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Explosion at the Kings Bastion, Portsmouth, on Monday last, October 1844
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Explosion at the Kings Bastion, Portsmouth, on Monday last, October 1844
Explosion at the Kings Bastion, Portsmouth, on Monday last, October 1844. A fatal accident...As the Artillerymen were re-loading one of the guns...the charge went off, and blew one of them to pieces and the other was so horribly mutilated that he died soon afterwards. The guns upon this bastion are 32-pounders...to fire a royal salute requires each gun to be loaded five times and one six. It is usual to use the worm to clear out the gun, every second charge, and it is supposed some fire had remained in the chamber....Miller was blown into fragments, and Walker had his thigh bioken, his arm blown off into the moat, and his body otherwise disfigured. The remnants of the victims were conveyed instantly to the hospital of the Royal Marine Barracks...An inquest was held on the bodies of the unfortunate men...and the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death". From " Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I
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Media ID 20369755
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Accident Ammunition Armaments British Army Cannon Cannonball Cannonballs Dead Exploding Explosion Fatal Firing Hampshire Incident Killed Onlooker Onlookers Portsmouth Portsmouth Hampshire England Rain Raining Spectator Spectators Black And Illustrated London News Standard
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Explosion at the Kings Bastion, Portsmouth, on Monday last, October 1844. A tragic incident unfolds as artillerymen reload a 32-pounder gun during a royal salute. In an unfortunate turn of events, the charge ignites prematurely, resulting in a devastating explosion that claims the lives of one soldier and leaves another severely mutilated. The force of the blast is so powerful that it obliterates Miller into fragments while Walker suffers multiple injuries - his thigh shattered, arm blown off into the moat, and body disfigured beyond recognition. The remnants of these brave men are swiftly transported to the hospital at Royal Marine Barracks for immediate attention. An inquiry is conducted to shed light on this heart-wrenching accident. The jury's verdict is unanimous: "Accidental death". It is believed that some residual fire remained in the chamber due to negligence during reloading procedures. This poignant image captures not only the destructive aftermath but also serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who serve their country with unwavering dedication. Published in "Illustrated London News" in 1844, this print immortalizes a somber moment in history when tragedy struck amidst military proceedings at Kings Bastion.
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