Cañon City record., 1899-02-02
BAD WORK OF SHELLS
Eject Of the Explosion Of Missiles
from Heavy Guns.
Ds. Hayasnd Spear. Surgeon sf tAs
v1Agshap New York. Tells Of the
naiA Wrought by sDanv
Ash Pro1ectiles.

During the bombardment Of San
Juan de Puerto Rico May 12 the New
York was struck once by 14-centime-
ter shell at distance OF about $500
yards. The shell came over the stern
of the ship and struck an iron stanchion
three inches in thickness, which was
broken off at the point of contact. The
shell went on for distance of about
IS feet and exploded in wooden boat,
which was covered with canvas.
The boat was demolished, the lighter
planking being badly spliptered and
driven downward and forward against
steam winch. The oars in the boat
were broken, and one piece hurled for
ward along the spar deck. but did no
damage.
The canvas covering the boat wac
torn and rent into shreds by the fore.
of the explosion and by spiinters pass
ing through 1t and then caught fire.
showing that canvas under such condi-
,ions will not stop spi'ntrrs-
The shell itself burs. into many
pieces, varying from the size OF pea 20
large pieces weighing about five pounds.
The direction which these fragments
took was forward. downward. upward
and to both sides. many g he IN going
over the ships side. others passing
through the copper veniila;ors and
smoke pipes and doing t.; little dam
age.
The fragments that went downward
and forward struck about the port
eight-inch wais, gun where there were
IL men stationed. killing one man and
III. =. ~ t-sft
Wiedemark. was struck by a piece Of
shell about two inches s.lpnrr by one
inch thick. II entered the left side Of
the neck near the angle OF the jaw. sew
cred the blood vessels. proceeded up
ward and backward into his brain. prob
ably ipjuring the meduil, and lodged
under the SIKH just beneath the oc-
cipital proturberance.
The man fell forward. losing con-
seiousness Immediately. His respirs-
tion ceased as soon as he was struck.
but his heart continued TO beat foi
abou: tive minutes, when ali signs Of NE
disappeared.
Another fragment Of shell Of about
the same size struck a man named Fett-
mann on the anterior inner surface Of
the left thigh. about three inches above
the knee. and went through the limb.
taking 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 tha, the bone was not
oniy spiintered for abou; three inches
OF Its length. but IL WAS also ruivrrixed.
hundreds Of minute pieces OF bone b-ing
Imbeddrd In the muscles. The wound
of exi, was smaller than the wound
of entrance. the piece OF shell prob.
ably entering the thigh edgewisc. turn
Ing and presenting ia; surface q; the
point Of exit. Al this point thsrr were
shreds Of tissue proirudinR from The
wound. showing that the ragged piece
OF steel drew muscular fibers and sascIa
along with II.
The leg was operated on and 3 pur-
ton ofthe femur rcsscted: she splln,ers
and crumbs of bone were removed. the
fragments were trimmed on and wired
together. and through snh through
drainage established. he limb being
put up in a ienis,rssed plaster srcss-
Ing. The wound a; last accounts wa
healing by primary un.op. and there
n every reason 30 believe the leg will b.