Salt Lake Tribune | 1907-07-20 | Page 2 | Cause of Explosion

CAUSE OF EXPLOSION Board of Investigation Makes Report as to Disastor on The Goorgia. WASHINGTON, July 19. A tolc-gram tolc-gram received at the Navy Department this afternoon from Admiral Thomas, commanding tho second division of the Atlantic fleet, gives the conclusions of the board of investigation which investigated inves-tigated the cause of the accident upon tho battleship Georgia early in the week, by which ten men lost their lives. 'The board finds that tho charge of powder was ignited by a delayed flare-back which was apparently caused by the shutting off of tho air blast too soon with a fight wind blowing into the muzzlo of tho gun. The first section sec-tion of tho charge in the second loader 's arms was first ignited. The conclusions of tho board aro summarized sum-marized under five different paragraphs as follows: (a) Tho charge was not ignited. bya blown electrical fuse or a snort circuit, nor 1)3" an electric spark from any electrical elec-trical device in the turret. (b) Tho charge was not ignited by a percussional or 'frictional spark. (c) Tho charge was not ignited by a spark or cinder falling into the turret from outside. (d) Tho charge was not ignited as a result of any condition due to deterioration deteriora-tion of tho powder. Paragraph E states that tho cause of the explosion was a "dolayed dare-back." dare-back." A full report hy mail is espectod by tho navy in a day or two.