oc-plain-dealer 1924-06-13

BOATSWAIN TELLS TRAGIC DETAILS LOS ANGELES, June 13.—Robert McAvin, boatswain's mate of San Francisco, one of the three men believed to have survived from the blast on the U.S. S. Mississippi, calmly smoked a cigarette today as he gave an eye-witness story of how 48 of his shipmates went to their deaths. "Just a puff and then one little flame—the kind one that filled the turret. It was like a match being put on a pile of celluloid, not long enough to be heard outside the turret. Guns in the other turrets did not cease firing for 10 or 15 minutes." McAvin related. "The turret was full of sweating, working men, more crowded than before because, in addition to the regular gun crew, eight of us from the New Mexico were there for observation." "They had just about finished loading for the seventh or eighth salve when the blast came. Barrel, one of New Mexico men, was killed almost before I realized what had happened. I had scarcely recovered from the first shock when a second flare burst from some where behind the gun. "It felt more like a sudden blaze of fire than an explosion." "It was red—a awfully red—a big pillar of molten red fire—I never forget that—funny how a person noticed those little things in such moments of tragedy and confusion." "It seems I'll remember that red fire that leaked everywhere, the fire and the film of smoke that seemed to almost mask it, more than I will the cries and shouts of these poor men, struggling shouters, trapped—coughing and dying from the choking poison gases and the withering blast of heat." "An officer or two were shouting order—Ensign McKenna, head of our lunch from the New Mexico, I remember most. He seemed calmest of any. Everyone it seemed, was land, but McCrennov to be thinking and giving orders as if this were a drill, a dead drill." ASPHYXIATION CAUSED DEATH OF 48 SAILORS (Continued from Page One) Robert McAvin, seaman, first class, San Francisco and J. F. Cuvielse seaman, Los Angeles, are believed to have been the only two who escaped from the turret where the blast and fire wrought its death toll. They were on the Mississippi from the New Mexico doing observation work. McAvin said the last sack of powder was just going into gun No. 2 when there was a small finish, followed by a great roar and blast. McAvin and his shipmate hurled themselves thru a hatchway dropping 25 feet to the powder magazine. Just as they escaped, the hatchways closed automatically and the compartments began to fill with water, they said. "No one knows what caused the fire and explosion and I don't think they'll ever find out," said McAvin. "Something went wrong, then bang!—it was all over in an instant. Everything was covered with fire and smoke." Following are the names of the 12 men who were seriously injured in the U.S. S. Mississippi explosion, five of whom are likely to die: F. Rynes, chief turret captain, seriously burned and hovering near death. Face, head, neck, shoulders, arms, abdomen and legs. W. H. Ball, seaman first class, same type of burns, condition critical. Joe Smite, quartermaster third class, burns on the face, arms and forearm, condition serious. Herbert Whited, chief quartermaster, burns on the face, ears, hands; condition serious. Clyde S. Bentley, seaman, third class, burns on the face, neck, arms and hands. Condition serious. John L. Karlo, seaman third class. Burns on the right shoulder, arms and forearms. Condition favorable. Russell E. Sherer, machinists' mate, second class, burns on back of neck, right arms and forearms. Condition favorable. Ralph E. Harrison, seaman third class. Burns on right side of ward into the chamber. When a hole was cut into turret to remove the bodies than 20 burned corpses found on top of the door. Around the trap door found the extended hands of gunners—with bare fingers had tried to claw their way into the lethal vault. Official investigation of the aster was begun today. A naval board of inquiry owed by vice admiral Henry S. W. Sterling, commanding office of the U.S. S. New Mexico, coed at 10 o'clock and started investigation of the worst time disaster in the history of United States navy. Rear Admiral W. V. L. commander of the four battles divisions to which the Missile pi is attached, announced separate investigations in deaths of the three officers 45 enlisted men who were killed would be made. TELEGRAMS FLOOR PORT OF SAN PEDRO SAN PEDRO, June 13.—grief-striken port was flood with telegrams from every in the union today as relations and friends of the 48 bluejacket killed on the U., S., S., Missile sought news of the tragedy. Thousands of the sailors of Pacific fleet, here for battle price, were sent telegrams to their loved ones at home. In the San Pedro telegraph flicks the messages were piled as in most cases delivery was possible. Most of the sailors were deshore leave and kept on their ships while the official investigation was started on board the U., S., S., New Mexico. FATE SINGLES OUT ENDS LOS ANGELES, June 13.—sign Marcus Erwin, Jr., U., S., of Ashville, N.C., is dead here day, singled out by the card finger of fate. Blasted to death in the U., S., Mississippi, it was learned for Marcus for some unannounced reason had been ordered on man-of-war to replace another fire fixture before An officer or two were shouting order—Ensign McKenna, head of our bunch from the New Mexico. I remember most. He seemed calm not of any. Everyone it seemed, was mad, but McCrea wanted to be thinking and giving orders as if this were a drill, a speed drill. "Even the very steel plates turned white hot in an instant. The gas was terrible. Choked and gagged me, burned my throat, suffled out my eyes so that I could hardly see. The whole turret was one big ball of flame. The smoke seemed as hot as the blaze. "I had been in the gun pit, my eyes glued to the telescope in the winter's station, directly below the starboard gun, the one that hared out. When I got out of the gun pit to the level of the gun platform, the other boys, those that were not already killed, were killing all over themselves in heaps at the hatchway ladders." "It was terrible. The gas seemed to get them as soon as they got off the floor and they began pitching forward and falling. "I saw McCrea's white, horror-striken face. But he seemed very calm, standing there in the hustling room, the telephone receiver clamped on his head, meaning to those on the outside and yelling orders at us. "I felt trapped. McCrea saw me and shouted to me to go down below. "Don't try to get out the upper hatches, he told me. "That saved my life. If I had gone to the upper hatchways with the rest, I wouldn't be here now. That saved Cavleel and Etcherson, too. I crawled down, thru cannholes, down and down, it seemed, with the flames following me, plunging and falling until I stumbled on Cavleel and Etcherson in the handling room. "The three of us made our way to the bottom deck and finally got out before the magazine was battened shut and flooded." MASSEZ BURIAL TODAY Prayer mass for Mrs. Otillia Massez, 19, wife of Ramon Massez, whose death occurred at their home in Boulder Creek, near Santa Cruz, was said this afternoon at 3:30 in Yorba church, with interment in Yorba cemetery. The body arrived over the Santa Fe and was received by Backo, Terry Campbell. Memory services will be held later. Mrs. Massez was the daughter of J. P. Sanchez, of Yorba, and a sister of Joan Sanchez. Clyde S. Bentley, seaman, third class, burns on the face, neck, arms and hands. Condition serious. John L. Karlo, seaman third class. Burns on the right shoulder, arms and forearms. Condition favorable. Russell E. Sherer, machinists' mate, second class, burns on back of neck, right arms and forearms. Condition favorable. Ralph E. Harrison, seaman third class, burns on right side of face, arms and forearms. Condition favorable. W.B. Smith, seaman third class burns on face, right forearm. Condition favorable. R.J. Maurod, seaman second class. Contusions, wounds and abrasions on right forearm. Condition favorable. G. Martin, chief quartermaster. Burns on eyelashes, eye lids, hair, face and hands. Condition favorable. Victor A. Wilber, engineers mate, second class, burns on both ears, right arm and forearms. Condition favorable. The three most important points in the investigation which the board will consider are: First, to establish the exact cause of the explosion; whether it was a "flareback" as generally believed, or whether it was the result of a confusion in firing orders. Second, to establish the exact cause of the discharge of one of the guns of the turret four hours after the explosion which sent a shell close to the passenger steamer Yale as the Yale was leaving the harbor. Third, to investigate thorolythe defects in the turret which made it a tightly sealed chamber of horrors when the explosion occurred. The hatchways of the turret were welded shut by the terrific heat of the blast, trapping the men who struggled to escape. Inspection of the wrecked turret today showed that the explosion had made it a trap. It was necessary to cut a hole with acetylene torches thru the 13-inch steel walls of the turret to send the first man into the death chamber. The bodies of a dozen sailors were found heaped at the sealed hatchways where they had died in a hopeless effort to escape. TRAPPED LIKE RATS SAN PEDRO, June 13—Trapped like so many rats were the 46 men who went to their deaths in an iron room on the U.S.Mississippi, it was disclosed here today. An inspection of the "death turret" revealed the men were unable to escape because of the intense heat of fire after the blast welded the trap door on the master, burns on the face, ears, hands; condition serious. John L. Karlo, seaman third class. Burns on the right shoulder, arms and forearms. Condition favorable. Russell E. Sherer, machinists' mate, second class, burns on back of neck, right arms and forearms. Condition favorable. Ralph E. Harrison, seaman third class, burns on right side of face, arms and forearms. Condition favorable. W.B. Smith, seamen third class burns on face, right forearm. Condition favorable. R.J. Maurod, seaman second class. Contusions, wounds and abrasions on right forearm. Condition favorable. The three most important points in the investigation which the board will consider are: First, to establish the exact cause of the explosion; whether it was a "flareback" as generally believed, or whether it was the result of a confusion in firing orders. Second, to establish the exact cause of the discharge of one of the guns of the turret four hours after the explosion which sent a shell close to the passenger steamer Yale as the Yale was leaving the harbor. Third, to investigate thorolythe defects in the turret which made it a tightly sealed chamber of horrors when the explosion occurred. The hatchways of the turret were welded shut by the terrific heat of the blast, trapping the men who struggled to escape. Inspection of the wrecked turret today showed that the explosion had made it a trap. It was necessary to cut a hole with acetylene torches thru the 13-inch steel walls of the turret to send the first man into the death chamber. The bodies of a dozen sailors were found heaped at the sealed hatchways where they had died in a hopeless effort to escape. FATE SINGLES OUT ENSLISH LOS ANGELES, June 13—sign Marcus Erwin Jr., U.S.S.C., is dead here day; singled out by the care finger of fate. Blasted to death in the U.S.Mississippi, it was learned to Marcus for some unannounced reason had been ordered on a man-of-war to replace another flier a few minutes before battleship took to sea for its fated battle practice. Erwin's body was among first removed from the turret where 47 others met death. LOS ANGELES, June 13—ty-eight dead and 50 injured score of the hurt believed to dying; is the toll today of yesterday's big gun explosion on the S.S.Mississippi. Three of the dead are officers. An explosion in a gun turbine caused the fearful toll of life. The man of war was in sea battle practice with the Idea Tennessee and California off S.C.Clement Island; 50 miles frontehose when the blast came. The explosion rocked the ship and claimed a toll great in peace time history of the American navy except the sinking of The Maine. Even after its arrival in Los Angeles Harbor after a fast run with its dead and dying; death juror on the Mississippi. A huge exploded in one of the guns passed within a few yards of steamship Yale; black with pengers which was headed out at harbor for San Diego. An official navy inquiry will be started at once alone; determine cause of the attack; generally referred to as "flareback." Most of the dead died instantly with little pain; in a terrific blast which hurled them into eternity before they knew what hit their bodies were burned as blackened; broken as they were hurled in a mass of steel; fire and smoke in the turret. Early today the Mississippi paid to sea to fire an unexploded shell; said to be lodged in once big guns. The precaution returning to open sea was then owing to the danger of another explosion on the man of war; it said, in the harbor with other ships close by. WILBUR SENDS SYMPATHY WASHINGTON, June 13—Mages of sympathy and concern were sent late this afternoon Secretary of the Navy Wilbur; next of kin of the officers MASSEZ BURIAL TODAY Pinyer mass for Mrs. Otillia Massez, 29, wife of Ramon Massez, whose death occurred at their home in Boulder Creek, near Santa Cruz, was said this afternoon at 2:30 in Yorba church, with interment in Yorba cemetery. The body arrived over the Santa Fe and was received by Backs, Terry A. Campbell Memory services will be held later. Mrs. Massez was the daughter of J. P. Sanchez, of Yorba, and a sister of Jose Sanchez, vocalist, who is well known in northern Orange co. ROSA ALVAREZ DIES Miss Rosa Alvarez, 58, daughter of Francisco Alvarez, of Peralta, died yesterday in a Los Angeles hospital. Mass will be said tomorrow in the Yorba church at 8:30, the cortex leaving the chapel of Backs, Terry & Campbell at 8:45. Interment will be in Yorba cemetery. TRAPPED LIKE RATS SAN PEDRO, June 13.—Traped like so many rats were the 48 men who went to their deaths in an iron room on the U., S. S. Mississippi, it was disclosed here today. An inspection of the "death turret" revealed the men were unable to escape because of the intense heat of the fire after the blast welded the trap door on the floor of the turret. Behind 13-inch walls of white-hot steel the 48 gunners were sealed in a cauldron—caught behind a jammed door. Five officers of the Pacific fleet entered the death chamber today and found the men did not have a chance for their lives. From the preliminary examination of the turret he officers believe many lives would have been saved if the tiny trap door had not melted. The door opened up. A strictly Anaheim Store We Deliver Free 161 WEST CENTER STREET PHONE 284 Fancy Eastern BACON 3 pounds or over—pound 20¢ PICNIC HAMS (Shoulder)—15¢ BACON SQUARES Small—12½¢ Fancy New POTATOE S 6 pounds for 25¢ MILK All kinds; large size; no limit 10¢ FREE—THOROFOAM—FREE A new Washing Machine Soap—something away. Regular price 25¢—For SATURDAY, 4 for $1.00—ONE FREE FREE! ONE LOAF HOT BREAD or 10¢ in Trade with each dozen Cream Donuts Saturday, June 14th Only CREAM DONUT SHOPPE Sam Seelig Market 139 WEST CENTER STREET THE PLAIN DEALER, ANAHEIM, CALIF. 45 SACKS OF MAIL STOLEN BY BANDITS (Continued on Page Two) sack consigned to Roundup, Mont. "for my own purposes," were the clues from which officers worked today. Seventy mail clerks, all armed, were aboard the special train carrying eight mail cars and two express cars, but no effort at resistance was met by the bandits. The train had been on its way less than an hour when two of the gang who had ridden the blind baggage from Chicago, crawled over the tender and warned the engineer to stop the train when two red signal flares were seen. After its stop the train was backed so that the cars containing the most valuable mall were at a grade crossing, where four cars of armed bandits were waiting. The car halted across the roadway was the one containing federal reserve currency and bond shipments for Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Helena, Butte, Seattle and Spokane. Its clerk, Louis Phillips of Minnesota, refused to open the doors, but a chlorine gas bomb smashed against a grated window and the fumes drove him choking to the door. The stocky leader of the bandits put on a gas mask. He gave Phillips another. "Help me find the pouches I want or I'll kill you," he directed pleasantly. The pouches he wanted were found, even the one for Roundup, Mont. "wanted for special purposes." The bandits forced the mail clerks to carry the pouches from three cars to the waiting automobiles. U.S. Postoffice Inspector Germer announced this morning that a hurried investigation revealed the bandits obtained at least $100,000 in cash which had been shipped from the Chicago federal reserve bank, and bonds and stocks of value not yet determined. "It is one of the biggest losses we have ever experienced," said Germer. It was recalled that the robbery of the Union Station here several years ago netted bandits $1,500,000. A stolen automobile, identified as one used by the bandits, was found in Chicago today. Its owner said it had been taken from a repair shop where he sent it yesterday. Four men taken into custody in a roundup of suspicious characters. G. O. P. MAKES PLANS FOR HECTIC CAMPAIGN (Continued from Page One) they were heartily tired of orders. Some of these they did not follow out and they appealed to Cochidge at the White House by long distance telephone. They refused to take Kenyon of Iowa even tho Butler assured them that he was the White House choice. They had had the stage set for Borah upon Butler's orders and then Borah turned down the nomination. They themselves had set the stage for Curtis, only to have Butler turn out the lights on them. They had tried to set the stage again for Sanders, after talking with President Coolidge from a telephone in the basement, but the delegates denounced. They had never heard of Sanders. Then came the dramatic climax of the convention getting out of hand and nominating Lowden. Butler sought out Senator David A. Reed of Pennsylvania just as the chairman was rapping the session to order. "It's too late," replied Reed. He glanced to where Andrew Mellon, secretary of the treasury, sat imperturbably at the head of the 79 delegates from the keystone state. "It's too late," repeated Reed. "It's Dawes—and on the first ballot." Senator Walter E. Edge of New Jersey, who headed the 31 ballot. Senator Walter Edge of New Jersey, who headed the 31 delegate from that state easily refounded to be Ben Dawes. "The New Jersey tired of taking orders tart message to the president Dawes got 682½% voting to the official course received 234¼%, the J unit of which was to gates from Butler's stairchairs. Even Sen Cabet Lodge, showed ground after nearly two of prominence, voted Butler, after sending of congratulation to necunced today that we pay headquarters wied at Chicago immediately. The national committee morning said that Predeid had informed it that he wants Butler's man. There are dissent of them—but whether it will manifest itself open way appeared doSAYS LA FOLL TO LEAD LIKE CLEVELAND, Junpledge that his father Robert M. LaFollette right time" would lead liberals in the coming made to the Brooklyn locomotive Engineers here this afternoon by LaFollette, Jr. "You need not be for the future," young said, "Senator LaFollette from at the right." MADISON, Wis., Junrator Robert M. LaFollette consists, loosed a new law Coolidge administradeclaration that it had back on the farmers to selfs out of their dithe agriculturists to selves out of their ditheir bootstraps. His attack appeared the June issue of his reClassified Ads Bring- FREE FIREWORKS To Every Boy and Girl FOR JUST ONE NEW SUBSCRIBER —Get one new subscription to the Plain Dealer, collect $1.00, we pay for three months in advance, bring to the Plain Dealer, and receive the following: —Get your neighbor, friend, parents, relatives or any one else to subscribe. —If you live out of the city, bring your order to Circulation Dept. of Plain Dealer, as the Postoffice Department will not permit it. —Get one new subscription to the Plain Dealer, collect $1.00, we pay for three months in advance, bring to the Plain Dealer, and receive the following: —Get your neighbor, friend, parents, relatives or any one else to subscribe —If you live out of the city, bring your order to Circulation Dept. of Plain Dealer, as the Postoffice Department will not permit same sent mail. 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"The New Jersey delegation is tired of taking orders," was his tart message to the platform. Dawes got 642½ votes, according to the official count. He received 234½, the largest single unit of which was the 35 delegates from Butler's state of Massachusetts. Even Senator Henry Cabot Lodge showed in the background after nearly four decades of prominence, voted for Hoover. Butler, after sending a message of congratulation to Dawes, announced today that western campaign headquarters would be opened at Chicago immediately. The national committee this morning said that President Coolidge had informed its members that he wants Butler elected chairman. There are disenters—many of them—but whether the dissension will manifest itself in any open way appeared doubtful. SAYS LA FOLLETTE TO LEAD LIBERALS CLEVELAND, June 12. — A pledge that his father, Senator Robert M. LaFollette, at "the right time" would lead political liberals in the coming campaign was made to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, in session here this afternoon by Robert M. LaFollette, Jr. "You need not be fearful about the future," young LaFollette said. "Senator LaFollette will be heard from at the right time." MADISON, Wis., June 13—Senator Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin, loosed a new broadside at the Coolidge administration in a declaration that it had turned its back on the farmers and has left the agriculturists to lift themselves out of their difficulties by their bootstraps. His attack appeared today in the June issue of his magazine. Classified Ads Bring Results CONSERVATION OF POWER DISCUSSION LOS ANGELES, June Ways and means of conserve electric power during summer months, made necessary by abnormally low precipitation. The last season, was discussed at a meeting held here today before Commissioner Irving Martin of the state railroad commission, at which all power companies of Southern California were represented. Total exports from Los Angeles harbor to Japan showed an increase of $40,720,698 in 1923 over the 1922 exports. RUPTURE EXPERT HERE F. H. Seeley, of Chicago and Philadelphia, the noted truss expert, will personally be at the Rosamore Hotel, and will remain in Santa Ana Thursday only, June 19. Mr. Seeley says: "The Spermatic Shield will not only retain any case of rupture perfectly, but contracts the opening in 10 days on the average case. Being a vast advancement over all former methods—exemplifying instantaneous effects immediately appreciable and withstanding any strain or position no matter the size or location. Large or difficult cases, or incisional ruptures (following operations) specially solicited. This instrument received the only award in England and in Spain, producing results without surgery, injections, medical treatments or prescriptions. Warning—All cases should be cautioned against the use of any elastic or web truss with understraps, as same rest where the lump is and not where the opening is, producing complications necessitating surgical operations. Mr. Seeley has documents from the United States Government, Washington, D.C., for inspection. He will be glad to demonstrate without charge or fit them if desired. Business demands prevent stopping at any other place in this section. THIS IS "BLACK FRIDAY." 13th IN PACIFIC BATTLE FLEET (Continued from Page One) But the dead are forgotten for the moment while many surgeons and sailor assistants battle to save the lives of the wounded. Ten gunners are seriously burned and may die. Fifty others are grewsome—painted with a yellow-white ointment to ease their pain as they toss on their iron cots. On the wharves in sight of the men-of-war are the waiting crowds. Weeping girls and women—pitiful proof that "sailors have sweethearts in every port." All thru the night they have waited—some for the living, some for the dead, but they are patient. It has just been learned the bodies of the dead will not be taken by San Pedro morgues until late today. Patiently these sweethearts and friends are waiting, pitiously pleading for news of their loved ones. There is weeping, even screaming among the girls—pale faced girls, caught up by a blast of death. Here and there a white handkerchief flutters in greeting to an anchored battleship, its flags bowed in grief. And so the strong waits for the end of the long black day—Friday the thirteenth. Free Bible Lecture ON THE SUBJECT "WHY EVIL IS PERMITTED" By G. P. RIPPER AUSPICES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION MOOSE HALL—135 WEST CENTER ST. Sunday, June 15th—7:30 p.m. ALL CORDIALLY INVITED NO COLLECTIONS better gas! 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