Pensacola, FL Battleship Missouri Explosion, Apr 1904

Fearful battleship explosion.

Pensacola, Fla., April 14 --- By the explosion of 2,000 pounds of powder in the after 12-inch turret and the handling room of the battleship Missouri, Capt. William S. Cowles commanding, twenty-nine men were instantly killed and five injured, of whom two will die.

The Missouri was on the target range with the Texas and Brooklyn at practice about noon yesterday, when a charge of powder in the 12-inch left hand gun ignited from gases, exploded and, dropping below, ignited four charges of powder in the handling room, and all exploded.

Only one man of the entire turret and handling crew survived. But for the prompt and efficient action of Capt. Cowles in flooding the handling room and magazine with water, one of the magazines would have exploded and the ship would have been destroyed.

Alamosa Journal Colorado 1904-04-15
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!