The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1895-09-14
7 KILLED AT LOUISVILLE
CAISSON OF THE FIRST KENTUCKY
ARTILLERY ExPLoDEs TO-DAY.
Battery b was Firing the Morning Salute
to the Grand Army Veterans When the
Explosion Took Place-Caps Dropped on
the Friction Primer Of the Ptece-Two OF
the Bodies Blown Over Housetops-Great
Parade of the Encampment Takes Place
To-Day ON Southern son-Distinguished
.Confederates Ride in Front Of the Line
Striking Features of the Parade.

Louisville, Sept. ia horrible acct
dent resulting in the death Of seven and
the wounding Of several members Of the
Louisville Legion, occurred shortly after
5 o'clock this morning, caused by the ex-
plosion of caisson.
The accident occurred on Broadway,
between Third and Fourth streets, where
the First Kentucky Artillery were sta
toned for the purpose Of firing the morn
ing salute.
Eye witnesses to the accident say that
the explosion was caused by dropping
the caps on the friction primer Of the
piece. Two of the bodies were blown
over the housetops and were horribly
mangled. Two horses attached to the
cannon were horribly mangled. All the
killed were members Of the First Ken
lucky Artillery of Louisville, which has
always been considered the finest in the
State.
Those killed are:
Corporal AL Robinson.
Privates Charles Oestrich, Charles
Woods, -- Mcbride, Hutchin-
William Adams, colored.
The wounded are: Fred Copen, bad
ly burned, and William Hobbs, not seri-
ously.
All the men except the colored man
were members of Battery B and resided
In Louisville.
AS soon as the accident occurred the
city ambulance was called and the wound
ed were taken to the Northern Infirmary,
where their injuries were attended to. Il
is feared that Copen will die. The whole
left side of his face was blown off. Even
IL he should recover he will be blind and
horribly disf1gured.
The colored driver fell on the front
porch Of q residence, fully 800 feet from
the place where the explosion occurred.
1t is believed that the body of Private
Hutchinson was blown 20 pieces, as it has
not yet been found. A hook and ladder
truck Of the city fire department was call.
ed and with ladders every house top In
the vicinity was searched IN vain for the
missing body. But on nearly every house:
top was found portions q the bodies OF
the unfortunate young msM
The battery was on Ito way to Phenis
Hill for the purpose Of firing q salute OF
forty::four guns There we're s'zty-sts
pounds of powder "a the calss6n.
After all the demonstrations Of the
week, the parade today was the event
Of the twsnty-ninth National Eneamp-
ment OF the Grand Army Of tho RepuR-
lie, as It had been Of all former en-
campments Along miles Of bunting and
amid hundreds Of THOUSANDS Of cheering
citizens the comrades o1ce more marched
on Southern soil. No contrast could be
greater than that Of the reception Of the
gateway Of the South to-day to the OBJ
position at its portals.
Only one thing could have added to
the impressive grandeur Of the demon
stration. The picturesque display Of red,
white and blue electric lights across all
prominent streets and on many buildings
that had been admired so much by the
visitors could not contribute to the glory
Of the day.
The veterans were the most interest
ing feature Of the parade, although
everything that money or ingenuity
could command in the way Of warlike
designs were added 70 the procession The
veterans had spent two days and nights
in camp fires and reunions in hunting
up bunk mates and comrades, and in
talking over old experiences in the SER
vice. but they say they never feel like
old times" till they get in line. And they
formed a long, strong line Of yankees"
in marching through Kentucky to-day,
while thousands of 'Johnnies" grew
hoarse in cheering them along the way.
And the ladies of Louisville and from all
parts of the South, in brilliant dresses,
joined in the great chorus of cheers.
The veterans showed the weight OF
years and the effects Of service while
marching to-day. It was the general re-
mark that there were never 50 many old,
lame and feeble men in line. but they
proudly kept step and on they trdmped,
tramped, tramped, just as though they
We're the boys still marching through
Georgia.
None of the old Union generals, arounl
whom they gathered so fondly at former
encampments, and whose carriages they
cheered SO Justify in former parades,
were here. The departments began form
ing at an early hour to start the process
sion promptly.
AT $50 second salute was fired for
the first grand division to form. At 10
a. M the guns indicate that the escort
was moving to the head of the column,
and at 1870 the salute signalled all of
the ten grand divisions to move. Under
a proclama ton from the Mayor the
streets where the divisions formed and
the entire line of march were cleared of
everything, while the Louisville Legion,
the Cadets and Kentucky National
Guard patrolled the streets, and there
was no delay. NJ. united police first
cleared the way, followed by large de-
tatchment. The parade was headed,
some distance in fror: of the first grand
,j5,,icion INV tuyo Cop