Jaunted

Douglas Struder, a 52-year-old marketing guy, had gone to pick up a food container that had been blown away by the wind when historical reenactors from nearby Fort William Henry decided to fire their cannon. He was hit in his left leg by the cannon's wooden ramrod, fracturing his tibia below the knee. The ramrod also struck his wife, hitting her in the back and causing a bruise. An ambulance arrived, along with a fort employee wearing the uniform of an 18th century British soldier, and the couple was treated for their wounds.

Exactly how the ramrod managed to fly more than 100 yards is a matter of debate. Fort officials said the ramrod was used to load the cannon and that a gust of wind blew the ramrod across the cannon's mouth just as it was being fired. Being told of this explanation, an arms specialist that msnbc.com consulted added "and I'm the Queen of Sheba," or words to that effect. The much more likely scenario, he said, was that the ramrod was accidentally left in the barrel.

However it happened, the couple - who had been celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary - took it all in stride. "I thought it was a long time to hold a grudge," Struder said of his British attackers. In any case, he'd better pack a powder musket for his next picnic.

[Photo: Freaking News]

Related Stories:
· Cannon Mishap at Tourist Site Injures Kentucky Man [msnbc.com]
· Fort William Henry Museum & Restoration [Official Site]
· Historic Reenactments [Jaunted]