100 cannonballs at Fortress of Louisbourg might contain gunpowder, but will be safely detonated

[pepperj]

I just love the "Might" part of the headline.
Maybe they do-maybe they don't-but what the hell lets just destroy 100 pieces of history.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/louisbourg-cannonball-explosives-disposal-1.6234538

Here there's probably hundreds (modest guess)that have a cannonball on the bucket list of what they'd love to find.
There's probably just as many that have, and display them with pride.
Many have been decommissioned/rendered safe (ok there has been reports of a bad one going boom)
Yet lots are on display still active probably, as these have been for 6 decades no problem.

Yet they can be moved, put together on a plastic tote, in the back on a trailer, giggled bounced down the road to the site of detonation no problem.
Yet there's a problem of them sitting on a shelf, displayed.
Just wonder how that soldier feels caring that bad boy so close to his boys?

 

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[RedLeaf]

TY, for posting this, very interesting & agree w/ your assessment of the scenario, looks like they have been in the collection for many years w/ no trouble

 

[pepperj]

Probably somebody asked the question if there was a possibility that some contained powder.
That question was bumped up the line of command.
Some pencil pusher that is a hundreds of miles away, never seeing a cannonball thinks "bomb".
The rest is history.

 

[bill from lachine]

Jim,
Kind of ironic don't you think when detectorists get accused of destroying history....

 

[pepperj]

Jim,
Kind of ironic don't you think when detectorists get accused of destroying history....

So right there Bill, the little trowel/paint brush establishment just love us.

 

[pepperj]

Query to the ones that might know: In the photo of the one being loaded into the tote.
What's with the loop?
What is that?
I haven't seen a cannonball with a loop

 

[bill from lachine]

Jim,

I snooped around and there was something called chain shot cannonballs. They were designed to take out the sails and rigging on ships. They had loops and were joined together by a chain.

https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=chain%20shot%20cannonball

 

[RedLeaf]

I have been to Nova Scotia , but missed Cape Breton.. if I ever get a chance to go back, Louisbourg is a must see destination, & take in some good live music, where does Celtic Colors take place? I think it is usually in October ?

 

[bill from lachine]

RedLeaf,
It appears to be in Sydney, NS here's a link for details:-

About Celtic Colours

celtic-colours.com

 

[pepperj]

Jim,

I snooped around and there was something called chain shot cannonballs. They were designed to take out the sails and rigging on ships. They had loops and were joined together by a chain.

https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=chain%20shot%20cannonball

Thanks Bill for that information.