great cannon tragedy

[rip]

I was doin some lookin for new spots to detect and came accross this story that i thought y'all may enjoy.There is a stone mounument not far from me that sits along side the road that i have passed a million times but never payed it much mind till i came across this story....................
In 1888 three young men were firing off a cannon at a political rally and were killed on this spot..... It was a six pounder of three inch bore and weighed about 800 pounds.
The first blast threw the cannon off its carrige and after that it had to be fired on the ground.A cival war veteran warned that the heavy charges might couse the gun to burst but the men continued to use an exsessive amount of powder.
By noon about 500 people had assembled nearby.As things were winding down the men decided to fire one last shot.They poured in an extra heavy load of powder jammed in some wadding and topped it off by tamping the bore full of sand. They were killed instantly.
I left out quite a few details and will tell 'yall about it later !

[JCWhite]

Wow that is quite a story. Thanks for sharing RIP.

[gordiesgirl]

wow great story. Thanks for sharing

[Steve in PR]

History is everywhere. I imagine that story was well documented by the local press. Would it violate detecting ethics to look for a piece of the gun?

[rip]

Originally Posted by Steve in PR

History is everywhere. I imagine that story was well documented by the local press. Would it violate detecting ethics to look for a piece of the gun?

I was kinda wondering about the ethics myself.I dont think so myself as this all took place over a hundred years ago.You might ask the same question of cival war relic hunting.The gun is not what i would be looking for though. Some of what i left out had to do with a picnic grove,a factory and of cource the rally site.

[EPC Guy]

Originally Posted by boobieinPa

That is quite a story. I would love to read the details you left out.

Me, too!

[rip]

Well i wanted to post the whole story,but my one finger typin style would take me awile ! I am going to see if i can get permission to hunt the area and i took photos.I tryed to post the photo and was having tecnical difficultys but will try again later.

[Nighthunter]

Originally Posted by rip

I was kinda wondering about the ethics myself.I dont think so myself as this all took place over a hundred years ago.You might ask the same question of cival war relic hunting.The gun is not what i would be looking for though. Some of what i left out had to do with a picnic grove,a factory and of cource the rally site.

OH YEA>>>!!!

SILVER AND IH'S!!!!!

[rip]

It's been a long day but i'll see if i can at least get a photo of the mounument for y'all.I found this story in a book of short stories about local history.I posted another story awile back and will have some time soon to post some more for y'all.

[pris]

Great story! I was totally thinking, "Rally! what a great spot to hunt." Wasn't even thinkin' about the cannon. Those poor stupid guys. I'm sure a little was involved. hehe Sounds like somethin' those myth buster guys would try.