Christian Kopp
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 22 October 1862, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
DREADFUL CALAMITY-A MAN KILLED BY THE EXPLOSION OF A SHELL
On Monday noon an accident occurred at the house of Christian F Kopp, on what is known as the Old Stillwell Place, three miles from Newport between the Alexandria and Licking turnpike, by which seven persons were wounded, one of whom has since died.
The particulars of the disaster are as follows: It seems that about a week or ten days ago, David Kopp, a brother of Christian Kopp, found a six inch shell in a field on his brother's farm and took it home. Never having seen a shell before, he took it the house and threw it over several fences. It lay in the yard of Mr. Christian Kopp for several days and was handled and kicked about by nearly every one that saw it.
On Monday five soldiers belonging to the Ninety-sixth Illinois Regiment, came from their camp in the vicinity to get some apples in Mr. Kopp's orchard. Seeing the shell, they got to handling it, each one trying to see how long he could hold it out at arms length. Finally one of the soldiers, after holding it as long as he could, let it fall, and the shell, which proved to be of the percussion pattern, struck on its end and instantly exploded, scattering the fragments in every direction.
There were present at the time of the explosion seven persons, viz: Mr. Christian Kopp, his wife and the five soldiers, every one of whom was wounded. A large piece of the shell struck Mr. K on the left thigh and passed through the other thigh. Mrs. Kopp had a little child in her arms at the time. She was struck on the neck and severely wounded, probably mortally.
The soldier who let the shell fall was frightfully cut to pieces, though he was still alive at the last accounts. He was immediately conveyed tot he camp of his regiment nearby. The other soldiers, though badly hurt, managed to march to their camp unassisted. Doctors Thornton and Beck, of this city, Dr. Black of Cincinnati, and several other physicians, visited the scene of the catastrophe and rendered all the assistance in their power to the sufferers.
They amputated Mr. Kopp's legs, but he died yesterday morning at four o'clock.