Cannon backfires, shoots 100-pound metal mound, at Fort McHenry after bicentennial celebration

Published January 08, 2015

In late-breaking news from the 19th century, there's been a cannon recall.

The National Park Service says that during the firing of a reproduction cannon at Fort McHenry in Baltimore on Sept. 16, a 100-pound mound of metal on the back of the weapon was dislodged and launched roughly 300 feet afield. The cannon was filled with powder and fired as part of the weeklong bicentennial celebration of the Star-Spangled Banner. One crew member sustained minor burns, but no visitors were injured.

The park service issued an internal memo announcing that cannons from manufacturer Cannons Online will be taken out of service until further notice.

The park service says it has suspended the historic weapons firing program at Fort McHenry, and opened an investigation into the incident.

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