J.B.
King
The King was a 140 ft wooden drill barge and was engaged in drilling
and blasting to deepen the "Narrows" to 27 ft when disaster
struck. Victim of explosion, as was the American, the King was struck
by lightening, and boom! Generally speaking, it's a bad idea to be on
a golf course during a thunderstorm. It's a really bad idea to be on
a blasting boat full of dynamite during a thunderstorm. The King had
11 of 12 holes finished (each 6" in diameter) and 1,500 pounds
of dynamite loaded into them. Everett Snider was using the small tender
to run anchor lines to anchors or islands to secure the King in position
for drilling.
He was instructed by the supervisor to wait until the rain quit before
running a line to the island, so he went on board the King for a coffee.
He next remembers regaining consciousness underwater and struggling
to the surface. U.S. Revenue
Cutter "Succor" (CG 211) was patrolling nearby. Hearing the
explosion they raced to the scene and recovered 10 of the 11 that survived
the blast, out of the 43 that had been on board.