The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-21
BIG GUN BURSTS.
Eleven Artillerymen Killed and
Others Badly Hurt
While Engaged in Target Prac-
tice at TT. Monroe.
WIVES AND CHILDREN
OF Several of the Unfortunate
Men We're Present.
One of the Men Was Blown into
Chesapeake Bay.
WIVES AND CHILDREN

Ft. Monroe. Va, July 21.-Eleven artll-
lerymen are dead and a number OF oth-
ers seriously injured, including two OF
ficers, as the result of the blowing out
of a breech lock in d II inch shore
gun at the DeRussy battery, during the
coast artillery practice here today.
The accident occurred while student
officers were endeavoring to sink fleet
of towed targets, representing an I'M
aginary hostile fleet proceeding toWaru
Washington. The battery was under
the Immediate command Of Sergeant
Harry Haas. of the Sixty-ninth com
pany United States coast artillery
The Known Dead.
SERGEANT HARRY G. HESS, OF
Phoebus, Va, gun commander.
Corporal CHARLES o. ADKINS, ad-
dress unknown.
CORPORAL ALBERT BRADFORD,
Dorothy. w. Va.
PRIVATES A. ]. SULLIVA.., of Per-
kins, KY.
ROY DUFFY, of Kenova, w. Va.
H. A. ADEY, Brandonville. W. Va.
c. w. KING, of Dayton, 0.
JOHN w. CHADWICK, of Taze-
WELL Tenn.
ALFRED w. SMITH. of New York.
JUDD e. HOGAN. of Geyer, o.
JAMES H. TURNER, of Ripley,
Tenn.
one private Was DlOWn INTO SHeSd-
peake bay with the breech block
Lieutenant Van Dusen suffered
broken leg and Lieutenant Hawes was
injured about the face
Many prominent officers of the army
and navy. vino went to Hampton Roads
to witness what was expected to be the
greatest target practice of this char
acter that had been attempted any
where saw the accident.
1t was the more terrible for the rea-
son that wives and children of several
of the men killed, no danger having
been anticipated were permitted to see
the target practice A number of them
Witnessed the accident.
The Official Report.
Washington. July 21.--A report to
the war department says eight men
were killed. two fatally injured and
three others slightly injured today at
the beginning of the coast artillery
battle practice at Fort Monroe, Va.
News of this fatal outcome was sent
to Acting Secretary of War Oliver by
General Carter, assistant chief of
staff, who was at the fort with num-
ber of army and navy officers from
Washington, to view the battle prac-
tice with the big guns. Major Cen
eral Leonard Wood, chief of staff, who
expected to attend the practice, re-
manned in Washington.
General Carter's telegram to Secre-
ldlN OllNtI vas DIS lOlIOWS
Regret to report accident at COM
mencement of student officers battle
practice. Two 12-inch guns from prob
able premature explosion resulted in
the death of eight men. Two others
were fatally injured. Lieutenant Van
Dusen's leg was broken ard three ad-
ditional men slightly injured. Inves-
tigation is being made and a report
will be submitted through regular
channels
The accident is supposed to have oc-
CURED in connection with the coast ar
tillery target practice, in which shore
batteries fired upon a fleet of targets
towed up Hampton Roads in such
manner as to be comparable to battle
ships.
The shore guns were to be engaged
in battle practice with the moving
fleet, which was towed four miles out
and was supposed to represent a hos
tile fleet sailing up the Potomac to at
tack 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. 1t
was planned to have five batteries of
10 and 12-inch guns concentrate their
fire on the target fleet and demolish it
as quickly as possible. 1t was intend
ed also to bring the mortars into play.
Ships of the coast artillery were to
tow the targets. Each was thirty feet
high and sixty feet long and repre-
sented a section of battleship.
Thirty officers, who have recently
been graduated from the artillery
school at Fortress Monroe. were to be
in charge of the tests. A large num-
ber of other officers had gone from the
war departments to see the firing
Among them were Brigadier General
William Crozier, chief of ordnance;
Brigadier General James B. Alshire,
quartermaster general; Brigadier Cen
eral William Bixby, the next chief of
engineers, and many officers of the
general staff.