Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-07-22
SPARK CAUSE
DISASTER At
FORT MONROE
Government to Conduct Rigid
Investigation of Accident
to Big Gun.
SOME OF THOSE INJURED
HAVE SINCE DIED
specfdi b. United PTsss wsrs.

SSoSfef VI CHWch tSs66 WgG.
Norfolk, Va, July 22:-Fort Nom
roe, which yesterday was gay with
anticipation over an unusual military
spectacle, is today enshrouded in
deepest gloom. Colonel Townsley
today informed the relatives of the
eleven men who were killed by the
premature explosion of the big 12-
inch gun in battery De Russy, that
he Will await their replies regarding
the burial of the men. The bodies
viii be shipped at the expense of the
government, to the homes, if it is de-
sired. Otherwise, they will be
buried at the military cemetery here.
Despite the horror of the accident,
several officers and men who were in
the battery at the time of the expIo-
sion are receiving congratulations
today for the heroism they displayed
In going to the rescue of the injured
men, although they themselves were
hurt, and in preventing the ignition
OF another charge of powder which
was near the gun awaiting another
shot.
Colonel Townsley sent the follow
Ing official message to the war de-
partment today:
In reference to the accident at
target practice, the following fur
ther particulars are reported: Aeei-
dent due to premature discharge of
gun No. l, battery De Russy; breech
block blown to rear, discharge oc.
curing before rotation of block had
begun"
1t is probable that special letters
of commendation for bravery will be-
issued to number of men whose
courage was displayed in the face of
the terrific outburst of flames and
gases, AS result of the catastro-
phe, which is ascribed by ordnance
| experts to- a defect in the safety de-
vice of the firing mechanism, an in
vestigation of the condition of this
device on all guns in the coast artil-
lery, will probably be made In no
other way can the accident be ex-
planned.
1t is impossible to tell from gun
No. ! of the battery, in which the
explosion occurred, whether this de-
vice was in proper working conat~,
tion Or not. The firing mechaniana
was demolished by the explosion. ana
the only men who could have told
"iAShiCl Nhb uCflI6 was WOIhluA
properly, are dead.
Immediately after the accident,
ordnance experts of the army who
happened to be at the fortress, made
thorough investigation of the sat-
ETY. devices on all other guns. In
one case 1t was found that the me-
chanism had been worn to such an
| extent that 1t might have resulted
| {.
Cured yesterday. A thorough ex-
animation of the condition prevailing
at the time of the accident is being
made by the board which has been
designated for that purpose. The
report will probably not be complets
for a week or more. -
Battery De Russey is located about
the middle of Fort Monroe. 1t con-
tains three twelVe-inch disappearing
guns which command the channel to
Hampton Roads.
large party of high ranking Off
GERS Of the army went to Fort Monroe
from Washington to witness the an
nual battle practice which was held !
as a part Of the commencement exer-
cises of the officers school at the fort.
1t was to simulate actual battle con-
dltions as far as possible by firing all
the big guns of the fort at an imagi-
nary enemy, represented by moving
target, supposed to be entering Ches-
apeake bay. 1t was during this prac- .
tice that the accident occurred.
Usually after placing IN the gun
projectile weighing 1046 pounds and q
powder charge of 270 pounds the
breech block is closed and locked be-
fore the gun Is fired. In the present
instance, 80 ordnance experts here be-
lieve, q spark from the previous dis
charge must have ignited the powder
before the gun crew could lock the
breech block. In battle practice, such
as was being held, the gunners fire as
rapidly as possible. This, 1t is believ-
ed here, resulted in the introduction of
the charge into the breach before
sparks of the previous firing had been
extlnguished. The gun was model
of 1895 and had seen considerable serv-
Ice. 1t was regarded as amply strong.
1t was constructed at the Watervliet
arsenal, near Albany, n. Y, after
plans drawn by the bureau of ord.
nance. 1t has n muzzle velocity Of
1,042 feet second.
Lieutenant Van Deusen, the only
commissioned officer injured, reported
at Fort Monroe only six days ago. He
is twenty-five years old. He was ap~
pointed to the Military academy from
Passiac, n. j., on June 10, 1905.
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