One dead in explosion at house in Chesterfield (man killed by exploding "civil" war ordnance)

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 02/18/2008 | Richmond Times-Dispatch

[P8riot]

A man in his 50s died this afternoon in an explosion at a house in Chester caused by what appeared to be a Civil War ordnance, police said.

No other information about the victim was immediately available.

[P8riot]

This man is the latest casualty of the "War of Northern Aggression".

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Damned Yankees, trying to rape our women and steal our Negroes.

[P8riot]

Fannin’ the flames.

[Free Vulcan]

Sad that he’s dead, but the fact Civil War era ordinance could still explode is mind blowing, no pun intended.

[VA_Gentleman]

Richmond ping

[goldfinch]

Maybe he should have collected Civil War era coins...

[cripplecreek]

Impeach Lincoln!!!!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

When I was just starting to do stock work, I bought an old percussion side by side. I dropped the ramrod in one barrel, and noted its length.
Dropped it in the other barrel and it was over 3” shorter. Took it to a smith. He said that that barrel had a double load in it that was at least 100 years old!

[sphinx]

Old shells look really great sitting by the fireside ....

[mamelukesabre]

Did ya try lighten ‘er off?

[vetvetdoug]

Probably a percussion shell....as long as the powder was dry and the cap intact it would still go off. James shells or Hotchkiss shells were the most common. Paper fuses are not as dangerous.Its been several years since one has gone off in this area...the last one was a shell someone placed near the fireplace, went to church, and it exploded while they were at church. Pays to go to church.

[TexGuy]

Maybe he should have collected Civil War era coins...

Oh Yeah, its obvious NOW ... He could have used your help yesterday!

[Political Junkie Too]

Impeach Lincoln!!!!

Lie after lie after lie...

-PJ

[chadwimc]

My in laws lived in the Wilderness Battlefield area. An old guy down the road had a house *FILLED* with old Civil War artillery.

I was visiting with him. He showed me a shell from a Parrot gun. Said when he was “young and dumb, he and a friend would drill the fuses out”. I said “This one hasn’t been drilled out”. He said “I know. Don’t drop it”.

After shooting a musket across the golf course behind his house, I beat feet to my in laws...

[mamelukesabre]

How do you know it was a yankee shell?

[cmsgop]

Hold Muh Musket and Watch This !!!!!!

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Two US army soldiers were killed by an old confederate shell they were using as an andiron in a casemate fireplace at FT. Macon, NC when they were stationed there during WWII.

[dynachrome]

If you are a collector, make sure anything like this safe!

[stainlessbanner]

Dixie Ping

[GeorgiaDawg32]

or as others down my way in Georgia call it..”The Late Unpleasantness”...