Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-07-19

Chicago July 17.--The cafisson OF
battery l., second artillery, u. s. ar
my, exploded with terrific force yes
/ terday afternoon at the corner of
Grand and lakewood bouleyards. Three
artillerymen and one trooper were in
stantly killed. Nearly score of other
people we're injured, some fatally.
The killed were:
PRIVATE DONOVAN battery f,
artillery
PRIVATE DOYLE, same.
PRIVATE ST0LZ.
FARRIER GAYLOR, troop b, sew
enth cavalry.
The wounded are:
Sargent Leiner, battery Il, second
artillery, badly shot and burned, re-
covery doubtful,
Private Allen, fatally shot in the
neck and head
Private O'Donnell, shot in the head
and burned
Driver Encke, blown from his horse
and badly injured.
Private Urquart, shot in the foot.
Bugler Antes, shot in the shoulder
and left arm.
Sergeant Kane, ear shot off.
Sergeant Hoffman, shot in the chin.
Corporal Riley, badly bruised
Sergeant King, bruised
An unknown artillerman was thrown
from his horse and picked UP uncon-
scious.
An unknown boy was thrown from
his bicycle and injured.
Miss Alice York, tendon Of heel
severed by bullet.
The troops left Brighton Park for a
long march around the city to exer-
else the horses. They were in com
mand of Capt. Dodd, troop r, third
cavalry, Everything went smoothly
until the column was marching south
ON Grand boulevard, just crossing Oak
plosion occurred.
The men OH the caisson, supposed
to be Donovan and Doyle, were liter
ally blown to pieces and others were
thrown many feet by the violence of
the conclusion. Four Of the horses
, drawing the caisson fell iii their
tracks, shot through and horribly
mangled, while three others We're
blown fifty feet against trees, dying
Instantly, The calsson was blown to
atoms, not piece of 1t larger than a
mans hand being found. The boule-
ward looked like a battlefield.
There was IL quick series Of explo-
sions after the 1rst report, and shrap-
mel shot rained like hail among the
trees and pierced surrounding dwell
lings. With the explosion came great
confusion and for moment men and
officers seemed powerlcss to move.
To this was added the fright of the
occupants Of surrounding houses.
who rushed screaming into the street
only to be slckened at the sight
which met their gaze.
4 fire alarm was turned in and with
the department came patrol wagons
and a number Of policemen and the
work Of collecting the dead, dying
and wounded and removing them to
suitable places was Immediately be
gun.
The damage to residences and park
property in the neighborhood is es-
timated at about $4,000. Shells
and other missiles as well as frag-
ments Of the exploded caisson tore
through the windows of surrounding
houses, creating have In each in
stance.
Col Willitson, who investigated the
occurrence on behalf of Gen. Miles.
stated that his theory Of the accident
was that screw plug became loosed
and the powder leaked out and was
ground and pounded By the jolung
| until it ignited, causing the explo-
sion. He said further:
Il take no stock In the theory that
dynamite had anything to do with it..
The greatest precaution Is taken
about the ammunition, the caissons
being inspected daily. 1t is the first
accident on record Of similar ma
! ture. Ammunition has been iolted
over rough roads in Kansas, and yet,
| when going at light trot on the
smoothest road in Chicago, this ex-
plosion took place"