When was it published?

June 29, 1739 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News June 29, 1739

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What keywords are associated?

Gun Prank, Apprentice Injury, Shattered Windows, Founder Wharf, Marigold Stairs

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 4

What is this article about?

Young men playing a prank with an old ship gun on Mr. Bowen's Founder's Wharf by Marigold-Stairs charged it with powder and fired it, severely injuring an apprentice surgeon's legs and shattering windows in nearby houses. Damage was limited as the gun contained only wadding and dirt.

Clipping

OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

Last Week some young Fellows playing the Rogue on Mr. Bowen's the Founder's Wharf, by Marigold-Stairs, discover'd an old Ship Gun, lying there, to be charg'd with Powder, and agreed one among another to have a Frolic; and accordingly laid a Train of Gunpowder to the Touch-hole, the Muzzle pointing to the House; and a Boy coming by with a lighted Reed, they snatch'd it out of his Hand, and set fire to the Train, and the Gun going off, tore a young Man's Legs (Apprentice to Mr. Tanner a Surgeon in the Neighbourhood) all to Pieces in a most miserable Manner; and the Windows of the Foundry, and those of several Houses adjacent all to Shatters.

Happily there was nothing but the Wadding and some loose Dirt or Gravel therein, or the Damage in all probability would have been very considerable.

What sub-type of article is it?

Gun Accident Prank Injury

What keywords are associated?

Gun Prank Apprentice Injury Shattered Windows Founder Wharf Marigold Stairs

What entities or persons were involved?

Mr. Bowen Mr. Tanner

Where did it happen?

Mr. Bowen's Founder's Wharf, By Marigold Stairs

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Mr. Bowen's Founder's Wharf, By Marigold Stairs

Event Date

Last Week

Key Persons

Mr. Bowen Mr. Tanner

Outcome

young man's legs torn to pieces; windows of the foundry and several adjacent houses shattered; minimal damage due to only wadding and loose dirt or gravel in the gun

Event Details

Some young fellows discovered an old ship gun on Mr. Bowen's Founder's Wharf by Marigold-Stairs, charged it with powder, laid a train to the touch-hole with the muzzle pointing to the house, snatched a lighted reed from a boy, set fire to the train, and the gun discharged, injuring an apprentice to Mr. Tanner, a surgeon in the neighbourhood.