KILLED WHILE FIRING A SALUTE
WASHINGTON, May 30, 1901 – Corporal W. F. Tooley, light artillery gunner, was instantly killed by the premature discharge of a cannon while firing a salute just outside the gates of Arlington National Cemetey today.
The breech block blew out, striking Tooley in the shoulder, breaking his neck, crushing his ribs and tearing its way down his frame, disfiguring him in a horrible manner. Tooley was a native of Pennsylvania, was thirty-five years old and had recently re-enlisted.
TOOLEY, WALTER G
- CPL 4TH FLD BETTY
- DATE OF DEATH: 05/30/1901
- BURIED AT: SITE 14153
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard