The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-31
MANGLED BY
PREMATURE
EXPLOSION
Awful Accident While Firing
Military Salute.
FOUR MEN INJURED
One May Die From His Terri
bic Wounds.
ARM BLOWN TO ATOMS
And Men Hurled Backward
With Great Force.
ARM BLOWN TO ATOMS

One man vas dangerously If net fatally
injured and three others seriously burned
yesterday By the premature explosion Of
q charge in one Of the cannons being
nred BY Battery A of this city George
Halter was reported last night as stiH
balancing between kfe and death. the ef-
fects OF the terrific shock being feared
This man. who vas gunner. lost his right
arm, but his injuries. though serious, VIII
not cause death Bert Davis, powder
monkey, was horribly burned about the
face. but received no permanent injuries
other than powder marks. VIII Alexan-
der and George Aiitts felt the force OF the
discharge the least, but have not received
any permanent injuries
The accident occurred at the end OF
Douglas avenue over the Big Arkansas.
II was about fifteen minutes TIL o'clock.
The boys had been firing the gun as
part OF Memorial day exercises. Corporal
Halter had wiped the gun out and had
placed the sack Of powder into IL Alex
ander had rammed the shot IN. \ min
utde interviewed 4 terrific double report
was heard. and q tongue Of fame and
smoke shot out both ends Of the gun
For thirty seconds just the cry OF one
nan broke the dead silence that bad pos
session Of the crowd around the gun.
There, i've feet from the cannon. Corporal
Halter lay. his right arm torn on just
below the elbow. the ragged stump dis
playing a blood-curdling sight Blood
rushed from his eyes, ears. nose AM
mouth and covered his black and burned
face HIS kinky black hair stood on end.
as though the explosion had nearly torn
Il out by the roots.
On the right side OF the gun Private Da-
Wis had fallen, but was On his feet again
Ike a fash With despairing cries he
clasped his hands to his bloodyafaee and
cried out: I'm burning up With a
mad rush he dashed through the people,
but was caught on the outskirts OF the
crowd His shirt was torn OF. The burn
ing spots rubbed. and friend IN pleading
voice persuaded the crazed man TO 80
with him TO the Missouri Pacific station
xis cries OF pain rang out till he reached
the depot, when he sank down into a
peaceful Inconsistencies.
VIII Alexander and George AIitts were
beth knocked down By the explosion and
severely burned about the face. They
were taken to the depot BY friends. Pri-
vate Alexander was taken 70 the hospital.
as were the other two men. but Mitts was
carried home
After the ambulance had carried its
bloody burden to the Wichita hospital.
the crowd dispersed, revealing a horrible
spectacle. Back of the gun lay the fingers
OF Halter. with the long leders torn from
his arm and scattered in every direction.
The bone of his forearm was found but
few feet distant from the pool of blood
that the earth was quickly swallowing CD.
The remaining members Of the battery
tied the two cannons and carriages 10
express wagons and made their sorrowful
way back 10 the armory.
The cause Of the explosion remains
mystery The boys say it was not the
gun Or any defect in it. for It is perfect