Explosion on the Missouri
The American battle-ship Missouri was greatly damaged by an explosion in one of the large gun turrets on April 13. The vessel was at target practise off the coast of Florida, when in some unaccountable manner the powder charges in the turret and in the handling room below were ignited. A terrible explosion followed, killing 32 of the members of the crew and severely damaging the ship. The destruction of the whole ship was narrowly averted. At the first explosion one of the sailors sprang into the magazine and closed the door. The magazine was at once flooded, and the sailor was nearly drowned when the door was finally opened. The primary cause of the disaster lies in the efforts of the various vessels and gun crews to make a record for fast and accurate firing. Charges are rammed into the guns before the flames of the first discharge have subsided.