Perilous Affair at Woolwich.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7287, 15 August 1893, Page 3

Perilous Affair at Woolwich.

On June 21st, Colonel Ourzon, who commands the Boyal Horse Artillery and Field Batteries at Woolwich, was making an official inspection on the Common of three field batteries, comprising eighteen 12 pounder breecbloading guns. One of the batteries was just returned from a course of target practice at Okobampfcon, and iu command of Colonel North, After some manoeuvres the word was given for “ Action front,*’ and the guns opened fire in the direction of the officers' quarters flanking the Common. Then it was detected by the whizzing sound that one of the guns had fired not merely the harmless blank cartridge, but a deadly shell. The direction taken would have caused it; to strike one of two bouses occupied respectively by the inspecting officer, Colonel Ourzon, or Colonel Spragge, onother artillery officer }

but, striking a large elm tree sfc from ti e ground, it flew off at a high trajectory, passing over the front of the Boyal Military Academy and two ranges ot buildings in rear, then falling harmlessly into a road. It wn at first conjectured that the shell had been placed in the gun for malicious motives, but it is believed, alter inquiry, that its presence was due to mere neghgence. For an iron missile 9in long, and weighing 121 b to have travelled so far and in proximity to many people and done no injury beyond barking a tree is regarded as little short of miraculous. The Prince Imperial’s statue is close to the tree, and a mounted officer passing by and a plumber on the roof of the academy were among the many who had narrow escapes.