The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1917-08-10
F0UR ARE KILLED BY
ARTILLERY AT
MOUNTAIN
High Explosive Shell Used
In Practice Bounced
Over Kennesaw.

The first to fall DeIore the IRE OF
.so now American army died Wednes-
dow night on the historic battle
rro,,nd of Kennesaw Mountain. One
white woman and three negro men
yare the victims of one of the new
high explosive shells which were be-
inc tested out against the sides of
Tittle Kennesaw." The last shot
fired is supposed to have struck some
soft clay that turned its course and
caused it to go over the mountain.
Mrs. Seth Harris was instantly
hlled, fragment of the shell liter
sllv tearing her heart out, according
to testimony at the coroner's inquest
She was the wife of Mr.. Seth Harris,
who works for the L. & N. Railroad
and lives near the Kennesaw Marble
Co. Mr.. Harris was very sick and
could not be told about his wife's
tragic death Wednesday night.
The other three victims were ne
groes.
Charlie Martin, cut through the
head and abdomen and had many
small cuts over his body.
Jim Holleman, ST., had both legs
and one hand shot off and his other
arm badly cut. Jim. Holleman, Jr.,
II years old, had one foot torn off
and large artery in his thigh was
cut
The first two negroes were killed
instantly and the last named died
several hours later at DIR. Nolan's
sanitarium.
Coroner Booth held an inquest at
the court house Thursday afternoon.
The first witness was Nettie Thomas,
a negro woman. She testified that
she was going into the garden behind
small barn when the shell explod-
ed. She was badly stunned and
when she recovered she found Mrs.
Harris and two of the negro men
dead. She went for help, being too
excited to know anything else to
do.
Abe Peoples, an old negro man,
said he saw the shell explode about
800 feet away. When he got to the
scene he found all dead except Jim
Holleman, who said "I'm pretty bad
ly shot, what are you going to dc" "
Peoples told Holleman he would get
doctor, and then went for help.
Col. Lytle Brown, Chairman of the
military board that investigated the
shooting testified. He said Major
wood was senior instructor of the
battery consisting of four guns. They
were firing at point 200 yards from
Oiays mill on the Dallas road near
fieasant Grove Church. The target
was on the south side of little Ken
heSaW about one fourth of the dis
lance up the side and 2,1OO yards
1ioh the guns. He said the firing
stopped close to six o'clock and a.
Oout seven o'clock word came to the
camp that the last shot Killed four
people Col Noyes Immediately sent
q" ambulance and surgeons to the
SVene out other parties had removed
'He dead and injured. A board was
immediately appointed to investigate
INC cause of the accident and went
" 'he point on the Stilesboro road
w Tnere the fatal explosion too place.
"eS made thorough examination
anu from marks on trees and on the
eIouhd were convinced that the shell
"pioued IN the air. 1t was a high
s,p'oSiVe she'll with delayed action
use which is set off when the shell
l''iAes' 1t was the verdict of this
0c"iu That the shell struck the side
sn0 sne mountain glancing blow but
- T'HeIeh' to set off the fuse and ex-
tlOUeo IN the air after passing over
the mountain.
OO' Brown said that the greatest
sS S.e mad been taken in firing each
nv 01 IN order to avoid just such
y" accident. He said the sights were
's' Tor each shot and every move
'"' was checked to be doubly sure.
The accident cast gloom over the
""'e county and especially the sol
'''S camp. No more firing will be
'00e in this vicinity.
n '"e verdict of the coroner's jury
''S That it was accidental.