Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-26
RODMAN GUN BURST.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF LIEUT.
SQUIRES AND TWENTY OTHERS.
Como Again, Major RandoIph-An Unex-
pectcd Visit from the Little boss
Moonlight Pic-Nics to tho Rip-RHps.
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispa.ch.l

pected Visit from the Little BOSS
Moonlight Pic-Nics to tho Rip-Rsps.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
ORD PorxT COMFORT, Va, July 25.-There
was n good deal Of excitement on the
beach last Wednesday morning when an
old four-and- a-half-inch Rodman gun burst
whiIe being used in target-practice by
Captain Thurston's battery from Balti-
more. Lieutenant George 0. Squares, who
had charge of the piece. was otanding d.
rectly in rear with his left side TO the gun.
The breach broke into two pieces. one OF
which passed in front and the other in
rear, and neither OF them six inches away
from his person and buried themselves IN
the ramparts. Had no moved either way
there would have been a man snort IN his
mees. Private George Wilson. who was
pulling the lanyard. bad his cap blown oil
by piece of the gun, which passed IN
comfortably close to his head. he also
had some small particles of iron blown
into his face, which have been extracted
MIRACLE.
As there were two officers and twenty
men in the immediate vicinity OF the piece
when the accident occurred 1t is q miracle
the first of its kind manufactured during
the war. and was sent here and mounted
on the fort IL was taken down TO tho
beach some two or three years ago and has
since been used for target-practice. fho-
tographs have been taken OF the wreck,
and an effort will be made TO secure the
retirement from service OF these Oh ana
obsolete means Of warfare.
The seventeen young non-commlssioned
officers who were examined here for COM
missions early in July are still at the post
waiting for the verdict. Ono OF their
number went up to Washington Wednes-
day on n scout, but be reports that tho
Secretary of War is absent and that no
action or information can be had until no
returns.
WELCOME VISITOR.
Major Wallace +. Randolph, Third ar
tillerv. the genial inspector OF target-prac-
tice for this department. is here on his
annual visit and is the guest OF Lleqten-
ant Thomas Il. Adams. Major Ran
dOph spent some timo IN Richmond
much against his inclinations-in 1882,
whore he Organized tunnel company,
and was the second man TO leave ola LID
by Prison by the new route opened up.
Hle many friends in Richmond Will be
clad to know that, like good wine, he I'M
proves with age, and that his fund OF an
ecdotes is practically inexhaustibie.
OFF FOR INDIAN STUDENTS.
Rev. Charles Freeland, who for the past
wear has been filling tho position OF post
chaplain in most acceptable manner,
leaves on Monday for Dakota. where he
Will spend two months in selecting Indian
students Tor the Hampton Normal school.
with which he is connected. The worK
accomplished by this school during the
last ten wears in civIllzlng and educating
the Indians has had an excellens elect
upon those tribes who reside at the agen-
cies, aud no trouble is now experienced IN
securing all the good material that tho
school can accommodate.
Az OBJECT OF INTEREST.
The familiar figure of General Malone
yas seen al the HVgcia yesteI day Tor tho
! first time in a number of years. when tho
| genial Phocbus was alive his visits were
! frequent. and many O scheme was concoct-
ed between those two astute POLITICIANS.
He was quito an object of interest, espe-
cially to large delegation of visitors from
| the bluegrass region, who had proUhDly
never seen him before.
Now that all officers below the grade Of
major must be examined before promo
/ ton. "A board with Colonel ROYAL l.: Frank
as president, has been established mere 10
accommodate the officers serving IN TINS
section. While this system has long been
| followed in the navy, 1t - new tnlng III
army clrcles-too now. III fact. TO have be-
/ come popular if, indeed, 1t ever Will. Inc
| board held their first meeting on Mednes-
dav. when Lieutenant John A Iravers.
| First artillery, now on college duty at
| Charleston. S. c., and Lieutenant Luclen
g. berry. Fourth artillery, of the garrison,
appeared before ii. They stand next for
promotion to first lieutenants IN their re-
speciive regiments.
Captain Claude Wright. of the Suffolk
Gravs. with his wife ard her sister. MISS
Incio Riddick, arrived here last week and
will spend a month at the Hy8ela.
POPULAR rIc-SIcs.
A sweet, new thing has Just been intro
dnced by the ladies Of tho Hygeia, which
Will no doubt become very popular-vlz, o
moonlight picnic 10 the Rip-Raps. Mrs.
Lieutenant Williams and Mrs. John Paul
Jones, Of Washington, secured the steam
launch Hyeeia on Monday evening and
carried over q merry party of young people,
and that they had good time goes with
out saving. Among the party were Mr.
and Mrs. II. i. Lockwood, OF baltimore;
Iieutcuant and Mira. Duyall, Lieutenant
and Mrs. Greble. Miss Frank. Miss PEN
nington. Miss Duvall. and half dozen
young officers.
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL.
Colonel c. OBJ. Cowardin and family ar
rived here from Cobb's Island Tuesday
evening and remained over a day at the
Hygeia.
tillery, was called to New York ON business
Captain f. X. Russell. First artillery, ar
rived from Fort Wadsworth. ". l., Sun
day morning.
Lieutenant Henry G. Dawes, Third ar
tillery. who went off last month to gather
recruits for his regiment, IS now located
at Danyille. He has secured all the avail
able material in Lexington and Roanoke:
lie was Joined on Monday by Corporal
Grenshaw, OF Battery b, who will. no
doubt. lend him valuable assistance.
Mr.. Greenleaf, son of Colonel Greenleaf,
of the medical department, arrived from
Washington Sunday and is the guest OF
Lieutenant Squires at the camp.
Miss Shaker, of Detroit, arrived last week
and will spend month with her brother,
lieutenant Adam Shaker, Fourth artillery.
Two personally conducted excursions
have arrived here by the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway from Cincinnati during the
week. which has filed the hotel TO over
lowing. Many of the visitors are evidently
making their first trip to the seashore, and
are more or less shocked at the young
| ladies who don the regulation bathing suit
and dive of the pier with the BOYS.
Lieutenant George Il. +. Harrison,
| Second artillery, who was stationed here
some five or SIX years ago, when he wooed
and won MS wife. Miss Mamie Ray, of
Washington, arrived here with his family
| on Monday. He is now East on leave
from San Francisco, where his regiment is
Colonel G. W. woolley, a prominent
Democrats politician of CINCINNATI, IS
spending q few davs at the Hygeia. lie
thinks that Campbell will carry the state
this fall. but that tho fight will be a hot
| one. -,
Mr.. II. F. Straub of Allegheny, Pa, with
| his wife and daughter, arrived Sunday
morning on n visit to his son, Lieutenant
| Oscar |. Straub. First artillery.
| Miss May Miller left on Monday evening
FOR Governors Island on visit TO Miss
Julia Tompkins. daughter OF General
| Toulpkins. chief quartermaster.
Lieutenant j. +. Il. lands, First caval-
~. now stationed at Fort Mayer, came
down Sunday and spent the day visiting
| his old classmates.
Captain Frank r. Nye, who was sta
toned here about four years ago as CON-
mlssary, arrived from Washington Mon