The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-03

then caught fire, showing that canvas
under such conditions will not stop
Splinters.
The shell itself burst into many
to large pieces weighing about hVe
pounds. The direction these frag-
n1ents took was forward, downward
upward and to both sides, many of them
going over the ships side, others pass
ing through the copper ventilatorS and
smoke pipes and doing but little dam
age.
The fragments that went downward
and forward struck about the port s.
inch waist gun, where there were II
men stationed, killing one man and lE-
juring several others The man killed,
Wiedemarck, was struck by piece OF
shell about two inches square by one
inch thick. 1t entered the left side of
his neck near the angle of the jaw.
severed the blood vessels proceeded
upward and backward into his brain,
probably injuring the medulla, and lodg-
ed under the skin just beneath the oc-
cipital protuberance. The man fell for
ward, losing consciousness Immediate
ly. His respiration ceased as soon as
he was struck, but his heart continued
to beat feebly for about five minutes,
when all signs of life disappeared.
Another fragment of the shell of
about the same size struck man
named Fettman, on the anterior inner
surface of the left thigh about three
inches above the knee, and went through
the limb, taking a backward and
downward course. The femur was
shattered into numerous fragments
and the muscles were torn considerably
in the track of the wound.
The effect of the missile on the bone
was peculiar in that the bone was not
only splintered for about three inches
of it's length, but it was also pulveriz-
ed, hundreds of minute pieces of bone
being embedded in the muscles. At the
point eff exit there were shredS of tissue
protruding from the wound, showing
that the ragged piece of steel drew
muscular fbres and fascia along with
it. The leg was operated. on and a
portion of the femur reSected, the
splinters and crumbs of bone were re-
moved, the fragments were trimmed Off
and wired together and through and
through drainage established, the limb
being put up in a fenestrated plaster
dressing. The wound at last accounts
was healing by primary union, and
there is every reason to believe that
the leg will be saved.
Another man was struck in the left
leg by a piece of shell about one inch
about it's middle on the outer side, went
inward and forward, growing the an
terror surface of the tibia. The frag-
ments of bone were taken out of the leg
by the piece of shell.
There were several other minor in
juries. Pieces of shell struck several
men but did no damage. One man felt
something hot on his breast, and on in
vestigation found a small piece of shell
that had burned it's way through his
clothing and reached his skin. The
fragments of the shell were all hot, as
was shown by burnt wood and canvas.
The men injured by the shell all said
they felt a burning, singing sensation
about their wounds. and in some cases
the clothing was scorched.
The shell receives a great deal of
heat from the friction it incurS in leav-
ing the gun; some of this heat is lost
through radiation in its fight through
the air, more heat is developed on the
impact of the shell and still more en-
ergy takes the form of heat when the
missile eXplodes, making the fragments
hot enough to set fire to wood. All OF
the wounds made by the pieces of the
shell were antiseptic, but they all were
sluggish in healing, due to the lowered
vitality and burning of the injured
mai fG