Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-27
THE ARSENAL GROUNDS
SOME MORE REaM,tIN1scENcEs By
AN OLD RESIDENT.
The Great Explosion and Fire Recalled
Mr.. Shackleford's Heroism
on That Occasion.

"Old Washingt onians read with much in
terest Oflcer Robert Burns entertaining
"reminiscences of the arsenal grounds and
OF the Lincoln conspirators' trial and exc
cution, published in The Star a few days
ago. and am reminded Of one or two addi-
tional "reminiscences of the old arsenal and
Of other former and well-known residents
Of South Washingt on" said lifelong
dweller in that part Of the capital this
morning to a Star man.
"One Of the many thus far unrecorded
acts OF individual heroism in the capital
during the stirring days Of the war was
performed by South Washington man
named Richard Shackleford. We have
heard great deal about the big fellows
who saved the capital on various occa-
sions. but Dick Shackleford. by his great
personal bravery, not only saved about
200 troops and employees stationed at the
arsenal from being blown sky-high into
fragments. but also saved the best part of
South Washington from total wreckage and
destruction, and the entire capital from
shock which would have brought disaster.
Il was employed in one of the shops
where ammunition was made, and. in addi-
ton to the terrible explosion told Of by Mr..
Burns, wherein twenty-one women were
killed, there wsre many other explosions at
the arsenal which / witnessed, the one in
which Shackleford figured being the most
deadly, as 1t killed eleven men.
Shackleford's Great Act.
'In tiers Of low shed-Eke buildings men
worked over old shells brought in from the
battlefields. These shells were loaded, and
were Of the grape and canister, case and
percussion varieties, the latter being the
most dangerous to handle. The men would
place the old shells in vises and with copper
chiaplS
and extract the powder and lead, the empty
shell being then broken up and thrown in
the scrap heap to be sold for old iron.
This work was. Of course. dangerous
every minute, as spark from the hammer
might ignite the powder in the shells, caus-
ing them to burst, but the copper hammer
lessened this danger. though explosions oc-
casionally happened. The men worked as
close together as machinists at bench
and the shells were brought in by former
soldier with one leg whose name l have
forgotten. He drove a mule attached to the
regulation army wagon.
One day he came in the arsenal grounds
with a load of old shells. No one ever
knew how 1t happened, but the first thing
1 knew there was a frightful explosion and
fragments Of shells, buildings and of eleven
men went into the air. The destruction was
awful We never found any of the old
army wagon, nor the unlucky one-legged
driver, but the mule. strange to say, was
not killed He was blown about forty feet
and clear through the fence, but he lived
His ears and tail were completely burned
off, and his black coat afterward remained
a dirty gray. That mule was the sorriest-
looking object that ever drew breath in the
arsenal grounds. He never did any more
work, however, and was held in the highest
esteem by officers and men, allowed the
freedom Of the grounds and all he could
eat for life as pension.
Seized Burning Ammunition.
when those Of US who were uninjured
recovered our feet after the shock Of the
explosion We were Mortified to see a large
box Of shell ammunition with the fuse and
tow burning on the roof Of the powder
magazine which contained forty tons Of
powder, enough to- have shattered the city
OF Washington had 1t been exploded In a
central part. The IMPACT of the heavy
shells had broken through the slate roof
Of the magazine, and it was only Ques-
ton of time, and a. very quick time, too,
when it would either fall through into
the powder or the shells explode upon the
roof. 50 80
Some Of US. including myself, ran for
the hose carriage so strong is instinct, and
the victims of the explosion were for the
moment forgotten with the terrifying pros
pect of immediate humiliation in the next
minute. But one man had the daring and
the nerve that Is often exhibited by one
man out of a lot Of men In terrible emer-
perative.
"Shackleford, a big fellow and very
strong, was seen running straight for the
magazine as fast as his long legs would
carry him. By some means I cannot now
recall he clambered up the side Of the low
building to the smooth slate roof to where
the box Of burning ammunition was stuck,
and Selling 1t in his bare hands hurled it
smoking and sizzling into the wet marsh
''Then we turned our attention to gather
ing up the fragments of flesh and bits Of
clothing that were left Of the eleven VIC
tins Of somebody's carelessness. Shackle-
ford ought to have been pensioned by the
government within week for this heroic
act, but the thanks Of his comrades were
all that he received. He afterward lived
for years in South Washington. was en-
gagged in the fish business, and died there
After the explosion the army powder was
removed from the arsenal magazine to q
spot on the poorhouse grounds on the
Eastern branch
Other South Washington Men,
Another South Washington man figured
in an explosion at the arsenal at the time
I was employed there, and his name was
Charles Dent for many years a letter car
rier. and we'll known throughout the south
ern section Of the city. This explosion illus
trates the curious things powder explosions
will do. Dent and an enlisted man were
working around some loaded shells and
loose powder and struck a spark in some
manner. They were blown off their feet
and entirely stripped of clothing, but were
unhurt beyond few bruises and burns At
other explosions I saw there some men
would be blown to bits when standing al
most side by side with other men who es-