Salt Lake Telegram | 1916-03-05 | Page 17 | Explosion Injures Four Un U. S. S. Preble

EXPLOSION INJURES FOUR mUR ON U. U S. S S S. S PREBlE Gas Torch Used by by- Sailors in Cleaning Paint Ignites Fumes One May Die By United P Press ess SAN DIEGO Cal March Marc 4 Arthur A. A Grossert co coxswain sw in on tho the s United States destroyer Preble reble was probably fatally injured inJured injured in in- and three other sailors were badly burned in an explosion on onboard onboard onboard board the vessel this afternoon The Injured were Seamen John M. M McGee Harold M M. Franck and James Porter of the repair ship Iris The men were working in the bilges of the ship cleaning paint with a gasoline gasoline gasoline gaso gaso- line torch when a severe explosion thought to have been from gas fumes shook the vessel from stem to stern Rescuers pulled the tho four from th the flames and took them aboard the Iris while others subdued the fire Grossert's clothes were practically burned off oft and his entire body badly scorched On the Iris the ships ship's doctor doctor doc doe tor said his chances for tor recovery were remote The Preble was tied to the repair ship Iris The destroyers destroyer's rudder damaged damaged dam darn aged In sea maneuvers was being re re- re paired When the rudder Is in place the bilges of the vessel abaft the wardroom wardroom wardroom ward ward- room are inaccessible and sailors were taking advantage of the accident to clean out the bilges McGee Franck and Port Porter r were singed about the head and artha arms The destroyer Preble was the center of excitement a few days ago when mal malcontents among the sailors during the night painted in red letters on her herbow herbow herbow bow C P. P O. O madhouse indicating bad feeling between the men and petty officers C P. P PO P.O. O. O stands for chief petty officer