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Show CRUISER BOSTON SCENE OF FATAL TARGET ACCIDENT. Happened Two flUnths Ago, but Secretary of Navy Didn't Know It. Enlisted Seaman Killed by Premature Explosion of a Six-Inch 6un. Battleship Missouri. Not Seriously Injured by .Recent Disastrous Powder Detonation. WASHINGTON, April 16. Secretary Secre-tary Moody's attention today was called to the fact that a serious accident occurred on the Boston while she was engaged in target tar-get practice off Panama two months ago, resulting in the death of one enlisted en-listed man. This was the first the Secretary had heard of It, officially or otherwise. The seaman who was killed was named Kain, and the accident occurred about the middle of February. Kain was killed, according to the official report re-port submitted to the department, by the premature explosion or a six-men gun on the Boston having been struck by the firing-pin of the gun. A court of inquiry was appointed and its finding find-ing was to this effect. It was learned at the Navy department depart-ment for the first time today that one of the gun crews of the Alabama had a narrow escape while that vessel recently re-cently was engaged in target practice Off Pensacoia, by a "blow-back." It is said that the wind was blowing strongly strong-ly at the time and that the flames burst from the gun, Injuring one of the men, though how seriously could not be ascertained. as-certained. Shave in Relief Fund. Tt Is probable that an 'official announcement an-nouncement of Kaln's death will bo made In the course of a few days, and it Is not unlikely that his family will bo permitted to sharo In the relief fund which is now being subscribed for the victims of the Missouri disaster. Rear-Admlral Taylor. chieC of tho Bureau of Navigation, today received a telegram from Chief Naval Constructor Capps, who recently was ordered to Pensacoia to lispeet and report upon the condition of the battleship Missouri as affected by her recent collision with the Illinois, and also by the recent disastrous dis-astrous powder oxploslon In her aft gun-turret. Rear-Admiral Capps said that the hull of the ship was not injured by either accident, and that tho vessel Is in good condition outside of tho local damage to the electric apparatus in tho aft turret, which naturally Interferes with the proper operation of the guns In that turret. "Wires in Turret Destroyed. Although he does not say so, It Is assumed as-sumed by the officers at the department depart-ment that the Insulation of all the wires in the turret was destroyed by the intense in-tense heat of the explosion. Secretary Moody has acted promptly in the matter of assisting those Injured In-jured lu the explosion on the Missouri, and the dependent next-of-kin of those who are pensionable, to collect the information in-formation necessary to present their claims to tho Pension bureau. Chief Engineer Williamson, TJ. S. N., retired, has been designated to communicate with those who are apparently pensionable, pension-able, and to assist them with advice and Information without expense. Chief Engineer Williamson will communicate com-municate with the persons Interested and aid them in preparing their cases, and an effort will bo mado to secure final action on the claims at the earliest ear-liest possible date. Communications on the subject should be addressed to Chief Engineer Williamson, TJ. S. N., retirod, Navy department, Washlugton, D. C. |