Smyrna times., 1944-09-14
LIVE GRENADES
KILL TWO BOYS
Only Children of John and
Ethel Bartlett Webb
Killed While Playing
ARMY INVESTIGATES

Two Delaware City brothers, one
10 and the other IL, died Friday
night-victims of an explosion of a
fermentation rife grenade they
had found on a rifle range and
used as toy in their back yard.
They were Henry P. Webb, 10, and
John T. Webb, IL, only children OF
Postmaster and Mrs. John T.Webb.
Mrs. Webb is the former Miss
Ethel Bartlett of Smyrna. Almost
Immediately after the news of the
explosion was received at Fort Du-
Point, military police, aided by
state troopers and civilian defense
volunteers, made search through
Delaware City and uncovered from
IL to Is more rifle and hand gren-
ade and bazooka projectiles, most
of which were said to be "alive."
Probe Is Started
An investigation by Army au-
thorities is underway. The boys
are said to have found the gren-
AIDES on a rifle range about two
miles west of Delaware City, on
the road to st. Georges. Return
ing home they were said to have
thrown one grenade at piece of
card board hung on a clothes line.
Postmaster and Mrs. Webb were
indoors at the time. The explosion
occurred at $50 o'clock and start
led the entire neighborhood. John
died in the Fort DUPONT Hospital
10 minutes after the accident.
Henry died in the hospital at 1885
Friday night. Corp. Robert w.
Carpenter, neighbor of the
Webbs, who was off duty at the
time, one of the first on the scene,
took the two boys to the hospital.
Hit by Fragments
John suffered multiple wounds of
the abdomen and his brother a
fractured skull. Both were struck
by the steel fragments. On the
ground, near where the boys were
playing, was found a live" hand
grenade, and dummy or I'M
loaded bazooka rocket shell. Short
ly after the accident a guard was
placed over the Webb yard and
residents were prohibited from en-
tering it. Neighbors said three
other youngsters were on their
way to join the Webb boys in the
''war games" but turned back to
secure some model planes.
Escaped by Minutes
They escaped injury or death by
only a few minutes, neighbors said.
David Money, who lives just out
side Delaware City, near the
range, had left the boys a short
time before the explosion, residents
said. John Webb was student of
the sixth grade of the Delaware
City and Henry was in the fifth
grade. The Rev. Andrew F. An
derson, rector of Christ Episcopal
Church, Delaware City, officiated
at the funeral. The state troopers
who joined military authorities in
investigation of the accident turn
ed their findings over to the Army
officers. Deputy Coroner c. Ever
EFT Kelley is investigating and will
arrange for an inquest under direc-
ton of Coroner James F. Hearn.
William H. Press, councilman of
Delaware City, said, in the alb
sence of the mayor, the town was
deeply shocked by the accident and
residents are seriously disturbed by
the discovery of grenades in the
town.
10 to Is Found
IAN Army patrol has found from
10 to Is of the grenades and ba-
zooka shells in the town." Mr.
Press said 1--WE understand a
number of these are live anc
highly dangerous" Mr.. Press said
the civilian defense volunteers
about Is in number, were working
independently in search for addi-
tional live grenades about town, ir
places they think boys, not aware
of the danger, may have hidden
them. Many parents are aiding
the M. P.'s and defense volunteers