The San Francisco call., 1910-07-22
Fatal Accident Occurs During
Mock BOmbardment by Ar
tiIIery Battery
SOLDIERS MARTYRS
TO RAPID FIRING
Wives and Children of Victims
Are Witnesses of the
Catastrophe
BREECH LOCK BLOWS
OUT OF IL INCH GUN

TORT MONROE, Va, July 81.
Eleven artillerymen are dead and
a number of others, including two
officers, seriously injured, as the re-
suit of the blowing out of a breech
lock in a L inch shore gun at the
De Russy battery, during the coast
artillery practice here today.
The accident occurred while student
officers were endeavoring to sink a
feet of towed targets, representing an
imaginary hostile feet proceeding
toward Washington. The battery was
under the immediate command of Ser
geant Harry G. Hess of the Sixty
ninth company, United States coast ar
tiHery.
The known dead are:
Sergeant Harry G. Hess of Phoeni-
bus. Va, gun commander.
Corporal Charles o. Adkins, address
unknown.
Corporal Albert Bradford, Dorothy.
". Va.
Private A. }. sullivan Of Perkins. KY.
Private Roy DUFFY of Kenova. W. Va
Private H. A. Adey, Brandonville,
W Va.
Private c. w. King of Dayton, o.
Private John Y. Chadwick of Taze-
well Tenn.
Private Alfred w. smith of New
York
Private Judd +. Hogan of Meyer, q.
Private James H. Turner of Ripley.
Tenn.
One private was blown into Chesa-
peake bay with the breech block
Lieutenant George L. Van Deusen
suffered a broken leg. and Lieutenant
George 7. Hawes Jr., formerly sta
toned 1t Fort Baker, Cal, was injured
about the face
The accident was the more terrible
for the reason that wives and children
Of several of those killed witnessed it,
The accident occurred at 1O:4O O'Clock
The bodies of the artillerymen were
terribly mangled. The wounded were
rushed TO the fort hospital.
News Reaches Washington
WASHINGTON, July 21.-News of the
fatal accident at the coast artillery
battle practice at Fort Monroe, vir-
ginia, was sent 10 Acting Secretary Of
War Oliver by General W. H Carter,
assistant chief Of staff, who was at the
fort with q number of army and navy
officers from Washington to view the
battle practice with the big guns.
Major General Leonard Wood, chief of
staff, who expected to attend the prac-
tice. remained at Washington
General Carter's telegram to Secre-
tary oliver was as follows:
Regret to report the accident at the
commencement of student officers
battle practice. No. u inch gun.
from probable premature explosion, re-
suited in the death of eight men. Two
others were fatally injured. Lieutenant
Van Duzen's leg broken and three addi-
tional men slightly injured Investiga-
tion is being made and report will
be submitted through regular chan
nels."
Ef rget Practice Cause
frhe accident occurred in connection
with the coast artillery target prac-
tice. in which shore batteries fired upon
a fleet of targets towed up Hampton
Roads in such manner as to be COM
parable to battleships
The shore guns were to be engaged
in battle practice with the moving feet
which was towed about four miles out
and was supposed to represent a hostile
feet sailing up the Potomac TO attack
Washington.
According to plans of officers of the
coast artillery, the firing tests were to
be conducted on a larger scale than
had ever been attempted anywhere. It
was planned to have five batteries of
10 and y inch guns concentrate their
fire on the target feet and demolish it
as quickly as possible. It was intended
also to bring the mortars into play.
Ships of the coast artillery were to
tow the targets. Each was 80 feet
high and so feet long and represented
a section of batueship.
Officers Are Witnesses
Thirty officers who have recently
been graduated from the artillery
school at Fort Monroe were to have
been in charge of the tests
A large number of other officers had
gone from the war department to see
the firing. Among them were Brigadier
General William Crozier. chief of ord
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