At Camp Grant

At Camp Grant On the old rifle range at Camp Grant, Ill., two miles from the cantonment, a Negro regiment of the Illinois National Guard was engaged in routine practice with a one-pound Howitzer. Servicing of the gun was proceeding without accident, as on countless former occasions. Black bodies bent and sweated in accustomed rhythm. Periodically gunners tugged at their lanyards, set off the propelling charge of their shells with the monotonous routine of well ordered automita.

Unknown to anyone a shell with a misprimed fuse was inserted into one of the guns. As the unfortunate gunner pulled his lanyard not only the propelling charge but the high explosive shell charge detonated. The gun burst, killing seven men and wounding eleven others, all skilled in the handling of shells and explosives.

An investigation was ordered, but the accident was claimed to have been part of the inevitable fractional toll exacted by the mere fact of using firearms.

The dead are: Capt. Osceola A. Browning, Corporal Henry Williams and Privates Anderson, Durant, Campbell, Wright and Barnes.