Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-07-19
DEATH IN A BIG GUN.
Ammunition Wagon of a Hotchkiss
Battery Blows Up at
Chicaoo

Chicago, ILL.,. July 16.-A caisson at
tached TO Hotchkiss gun in charge or
Battery Z, Second artillery, exploded at
1 80 o'clock today at the corner OF Grand
and Oakwood boulevards. Three men
We're killed and twelve were injured.
The gun. it is said, was accidentally dis
charged while the troops were being
moved, and the casson taking ire explod-
ed the supply of cartridges.
The dead and injured were taken III
charge by the soldiers. ana access tc the
scene of the accident was cut off while
surgeons were attending the injured
One of the killed was - Caller, tar
rier Troop E. Seventh cavalry, of Fort
Sheridan The others killed and injured
We're members of Battery T. Second ar
tillery. of Fort Reilly, and Troop B.,
Seventh cavalry, stationed at Fort Sheri-
dan.
The troop and battery were in charge
of Capt Dodd of the Seventh cavalry
and were proceeding from the lake front
to new quarters at Hyde park. At Oak
wood and Grand bouleyards the Hotch-
kiss gun with it's caisson was in the rear
of the command, when suddenly the
ground shook with Il feaful explosion and
a burst Of flame and smoke shot from the
caisson. A storm Of bullets flew III every
direction. Windows We're shattered for
blocks around and people walking on the
sidewalks were thrown down. When the
smoke cleared away eight heavy artillery
horses We're lying on the ground: their
carctsses nearly torn to pieces. All around
lay dead and wounded men.
The brOWnstOne home of Mrs. Deylin
at lakewood and Grand boulevard was
perforated by several bullets which passed
through the walls. Glass was shattered
and walls and ornaments We're torn and
broken.
The cause of the explosion is not posi-
lively known. 1t is supposed that a fuse
worked loose from one of the cartridges
and the powder ground between the brass
shells in the caisson, ignited and exploded
the mass.
J. Doyle and - Donovan. artillery
men, are reported dead. Sergeant Liner
and Cavalrymen Staught and Allen are
dangerously wounded.
Gen. Miles was not in his Office when
the news OF the explosion was sent in
over the telephone. His chief of staff,
Capt. Maus, said: 1--WE have just heard
of the explosion and that three of the
men We're killed outright and six others
wounded, several of them fatally, and
that six of the horses were killed. The
battery was Co. +. Second artillery, COM
manded by Capt. Vose. The day follow
ing it's arrival from Fort Riley it was
sent out to Col. Gordon's camp at the
Western avenue viaduct. AS has been
camp in Chicago, the battery was taking
its daily practice march when the ex
plosion occurred. 1t is impossible to say
how it occurred The supposition of a
military man is that the friction of the
shells in the caisson by a hard jolt eX-
ploded Il she'll"
Gould it have been possible for any
one to have placed any dynamite in the
caiSSOn!'
1T could have been possible. but hardly
probable. The vigilance of the troops in
camp would render it impossible for any
evil-minded person to have concealed any
thing in the caisson. and especially here
in Chicago. where more than the usual
diligence has been observed by the
troops"
The following is a list of the killed:
FARRIER CALLER Troop G, Seventh cavalry
ARTILLERyMAN DONOVAN, Battery +, Second
artillery.
ARTILLERYMAN J. DOYLE, Battery T, Second
artillery.
The injured are:
SERGEANT LINNER. Battery F, Second ar
tllery.
PRIVATE sToLrz, Troop G, Seventh cavalry
PRIVATE ALLEN, Troop G. Seventh cavalry.
PRIVATE ODON-SELL, Troop G, Seventh cav
airy.
TRUNPErER HERBERT ANDREA Troop G,
Seventh cavalry, will die.
PRIVATE ENKE, Troop G. Seventh cavalry.
PRIVATE URQuHART. Troop g. seventh cavalry.
SERGT. KANE. Troop A, Seventh cavalry,
right ear blown off.
The body of one of the artillerymen
who was riding on the caisson of the
gun was literally blown to pieces Por-
tons of his body were picked up at q dis
lance of 200 yards from the scene of the
explosion
The Hyde Park police have received
word that fourth unknown artilleryman
was killed.