Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-05
JULY 4TH CASUALTIES
SOLDIERS MANNED WHILE FIRING
sALUTFS AT NEW YORK.
Numerous Holiday Fatalities in Goth
am, Chicago and Other Cities
Incidents of the Day.

BY the premature explosion of shell in
the open breech of a five-inch gun while
a Fourth of July salute was being fired at
Castle William, on Governors Island New
York, yesterday, Private Cornelius Har-
rington of Company H, 9Th Infantry, was
so badly injured that he may not recover
One arm was torn off, his right eye was
blinded and he was terribly burned on the
head and body. Sergt. Frank Webb Of the
same company and regiment was also bad
~ hurt, and 1t is feared will lose the sight
of one of his eyes, but he is expected to
recover.
Sixteen men were grouped about the bat
terry Of four siege guns while the salute
was being fired and at the moment when
the explosion occurred, but only those near
est the gun were knocked down by the force
of the explosion. The gun had been fired
once, and under the direction of Sergt
Webb Harrington had placed new shell
in the breech of the gun and was about
to close 1t when something ignited the
blank shell. 1t is believed that spark
from the previous discharge set 1t off.
Private Thrown Thirty Feet.
Harrington was thrown thirty feet from
the gun Sergt. Webb was out of the d.
rect line of the explosion and escaped the
full force. Both men were removed to the
hospital on Governors Island and the firing
of the salute was continued.
An inquiry to determine the cause of the
accident will be made at once.
Altogether five deaths were recorded In
New York city as a result of the day
celebration, and the number of accidents
reaches into the hundreds. One child was
killed in a curious way, having fallen from
a window while watching the celebration
and dying a few moments later. Morris
Gouhestein. East Side tailor. was killed
by stray bullet. Numbers OF others were
IL, L,,rt
while sitting at their windows or on veran-
das.
Two Injured at Boston.
During the ceremony of firing the ma
tional salute of forty-five guns at Fort War
ren Boston harbor, yesterday, the charge
of the sixteenth round exploded prema-
turely. injurlng two privates of the 18th
Company Coast Artillery. one probably
fatally.
Private James j. Buckley, who was plac-
ing the blank shell In the breech of six
FOUNDER, was frightfully injured. The ex-
ploson tore his left arm nearly to the
shoulder, and the flying particles struck him
| in the face, shattering the bones OF his
chin.
| Private Hector Mcneil was severely
| burned and some Of the powder grains
| lodged in his eyes. An investigation was
| Immediately made to determine the cause
| Of the accident, but nothing In the appear
| ance of the gun disclosed 1t.
At Randolph, Mass, the explosion or
small yacht cannon last night, which had
| been fired frequently all day, resulted in
| the death of Henry Alrich. twenty years
| old, who was struck by fragment Of the
pieces, and died within few minutes.
Victims at Chicago.
One man dead, boy probably fatally
| wounded, two other men shot and a boy
! hurt by cannon cracker were contrfbu-
| tons Of victims to the Fourth of July cele
! bration in Chicago.
Charles Strelow, nineteen years old, was
| shot and killed by one Of four unidentified
/ men, all Of whom escaped. Strelow, who
| was with several friends, had fired one
shot from a revolver, when four men, wht
| said they were detectives. demanded tina
| the party submit to a search. Strelow re
sisted and ran, and one of the four sho
him dead.
Harry Hind six years old, probably wa.
fatally hurt by Katie Hugg, fifteen years
| old. who playfully pointed an old revolver
| at him. The weapon was discharged, ant
the boy fell with wound in his breast.
Carries Bennett. twenty years old, wa.
struck In the right knee by a bullet fired
by Patrolman Lewis, who was trying Il
| dispense a crowd which had objected X
the arrest of boy for placing torpedoa!
on the street car tracks. After the shoot
ing a crowd OF 200 persons attempted Il
assault the policeman. who was forced Il
return to the station. III
4 William =. o'Brien, stwenty-seven year
old. was struck in the left foot by stra!
Bert Butler. thirteen years old. was Il