The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-28
DANGER IN DRILL.
A Serious Accident Occurs
at Berkeley.
A CANNON FIRES BACKWARD.
Three Students Are Hurt During the
Preparations for a Sham
Battle.
A CANNON FIRES BACKWARD.

Drilling in the hot sun is not over-pleas-
Ing to anybody, and the weather yesterday
was not calculated to make the students at
Berkeley anxious for the exercise. They
were glad, however, that the drill hour had
been changed to the last hour in the after
noon, as it would have been torture to exer-
else just after lunch, as they used to do.
They were angry enough anyhow to have
TO turn out, but there was no help for it, so
at $40 P. NJ. they formed back OF North
Hall. Alter the roll had been called. they
were informed that the drill would be a
practice one, in preparation for the coming
sham battle on Thursday afternoon.
The drill had progressed very satislae-
tOrily for about half an hour, and everything
was being carried out as IL had been planned.
when suddenly the large breech-loader gave
off Il report that sounded entirely different
from its customary below. Usually the
artillery gives one loud roar and is silent.
but this report was prolonged and was more
like succession Of reports
On hearing this strange sound Lieutenant
Randolph Immediately hurried to the spot
to see what had happened.
A large crowd had surrounded the gun,
but with majestic wave of Ills hand, the
lieutenant ordered them off and proceeded
~ illNCoAlkdLC bitb CGisS Vi lhb uiStuf DtuCc.
He found that three men had been Injured,
and he lmmed ately sent for his ambulance
corps and hurried the wounded boys off to
the doctors Office. The three wounded
ones were Sergeant Fyfe and Privates Vail
and Taylor. Fyfe had his hands burned
quite seriously, but bore his pain like
soldier. Vail had his face all marked with
powder, and Taylor had several large black
spots above his eye.
No one is sure about the cause of the ac-
cident. but as near as could be learned the
fanlt lies with the students themselves.
The bTeech blew out, and most likely did
so because it had not been firmly fastened.
OF cOuse when the breech came out it took
with 1t the powder already ignitei. Those
Immediately behind the gun received nearly
the full charge OF the burning powder.
The boys claim that they had fastened
the breech securely and that it was the
fault Of the gun. The piece is an old muzzle-
loader and has been remOdeled into ifs
present form. The gun was received from
Washington about year ago, and since
that time certain students have had ractice
with il each drill day. and 1t certainly would
appear as though they had had time to learn
how to use it.
Beyond this accident there was nothing
to mar the drill. and the sham battle on
Thursday should be well executed. The
six companies are divided into two sections,
one representing the defensive and the
other the attacking party. The defensive
maTcn snort way toward the campus and
then hide among the trees and await the
enemy The attacking party comes from
the east side of North Hall and is immedi-
atey fired upon by the soldiers in ambush.
They return the fire and drive the defend
ers from their position. Before the skin
mish several men are detailed to be killed,
and during the firing these men are seen 10
drop. AS soon as il Is safe. the ambulance
corps comes from shelter and picks up the
dead and wounded. These unfortunate
ones Join their companies soon after ana
the same fatality again results.
Yesterday one Of the soldiers on The de-
Tense was ordered to die, so he fell very
gracefully. Pretty soon eight men came up
with a litter and tunbled him into it. He
was heavier than they had bargained for.
so they tried to drop him out. but he kept
his balance and enjoyed his ride at his
comrades expense. Seeing that continued
shaking would not make the dead man get
out. the bearers of the cot kept quiet for a
minute and then suddenly overturned the
cot with the desired result.
On Thursday ten rounds of cartridges
will be distributed to each man, and great
care will be taken that firing does not occur
when the two parties are close to each other.