John P. Vincent Gridley - Erie, PA - Graves Mentioning a Cause of Death on Waymarking.com

At Lakeside Cemetery off of East Lake Road in Erie, Pennsylvania is the grave of Lieutenant John P. Vincent Gridley, who died on April 13, 1904 on board the U.S.S. Missouri at Pensacola, Florida. The text on the grave stone states:

John P Vincent Gridley
Lieutenant U.S.M.C.
Born March 26th 1880
Killed by an explosion in the
after turret of the USS
Missouri off Pensacola Florida
April 13th 1904
Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away
According to the The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, "Assigned to the North Atlantic Fleet, Missouri left Norfolk 4 February 1904 for trials off the Virginia Capes and fleet operations in the Caribbean. On 13 April, during target practice, a flareback from the port gun in her after-turret ignited a powder charge and set off two others. No explosion occurred but the rapid burning of the powder suffocated 36 of the crew. Prompt action prevented the loss of the warship and three of her crew were awarded Medals of Honor for extraordinary heroism."

Gridley's grave is in the circle in the north part of the cemetery where four Spanish Canons, which had been captured in the Philippines, sit. John was the son of Captain Charles Vernon Gridley, who fought in the Spanish-American War and is also buried nearby in the same part of the cemetery.

Type of Death Listed: Accident Cause of death inscription on headstone: Killed by an explosion Website (if available): [Web Link]

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