The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-22

" and about twenty ofhcers from tne az my
headquarters IN Washington, as well
as several naval officers. who came
down from Washington this morning.
Under the arrangements the five bat
ateries at the fort were to begin firing
Simultaneously at 1880 o'clock at two
large, moving targets, towed about IN
Chesapeake Bay by tugs, and the guns
were to be charged with the full ser
vice charge of powder"---about 500
pounds OF the smokeless powder.
The gun crew from the sixty ninth
Company, in charge of Sergeant Hess,
left the coinpany's quarters at 10 O'CLOCK
and were ordered to command Battery
De Russy, which is about three miles
above the regular Notifications. Short
ly before ii o'clock the command to
fire" was sent to each battery, and
y soon the big guns were pealing forth
tremendous spouts of smoke, and the
vicinity here was being shaken by the
jar of the heavy firing.
with suddcnness of Lightning.
Almost with the suddenness of
lightning the firing stopped, and
things became still at Battery De:
Russy. The army officers at once rec
ognized that something had gone
wrong, and an investigation was or
dered. 1t was but the question of
few minutes before the distressing
:. news reached Colonel Townsley that
ten of his men were dead and that
eight others We're injured by the blow
ing out of the gun breech in Battery
De Russy. This ended the target prac-
tice and the occasion, which had been
looked upon as one of great results to
the army had become one of the deep
est mourning to Fort Monroe and. for
that matter, the army in general.
Eighteen of the trusted gunners had
either suffered death or were rendered
incapable for further service on the
big guns.
Hurriedly going to the saddened and
stilled battery. Colonel Townsley and
the visiting officers saw sight that
will linser with them for years Blood
and portions of bodies were strewn
along the beach and battery, while
heaped in pile were five bodies. AND
just a little further down lay the
eight wounded men One body had
been blown into Chesapeake Bay. while
the gun breech, too. now rests under
the, waters of the historic Hampton
Roads.
Caring for Injured.
Orders Were given for the hospital
corps to make double quick time to
the battery, and the work OF caring for
the injured was soon under way. In
fact, the promptness of the army Off
GERS in caring for the wounded won
the admiration OF the crowd that soon
gathered around the Old Point reser-
walton.
Colonel Townsley then went to head,
quarters at the fort, where he gave an
interview to the newspaper men. Col
onel Townsley said that the cause Of
the accident was likely due to the fail
ure of the soldier to close the gul
breech. although the exact cause ma,
never be known. He was soon settin,
the names of the dead and Wounds
and also the places of residence of each
Later he gave this information in q
complete form as obtainable to the re
porters, and he further gave the news
paper men as much assistance in hnt
ing the cause Of the terrible calarnit
as he could.
While Colonel Townsley was hole
ing his interview in the headquarter
over at the hospital scenes of the mo
distressing nature were being enacte
Friends and relatives of the dead so
diers were seeking information co,
corning their loved ones, and wht
told that death had claimed them, t
!. sobs of the women were heartrendin
Board of Investigation.
Colonel Townsley named a board
Investigation, consisting of Major Jol
L. Haden. Major w. r. Smith and Ca
tain Harrison Hall, to make an ottici
investigation into the circumstauc
board Went to work on its labors wit
in thirty minutes following the expl
sion. The Official report will be ma
to Washington as soon as the boa
completes its slabors.
Lieutenant Van Deusen, who has |
arm and leg broken, came to Fort Mo
roe only two weeks ago. He is a gra
4 uate of West Point He was acting
!, timekeeper for the gun detachment
the SiXty-ninth.
Sergeant Hess had lived at Phoeb
for number of years and had be
in the army more than twenty yea
He was recognized as one of the b,
commissioned officers at the 70
The bodies of the dead artilleryn
were turned over to the fort und
taker who is putting the mangled
mains together. and they will be h
until their relatives can be conamu
Gated with.
Flhgs ut, .Hnlf-Mast.
The flags Sn- the reservation w
plosion, and the entire reservat
changed from one OF gaiety to one
deep gloom and mourning.
The distinguished army and nj
!; officers Went to the Hotel Chamber
where they spent quiet day. ;
tonight they returned to Washingt
This is the first accident OF any 81
Gus nature to happen at Fort Mon
In fifty years. While a man is xii
9 now and then on the reservation, tn
has never before been, calamity
which SO great a number of art!l!e
men persisted as the one to-day.
Washington, D. c., July 2l.-L
tenant George L. Van Deusen, who
injured at Fortress Monroe. was
pointed to the artillery less tina,
week ago. He formerly had been
officer in the Eighteenth Infantry,
resigned and was reappointed to
army from civil life.