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Evening Journal
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
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Premature discharge of a 10-inch gun at Fort Wetherill, Newport, R.I., on Dec. 8 injured two officers slightly and damaged equipment, with the shell flying out to sea unharmed.
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Newport, R. I., Dec. 8.—The premature discharge of a 10-inch gun at Fort Wetherill, one of the defensive works of Narragansett Bay, demolished the gun carriage and platform and hurled to the ground the entire gun detachment, including Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Willard, of the engineers, and Lieutenant Frank W. Rawlston, of the coast artillery. These two officers had their eyes and ears temporarily affected, and Lieutenant Rawlston sustained severe cuts on the face, but none of the soldiers was injured except for a few bruises caused by their falls.
It is thought that a defective primer was the cause of the unexpected discharge. The gun had been loaded with a 550-pound shell. The breech had been closed, but the recoiling gear had not been placed in position. Without the slightest warning the gun was discharged and the recoil lifted the piece from its carriage and threw it back on its trunnions, wrecking them as well as the platform. Fortunately no one was standing directly behind the gun, but every one near it was thrown to the ground. The shell passed through the top of the parapet, wrecking it, and continued on out to sea.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Fort Wetherill, Newport, R. I.
Event Date
Dec. 8.
Key Persons
Outcome
lieutenant colonel j. h. willard and lieutenant frank w. rawlston had eyes and ears temporarily affected; lieutenant rawlston sustained severe cuts on the face; soldiers had a few bruises; gun carriage, platform, and trunnions wrecked; parapet damaged; shell passed out to sea.
Event Details
The premature discharge of a 10-inch gun at Fort Wetherill demolished the gun carriage and platform and hurled the entire gun detachment to the ground. It is thought a defective primer caused the discharge. The gun was loaded with a 550-pound shell, breech closed, but recoiling gear not in position. The recoil lifted the gun from its carriage, wrecking it and the platform. No one was directly behind the gun.