The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-22 00:00:00

TILE LATE FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.

ADJOURNED INQUIRY.
DOVER, TUESDAY.
The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances re-
lative to the recent fulfil gun explosion at Dover,
by which two members of the Dover and Cinque
Ports Artillery Volunteer Corps were unfortunately
killed, whilst others were severely wounded, was
resumed this morning at ten o'clock before W. H.
Payne, Esq., the coroner.
Mr. John Gange, examined—l was late ordnance
storekeeper to the 'War Department at Dover. My
attention has been called to the late accident. Two
guns were issued from my store on Sept. 13, 1859.
The age was not on this gun—it is sometimes placed
on the trunnions, but it was not so in this case. I
have no doubt most of these 32-pounders were cast
in the reign of George 111. One of the guns in this
battery bears the date 1803. It appears from what
Colonel Stotherd says that 180 rounds have been
fired from this gun sinee it has been placed in Arch-
cliff battery. I suppose they are proved by large
charges of gunpowder. I cannot say whether the
system of proving is the same as it was formerly.
The bursting of this gun appears to me to have
arisen from circumstances over which no human
being could have any control. I will not say posi-
tively that the planks were not rotten in No. 2 plat-
form.
Captain Andrew Noble examined—l am assistant
inspector of artillery at Woolwich. I know the exact
age of this gun. It was cast by Walker and Co.,
and it was proved at Woolwich in the year 1805.
The present mode of testing is by a double charge
of powder and a service projectile, and firing two
rounds. Formerly, I believe, there was a much
severer proof. I have ascertained the date of the
proving of this gun from the records in the books.
After the gun was proved it was issued in the same
year to her Majesty's navy. The gun was searched
end painted,at Plymouth in 1808, and it belonged
to the Edgar. It was next searched and painted in
1809. It was afterwards put on board the Barham
at Chatham, in l 812. Subsequently it was shipped
in the Asia in 1836. That ship must have gone on
foreign service. Between the years 1812 and 1836
the gun was on shore, probably in store. It was
returned to Woolwich on Sept. 16, 1845, andpassed
the examiners on Oct. 8, 1845. The vent was found
.275—rather full. It was sentenced to be re-vented.
Gn the 21st of June, 1850, :it was selected to be
issued to Dover, and it was reported to the principal
military storekeeper, at Woolwich, on the 26th of
August, 1850.

By the Jury—As an officer of artillery in com-
mand of the firing party, I could not have told
whether the gun was in a fit state to be fired or
not.

By the Coroner—.lt is generally the case that a
ball reaches its destination when a gun bursts. The
suspicion of the cartridge not being properly home
would not have any effect upon the bursting of the
gun. The charge was undoubtedly rammed well
home, otherwise the friction tube could not have
exploded it.

James fell, sworn—l am a grocer residing in
Dover, and a gunner in Ist Cinque Ports Volunteer
Artillery. I was serving as No. 2at No. 2 gun on
the round at which the explosion took place. It was
my duty to ram the cartridge home with the assist-
ance of No. 3. I saw No. 3 put the cartridge into
the gun. The cartridge was properly rammed
home.

Mr. Alex. Bottle, sworn—l am a practical che-
mist, residing in Dover. I attended the scene of the
' accident by the gun explosion and examined the
fragments of the gun, and I am of opinion that de-
terioration in this metal bad not gone on to such a
considerable extent as to render explosion inevit-
able under average circumstances. lam of opinion,
notwithstanding what I have heard this morning,
that the explosion of that gun arose from the
absence of recoil.
The Coroner having briefly addressed the jury,
after a short absence from the court, they returned
the following verdict :
" The jury are of opinion that the death of Lieu-
tenant George Thomas Thompson and Sergeant
John Monger was caused by the bursting of a gun
at Archcliff Fort on the evening of the 9th inst.,
while at ball practice ; and that the said accident
was accelerated by the long use of the gun, and
from the metal not being of a quality suitable for
the casting of guns for artillery practice. The jury
are unanimously of opinion- that a periodical
in-
spection forts should take
place."
The inquiry terminated about two
of all guns used in
o o'clock.