The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-22
HEROES CARRY POWDER BAGS IN SHOWER OF SPARKS

part of the mechanism and the safety
devices before the actual dring IVES or
dered- Captain Prentice, who Vas on
the observation platform in the rear Of
the emulaCcmeut. gave the order 70 nTe,
and in just eleven seconds the explosion
took place Lieutenant HAYES was
standing beside the gun within six feet
Of the breech- Sergeant Hess was about
ten feet behind and % the left a crew
OF i've men operating a rammer. and
which had just showed home the powder
charge, were standing directly behind
the breeeh beside an ammunition truck
Body Hurled IS Feet.
Lieutenant Van Dusen was twenty
feet away on the right OF the gun. The
breech block had been showed into place.
but was not locked when the crash
came when the explosion took place
the breech block was blown distance
Of a hundred yards and pieces of the
mechanism few in all directions.
The body OF Sergeant Hess was hurled
twenty feet Lieutenant HaEves was
knocked Gown but uninJuTed- Private
Judd -. Hogan was closing the breech
and fixing the lanyard. his arm was
torn on by the force Of the explosion
His hand was found in Mil creek be-
hind the emplacement, where the breech
and the ammunition truck were also
aIterWard picked up
Two men who were walking toward
the gun from The covered section Of the
platform where the ammunition was
kept were struck by nvinE fragments
and uaugled beyond recognition
Deeds Of HeToism.
Instantly CAPTAIN Prentice ran TO the
gun platform and began extinEuishins
the burning bits CT powder that filed
the air
The fumes from the sm0zeless powder
are poisonous ard inhalation means
death Within thirty feet Of the breech
Of the gun lay four silk bags OF powder
ready for the second load Bits Of burn
Ing fragments were fixing everywhere,
threatening 10 explode the charge
This was the first thought OF Captain
Prentice and Lieutenant HAYES Each
Of them seized a bag OF powder and
rushed 10 safety. The two enlisted men.
10 whom the same thought had occur
red. rushed past the breech Of the gun
through the rain Of sparks and caught
I'D the remaining bags Then back they
went 20 the steps snd down TO TIL
Colonel T0wnsIey- the post commando,
was an eye witness Of the tragedy. hay-
ing been in the battle commanders
tower with Major General Carter at the
time
Summons Medical Officers
He had Just looked toward Battery
DeRussy knowing It was about To begin
firing He It was who sent the first
summons for the medical officers and
with General Garter and the Other visit
Ing officers hurried 10 the scene
The ordnance and artillery experts
Immediately made a careful examination
Of the gun and Of the breech- While the
various parts Of the mechanism which
attached the breech TO the gun were
broken and twisted they and the breech
itself were all found except the safety
slide. the breaking OF which is believed
20 have caused Nhe accident
This slide IS q piece OF steel about half
an inch wide that rests against the triE-
ger and prevents the primer being ex-
ploded pTematurely-
The breech -ock. which weighs about
half a ton. was found intact and may
still be used again Tests VIII be made
Tor this purpose within a short tire.
Tests Are Ordered
In the meantime orders have been IS
sued for the testinr Of every safety
slide in the coast artillery service IN
der all possible conditions A board viii
be appointed 10 make experiments and
secure a new form OF slide with the
idea of increasing the safety of the FIR
ing II Is declared here
The Sixtv-1InJh COMPANY Of Coast Ar
tflIerv. has been IN charge at Battery
DeRussy five years and has fired the