1892 — June 13, munitions explos., USS Boston crewmen, Mare Island Navy Yard, CA– 15
–15 Blanchard estimate. Though there are newspaper reports of 14 and of 16 deaths, we choose
to follow the Department of the Navy and the reports on the memorial ceremonies.
–16 Atchison Daily Globe. “Sixteen Killed…Explosion at Mare Island…,” June 14, 1892, p. 3.
–15 Daily Republic, Fairfield-Suisun City, CA. “Memorial marks 125th anniversary…” 6-2-2017, A4.
–15 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”
–15 Banes. “Mare Island ceremony honors 15 USS Boston crewmen.” ussboston.org. 6-13-2010
–14 Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.
–14 NYT. “A Terrible Explosion – Fearful Disaster at Mare Island Navy Yard,” June 14, 1892.
–14 New York Times. “The Mare Island Disaster.” June 15, 1892.
Narrative Information
U.S. Navy: “Protected cruiser USS Boston crewmen caught in black powder explosion at Mare Island Navy Yard. 15 killed. 13 Jun. 1892.” (US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”)
Newspapers
June 14: “San Francisco, June 14. – A terrible explosion occurred in the shell rooms at Mare Island navy yard, resulting in the death of sixteen men, while several others are fatally or seriously injured.
“The shell room caught fire immediately after the explosion, and it was with difficulty the injured were rescued.
“The following is a list of the killed: [we number and put into lines for easier identification]
1. T. George Fittinger, gunner, U.S.N.
2. Col. Sunderberg, gunner’s mate;
3. Thomas Seymour, chief gunner’s mate;
4. William Hencle, apprentice;
5. A Ketkell, seaman;
6. C.W. Smith, landsman;
7. William Washburne, seaman;
8. F. Legett, seaman;
9. W. O. Strander, apprentice;
10. J. Joss, apprentice;
11. William Rush, seaman;
12. Johnson, seaman;
13. R. Reinick, seaman;
14. J. H. Hotton, apprentice.
….Of three men taken to the hospital two more have since died. The one surviving is named J. Briscoe.
“The report of the explosion, which shook the town like an earthquake, was heard at 11:30 yesterday morning and was followed by the ringing of alarm bells of the Mare Island navy yard. “When the great volume of smoke at the yard cleared away it was found that an explosion had taken place in the shell house of the naval magazine.
“The burned and charred bodies of two apprentice seamen were found on the beach 200 yards from the scene of the explosion. In the midst of the ruins and all around the side hills could be seen bodies and remains scattered here and there. When got together the total numbered twelve. The pieces were gathered, greatly disfigured, some being cut in two and nearly all were without limbs.
“The wounded men were taken to the hospital in a dying condition…The force of the explosion had thrown them [two sailors] into the bay, where they were picked up by a merchant vessel.
“It is not known exactly how the explosion occurred. A working partly of fifteen men from the cruiser Boston, which was in the stone dock nearby, and had been sent to prepare ammunition and fill [?] the shells for the ship. All were at work in the magazine. It is supposed that one of the party dropped a shell and caused the explosion…” (Atchison Daily Globe. June 14, 1892, 3.)
June 14: “San Francisco, June 14. – The funerals of the victims of yesterday’s disaster at Mare Island Navy Yard took place this afternoon. It is now generally conceded that the Government was to blame for the terrible loss of life. There are conflicts of opinion as to how the accident occurred.
“Many men in Vallejo familiar with explosives, and among them naval officers, whose names, for obvious reasons, are withheld, blame the parsimony of the Government as being indirectly responsible for the accident. They say that sailors have been sent to do work which was not within their legitimate sphere, such as hauling munitions about and loading shells, which latter duty, it is claimed belongs purely to experts.
“One officer said: ‘Why, it is a disgrace to the Navy Department with ship in dry dock to send its ordinary seamen to load six and eight inch shells. These men have been engaged for a week past in regulation ship, working with powder, percussion caps, and fulminates loading shells, when that duty should have been performed by experts, in rubber shoes, and the first thing that has happened, as a natural consequence, was this dreadful explosion’.
“There was a good deal of comment among sailors and civilians concerning the practice of a ship’s crew in loading their own shells. Before Mr. Folger’s new order was issued, men were employed to put up ammunition who were accustomed to it and who exercised great caution. A sailor is not the most careful man in the world, whether on land or sea. He does not like to load shells, and does it because he is ordered to, but still under protest. He does it carelessly, and as a result this thing happened. One man probably became impatient, and in a moment destroyed himself and his comrades.
“So far as Acting Gunner Hittinger was concerned, there is no doubt that he carefully overlooked the work of his men. One of the filling squad was either in his stocking feet or wore magazine shoes, with soft soles, in order that if any powder was dropped on the floor it would not be ignited by heels or hobnails of seaman’s shoe.
“An inquest was held last night upon the bodies of the fourteen men killed. Nothing new was developed, as there was no one to give direct testimony, fourteen of those ‘who were at the scene of the explosion being dead and the other one being in a dying condition. A verdict of accidental death was found for all. The inquest was held in Vallejo Hospital, to which place all the bodies had been taken….” (New York Times. “The Mare Island Disaster.” June 15, 1892.)
Dec 31, 1892: “June…13….Explosion at the Mare Island navy yard, Cal.; 14 workmen killed.” (Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.)
June 2, 2017: “VALLEJO — A memorial service begin at 2:30 p.m. June 11 to honor the 15 USS Boston crew members killed in an explosion June 13, 1892, at the Mare Island Ammunition Depot. The servicemen are buried at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery, where the ceremony will take place. The largest monument at the 160-year-old graveyard is in their honor. The service marks the 125th anniversary of the tragic event. The Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard will participate. The service also will include a re-enactment of a Aug. 1, 1892, tribute by the officers and crew of the USS Boston. More than 1,000 people were in attendance that day….” (Daily Republic, Fairfield-Suisun City, CA. “Memorial marks 125th anniversary of USS Boston tragedy.” 6-2-2017, A4.)
Sources
Atchison Daily Globe, KS. “Sixteen Killed. Result of an Explosion at Mare Island Navy Yard,” 6-14-1892, p. 3. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=59180031
Bañes, Lanz Christian. “Mare Island ceremony honors 15 USS Boston crewmen.” ussboston.org. 6-13-2010. Accessed 2-13-2022 at: http://www.ussboston.org/hist/Protect_Cruiser_Memorial.html
Daily Republic, Fairfield-Suisun City, CA. “Memorial marks 125th anniversary of USS Boston tragedy.” 6-2-2017, A4. Accessed 2-13-2022 at: https://www.dailyrepublic.com/all-dr-news/solano-news/military/memorial-marks-125th-anniversary-of-uss-boston-tragedy/
Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892 – The Chronological Record of a Memorable Year….Demons of Destruction.” 12-31-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/white-plains-eastern-state-journal-dec-31-1892-p-1/
New York Times. “A Terrible Explosion – Fearful Disaster at Mare Island Navy Yard.” 6-14-1892. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D04EFDA1538E233A25757C1A9609C94639ED7CF
New York Times. “The Mare Island Disaster. Blame Put on the Government for Its Occurrence,” June 15, 1892. At: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9901E7D91538E233A25756C1A9609C94639ED7CF
United States Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. See “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard. Accessed at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/accidents.htm