The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-31
Soldier Thrown Beneath
the Ordnance-Inju-
ries of a Corporal May
Prove Fatal.
Men Were Training to
Enter Exhibition at
New York-Going at
Breakneck Speed.

Sweeping around a sharp curve. in the
drill hail at Fort Myer. heavy aeId
gun of the Fourth Battery was over
turned in yesterdays practice. resulting
in the death OF ore corporal and mora
or less serious injuries to another cor
porai and three priyates.
The list of the casualties follows:
Killed:
Patrick slavin, Washington, D. c, as
years months.
Injured:
James Riley, Worcester, Mass. pri-
vate, 20 years; four nbs broken and hip
injured
Marcus Shores, snithfeld, Mass, a.
years; hip badly injured and !aeer-
ated.
: Elmer wehn, Baltimore, private, 20
years; back hurt
Mathew P. Duncan Brooklyn, N. Z,
corporal, ao years. badly bruised; not
seriously hurt.
> accident At Special BriIl.
The accident occurred at a specfsl drii
preparatory to the competition ~ the
choice OF an artillery company 20 enter
the armory exhibition al Madison Square
Garden, New York, next month
Prior TO the accident Captain Foote.
who is in command. had given signal
for full charge The speed was in
creased 10 a break-Beck rate. and the
guns sped around the enclosure at 3
terrific pace.
In turning corner at one end OF the
hall the piece which met with disaster
made wide yeer. It slid over the tan
bark and struck the clay soil with great
force. The heavy vehicle was upset.
hurting its hve occupants to the ground.
After striking the ground the carriage
rolled over on end and disemboweled
Corporal SlavIn.
So great was the impact that the
horses were sent whirIing 70 one side.
The drivers we're thrown but fortU-
nstely escaped serious injury. few
bruises and abrasions are the extent OF
their wornds
Soldiers Taken From the Debris.
The Injured sodIers were lifted from
the debris by their comrades after an
order had been given 10 dfsmourt The
drill was then continued for about ten
minutes 10 overcome The excitement
following the accident
Since November the Fourth Battery
has been making preparations 10 secure
the award Of a place Al the New York
exhibition.
The men have undergone thorough
training. and are now reaching the
height OF condition Hard practice has
been the constant order. and the eaily
drills for The past few months have beea
carried on with great vigor-
Held IN the Drill Hall
As the Madison Square Garden exhi-
bition viii be al inside drill the prae-
tice has been held in the drill hall az
Fort Myer to aceustom the men and
horses 20 making short turas, and 20 ac-
quaint them with the difficulties OF
handling the ponderous vehicles in closs
quarters
IT. IdttEAF Aa4 bSrA4 pa ~ttAS 81 -
drills yesterday when the accident oc-
CURED. Owing 10 the limited space ms
guns were being run through the acad-
eng in a figure eight. Four pieces wers
in the drill
While the speed of the flying teams
had been sufncient tc awe the ordinary
spectator. it was not up TO the standard,
and Captain Foote gave the order Tor
an increase, which MAS followed With 8
command 10 charge.
Tan Bark Brushed Aside
Immediately after the signal had beea
given Slavin saluted and declared that
the wheels were then passing over he
clay The tanbark had been brushed
aside in the furious charges sad the
soldiers feared there was great danger
OF overtwninz IN sweeping around The
turns.
Vt full gauop The wheels or the lin-
Ter chest usually veer 10 one side. bat
there was IittI, resistance frem lhs
scattered tanbark and consequently ia
danger of upsetIing
Fearing % Cisobsy The command,
SlaVin whipped UP the team and started
g: full gailop around tte bail. keep
ing a an even pace with the otner guns.
In making the turr the piece was lhea
a Eag.erFhes4