continued From First Page.l try. Is almost equal to that of thu troops in the states, and that is say ing a great deal, as they are isolated, are working under great difficulties and do not have the chance for drill ing that other soldiers do. "The posts are all in good shape, and the sanitary conditions are perfect. At Fort Egbert I withdrew the garri son, leaving only a small detachment. "This trip was made for military In spection, and because I could not make It last year and was not awar of the conditions there. 1 was unable to reach Valdez, as the roads were In frightful condition. No animal would have been available to make the trip, even if the roads were in better shape. "The scenery Is superb. I have vis ited nearly every part of the world, been through the north in Sweden, Norway and along the northern part of Siberia, but I have never in all my travels found such a clear atmosphere in so cold a climate, and seen such rugged beauty as in Alaska. The In land fcea is particularly beautiful. I wonder that more persons do not jro there on tours and see for themselves the Incomparable grandeur of the Alaskan scenery." Canada s exports of pulp wood in IKftO amounted to only ll.lo. In 19CS they had Increased to 4.037.852. SON'S DEATH ISSUE Mrs. Rose Sutton May Be Candidate for Congress. NAVAL REFORM PLATFORM Portland Woman, Mother of Dead Officer, Wants Congressional In vestigation Into Young Man's Death Says Help Promised. L03 ANGELES, Cal., July 21. (Special.) Determined to secure a congressional investigation of the tragic ending of her son s life, In the belief that a new in' quiry will show that a murder instead of a suicide was1 committed when Lieu tenant J. N. Sutton met death at An napolis, Mrs. Rose B. Sutton arrived in Los Angeles today from Washington, D. C-, and left soon afterward for her home In Portland, Or., where she may announce her candidacy for Congress. Mrs. Sutton said a great number of men and women in Portland had urged her to run for -Congress and that several prominent lawyers had offered to stump the state in her interest. 'I will definitely decide what I will do asi soon as I reach Portland." said she but I am willing to have it said that I will make the fight If 'the people want me te. If the people of Portland desire that I represent them in Congress, I win be glad to accept. I believe that it is legally possible (or a woman to be elected to Congress and to have a vote there with the other members. There is no law, as I understand it, which prevents the election of a woman to the office The platform" I would stand on would be this: Fair play, and protection to the boys In the Navy and in the Army. If elected to Congress, I would be neither an insurgent nor a regular, but I would work for reform In the naval and Army life of the Nation. I would not advocate woman's suffrage, for 1 am a strong believer In home life. I believe that wo men 'who are unmarried and have prop erty Interests should vote, but I know that I would find enough to do without advocating that. 'An improvement in the Navy would be well worth the life work of any wo man or of any man.' TWO ESCAPE NARROWLY Y. M. C. A. RAINIER CLIMBERS EXPERIENCE THRILLS. Sections of Cliffs Dislodged at Criti cal Moments, Nearly Sending Men to Death. TACOMA, Wash.. July 21. (Special.) Reports of two narrow escapes from death on Mount Rainier were brought back today by members of the Tacoma T. M. C. A. party, which made the ascent Tuesday. Neither man was hurt seri ously. J. W. Russell had Just decended what Is known as the ic chute above Gibraltar Rock and was beginning to make his way along the ledge around that rock when a large piece of the cliff to which, he was clinging gave way. As Jie felt himself slipping toward the chasm below Russell made a grab for the rock and succeeded in hooking his finger nails Into a crevice, where he hld himself until be regained his footing. The second close call happened on tha Bee Hive, a 90-Joot cone of shale rock midway between camp Mulr and Gibraltar Rock. As the party were picking their way cautiously around the base of tht rock a large section of it became dis lodged near the summit and came crash ing down, atriking H. P. -Tones' alpine staff and smashing It to splinters. Jones saw th e rock doming, but was so appalled at the dangvr that he could not move. His companions realizeu hs predicament, too, but, were powerless to help him. Arizona hits a mtntnc outxut averajrln about .V..0OO.onn var. Imnorti anrl x port (port t NoKalPS of about $ 1 5 .000.000 a year. eecms minions yearly for cattle ana iarm. caraen ana ore tiara product. TUFTS DECISION HALTS WAR CLOUD Bar Harbor and Bangor Battle for Privilege of Enter taining Executive. 5000 VILLAGERS VICTORS Maine Jfolk to Have Chance to See and Hear Golfer-President, Who Enjoys Day on Links and Rides to' Lobster Feast. BAR HARBOR, Me., July H. President Taft will speak here tomorrow at noon and will have a chance to see the year round, residents of this famous watering piace. ana to be seen by them. Ijntil Mr. Taft's intention was an nounced, today, -war clouds were gather ing rapidly between the Maine citizens and the members of the fashionable Sum mer colony whose plana to entertain the chief magistrate and the members of bis party failed to include any concession to the village folk, of whom there are about SOOa Action Taken at Once. The President was informed of the situation today by J. P. Bass, of Bangor, and at once consented to speak to the villagers. The details were auickly ar ranged and placards announcing the event wera poets d at every vantage point ana in ail out the ultra-fashionable shop windows. Professor H. C. Emory, chairman of the new tariff commission, could not reach. Bar Harbor this afternoon and his scheduled conference with the President was postponed until tomorrow. Social affairs and eolf occunied th President's day. He had a buckboard ride out to- Jordan pond tonight for a snore supper" of lobster and other sea dainties. It waa a nine-mile drive each way through a stiff breeze. Two Indians Rescued. The most exciting Incident of the Presi dent's cruis3 thus far was the rescue of two Indians whose canoe capsized while the Mayflower was at ancher in Passamaquoddy Bay. They had paddled out to have a close view of the President's big white yacht and stood up to have a better look. A moment later there was a. splash, an overturned canoe and two hats floating on ine water. Boats were lowered and the Indiana were hauled out little the worse for their wetting. OPINION GIVEN, BY GRANT City Attorney Instructs Auditor on Morrison Assessment. City Attorney Grant yesterday gave an opinion to Auditor Barbur stating that it is the duty of the Auditor to place in the docket of city liens the assessments ordered by the Council for the extension of Morrison street . from Chapman to Washington streets. : I The extension of Morrison street was ordered by the Council before last week's fire destroyed the Exposition building on Washington street. A. total of S1S.900 had been awarded as damages to the owners of this structure, which would have had to be removed had not the flames wiped It out. If any question is raised as to the payment of the damages the, City Attorney rules that it will be subject to the action or. the Council later. Hivaa'SMonoj -ivqnvos f Continued From First Page.) suicide, and that they are even now expecting the suicide of another for mer and prominent official of the road who has not, thus far, been mentioned tn connection with the graft case. It was asserted that very soon an other bill will be filed, bringing nearly half a dozen ex-offlcials of the road into the case. The additional defend ants who will be asked to reimburse the company were. It was said, Frank B. Harriman, ex-general manager of the Illinois Central; Oliver M. Dunt, superintendent of the New Orleans terminals of the IHlnolsCentral; ' H. McCourt, ex-general superintendent of the Southern lines at Memphis; C. L. Bwlng, ex-general superintendent of the Northern lines at Chicago; William S. King, ex-general superintendent of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Road; H. A. Sims, ex-chief car Inspector, and J. G. Jfeuffer, ex-superintendent . of machinery. Another feature is a distinct change in the attitude of the family. Up to to night, all newspaper reporters and the Wlnnetka and Chicago police have been barred from the Rawn premises, which were guarded by Pinkerton detectives. This led to the supposition that the fam ily had something to conceal. It was argued that If there had been a murder. the, survivors would welcome any effort to probe the crime and run down the assassin. Tonight reporters of all the papers were invited to the house, and the local and Chicago police were also asked to lend their assistance in unraveling the crime. Estate to Be Tied Cp. Whatever the outcome, it was asserted authoritatively by Illinois Central attor neys that Rawn' s estate would be tied up in the courts in an effort to reimburse the road for its losses. The amount of his estate la not exactly known, but It is thought he was worth, aside from his life insurance. Jl. 000. 000. His insurance, so far as known, follows:' Continental Casualty Company, $5000; Standard Accident Company, $5000; Em ployers Liability, of London, JI9J100; Maryland Casualty Company, J20.000; Travelers Insurance Company. $10,000; Pacific Mutual LlfemInsurance Company, $10,000: Casualty Company of America.' $25,000; General Accident and Insurance Company, $5000; London Guarantee & Accident Company $15,000- Durfnj February and May, it is said that Mr. Rawn took out a total of $40,000 straight life insurance in three com panies. It is thought his total insurance, accident and straight life, will exceed $200,000. The missing "second bullet" ln( the iragoay or si ieu a smasnea Oil of lead looked upon by the dead railroad official's family as the bullet missing from bis weapon bas been found. In this discovery, members of the Rawa family are convinced they have the evi dence that will remove the last doubt as to the circumstances that led up to his death. It is the clinching argument, they believe, supporting their theory that Mr. Rawn's revolver was discharged at a burglar and that It was the bullet from the intruder's weapon that took his life. PARASOLS AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES $2.00 Values 98c Fresh, clean and crisp Lin gerie Waists, in a most pleasing variety of styles. Pretty designs of lace and embroidery, 93 c REGULAR $1.50 MIDDY BLOUSES for 89c Extra Fine An unsurpassed assortment of Women's Nobby Sweaters and Sweater Coats, three-quarter length, fresh, new and very desirable; colors are QC Havana, gray, navy, white and cardinal Pr0J MILLINERY SPECIALS Hough. Straw Sailors, trimming; regular $2.o0 value for 12 Off on All Babies' Hats FURS Only a short time more to purchase Furs at SUMMER PRICES, which is a great savin-?. Select the Fur you wish and place a small deposit on it, and we take care of it until needed. We remodel, redye and repair your Furs at very reasonable prices. Have your furs reno vated and repaired for the coming season and stored free of charge until wanted. Phone Slain 1295 or A 1295 and our messenger will call. It Here's a Point for Piano Buyers 1 BsSSsB&ESj ASK THE FRIEND WHO OWNS ONE and he will tell you that the Bush & Lane is the most sat isfactory piano he has ever used. If you are in the market for a piano it will pay you to call at our store and inspect the Bush & Lane". Cash or easy payments. BUSH & LANE PIANO CO. Local Store, Bet. W. EXCURSION TO ESTACADA Sunday, July 24, 1910 The famous Peninsular Band will give band concert at Estacada on above date. There will be dancing and other amusements. Enjoy a day on the beautiful Clackamas in Nature's natural park. Fare for Round Trip 75 Cents Trains leave' East Water and Morrison streets 5:25 A. M., 6:15 A. M., 6:50 A. M., 7:50 A. M. and' every hour up to and including 6:45"P. M. Last car leaves Estacada 9 P. M. PORTLAND RAILWAY, LIGHT & POWER CO. Entire Bldg Cor. Fourth and Morrison "3 Sweaters REGULAR $8.50 VALUES FOR colored band $1.39 A reputation for accomplished facts, and not promises, . has carried i Bush & Lane Pianos through a period of many years and finally landed it on top of the piano world. 386 Washington Street, Park and Alder Sts. SEEKS ALL HATS TRIMMED FREE OF CHARGE When Shape and Trimmings Are "Selected Here. $2.50 Values 98c A great assortment of Linen Skirts, in -white and tan, made in the .best manner and styles, 98c $4.85 Misses ''Hats, trimmed in chiffon and flowers, to close out, $6.00 ACkf values for 7C and Bonnets FURS The S eason s Sensational LENNON'S Today and Tomorrow ONLY 1500 pairs Women's Hose, sample line from America's largest hose importing house. Values to $1, See our Display Window TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY. Specialty Glove, Hosiery and Umbrella Store. 309 Morrison St., Opposite Postoffice. SALE