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Naming names without adding to our factual understanidng of what happened, there is this:
BY RICK FULTON
Times Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, August 7, 2008 8:16 AM EDT
The identity of the juvenile injured by a muzzle blast during a living history re-enactment Sunday at the Steinwehr Avenue American Civil War Museum was released by a family member Wednesday from the York Hospital bedside of the victim.
Kathy Schaeffer, mother of the injured individual, identified her son as Nick Schaeffer, 17, Glenmoore, a senior in the Coatesville Area School District. Both mother and son are members of the 43rd Mississippi, Company I, and were participating last weekend at a living history event at the museum.
Nick Schaeffer was participating in a mock skirmish Sunday around 3:30 p.m. on the grounds of the museum when he was shot in the foot by a muzzle blast from another re-enactor’s musket while he was under a blanket playing dead with his feet sticking out from under the cover.
Witnesses of the incident or who were present at the time identified the individual who allegedly shot the teenager with a black powder round as re-enactor Paul Sprouser (spelling of last name was uncertain by press time).
Re-enactors interviewed by the press did say the individual who injured Schaeffer was a member of the 15th Alabama, who were not invited to participate in the event by the museum, but were present as guests of the 43rd Mississippi, Co. I.
Schaeffer remained in York Hospital Wednesday and is expected to be released today, his mother stated. The injured re-enactor along transported to York by ambulance Sunday, his mother riding along with her son.
Kathy Schaeffer stated Wednesday that her son Nick “had surgery (on his injured foot) Tuesday. He kept most of the toe (but) lost the very end and a little bit of bone.” She said he is presently undergoing physical therapy.
“Everybody (at the hospital) is pretty nice. He’s had very good care,” she said. The hospital staff provided her with a chair that fold into a bed so she can stay in the room with her son, and has even provided her with breakfast.
“It’s just been a long painful stressful half of a week,” Schaeffer stated.
Schaeffer said that Chris Taylor, commander the 15th Alabama, called Monday and “said he was real sorry about it.” The family has not heard for the individual who is alleged to have injured the teenager.
Both mother and son will continue re-enacting, although, the victim’s mother stated, her son may be doing non-infantry for the remainder of the season.
The victim’s mother has asked that anyone, fellow re-enactors or spectators, who may have taken photographs of the shooting to turn copies of the photos over to the Gettysburg police, who are continuing to conduct an investigation into the incident.
Nick Schaeffer stated Wednesday that police have not talked to him about the incident at this point in time.
Eric Uberman, owner of the American Civil War Museum, stated Wednesday that the operation has not had any similar incident in nearly 50 years of operation. The museum has been hosting the living history events for 25 years.
“We’ve been there close to five decades,” he said. “It’s a once in a business history accident. With almost 50 years of doing business, we have never had an accident of any serious nature.”
Uberman noted that the contract for the event was “was with the Mississippi unit. My understanding is they invited the Alabama unit. We’ve had groups do this in the past.“
“The 42nd is a unit that utilizes our property a few times a year and are often requested by our tour groups because they are that good, and they offer an education benefit to the tourists for free,” the museum owner stated.
Although the museum may make donations to participating living history units, “they’re not paid to be there,” he stated.
As to the future involvement of the unit of which the shooter was a member, Uberman said, “First of all, I don’t know what all the facts surrounding the incident, so I’m not going to make a judgment based on an innuendo or of an entire group based on the actions of one individual.“
“I’m going to wait unto the police report is final, read it, and make the determination that has safety in mind,” he said.
Rick Fulton may be contacted a rfulton@gburgtimes.com.
__________________
Curt
Naming names without adding to our factual understanidng of what happened, there is this:
BY RICK FULTON
Times Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, August 7, 2008 8:16 AM EDT
The identity of the juvenile injured by a muzzle blast during a living history re-enactment Sunday at the Steinwehr Avenue American Civil War Museum was released by a family member Wednesday from the York Hospital bedside of the victim.
Kathy Schaeffer, mother of the injured individual, identified her son as Nick Schaeffer, 17, Glenmoore, a senior in the Coatesville Area School District. Both mother and son are members of the 43rd Mississippi, Company I, and were participating last weekend at a living history event at the museum.
Nick Schaeffer was participating in a mock skirmish Sunday around 3:30 p.m. on the grounds of the museum when he was shot in the foot by a muzzle blast from another re-enactor’s musket while he was under a blanket playing dead with his feet sticking out from under the cover.
Witnesses of the incident or who were present at the time identified the individual who allegedly shot the teenager with a black powder round as re-enactor Paul Sprouser (spelling of last name was uncertain by press time).
Re-enactors interviewed by the press did say the individual who injured Schaeffer was a member of the 15th Alabama, who were not invited to participate in the event by the museum, but were present as guests of the 43rd Mississippi, Co. I.
Schaeffer remained in York Hospital Wednesday and is expected to be released today, his mother stated. The injured re-enactor along transported to York by ambulance Sunday, his mother riding along with her son.
Kathy Schaeffer stated Wednesday that her son Nick “had surgery (on his injured foot) Tuesday. He kept most of the toe (but) lost the very end and a little bit of bone.” She said he is presently undergoing physical therapy.
“Everybody (at the hospital) is pretty nice. He’s had very good care,” she said. The hospital staff provided her with a chair that fold into a bed so she can stay in the room with her son, and has even provided her with breakfast.
“It’s just been a long painful stressful half of a week,” Schaeffer stated.
Schaeffer said that Chris Taylor, commander the 15th Alabama, called Monday and “said he was real sorry about it.” The family has not heard for the individual who is alleged to have injured the teenager.
Both mother and son will continue re-enacting, although, the victim’s mother stated, her son may be doing non-infantry for the remainder of the season.
The victim’s mother has asked that anyone, fellow re-enactors or spectators, who may have taken photographs of the shooting to turn copies of the photos over to the Gettysburg police, who are continuing to conduct an investigation into the incident.
Nick Schaeffer stated Wednesday that police have not talked to him about the incident at this point in time.
Eric Uberman, owner of the American Civil War Museum, stated Wednesday that the operation has not had any similar incident in nearly 50 years of operation. The museum has been hosting the living history events for 25 years.
“We’ve been there close to five decades,” he said. “It’s a once in a business history accident. With almost 50 years of doing business, we have never had an accident of any serious nature.”
Uberman noted that the contract for the event was “was with the Mississippi unit. My understanding is they invited the Alabama unit. We’ve had groups do this in the past.“
“The 42nd is a unit that utilizes our property a few times a year and are often requested by our tour groups because they are that good, and they offer an education benefit to the tourists for free,” the museum owner stated.
Although the museum may make donations to participating living history units, “they’re not paid to be there,” he stated.
As to the future involvement of the unit of which the shooter was a member, Uberman said, “First of all, I don’t know what all the facts surrounding the incident, so I’m not going to make a judgment based on an innuendo or of an entire group based on the actions of one individual.“
“I’m going to wait unto the police report is final, read it, and make the determination that has safety in mind,” he said.
Rick Fulton may be contacted a rfulton@gburgtimes.com.
__________________
Curt