RICHMOND, Va. — A man who sold Civil War relics that included munitions was killed by an explosion, and residents of the neighborhood were kept out of their homes Tuesday as experts looked for more explosives.
Samuel H. White, 53, was found in his backyard Monday by neighbors who had heard the blast, Chesterfield County police said.
Police Capt. Steve Neal said that what exploded was military ordnance, possibly dating from the Civil War. Authorities found unexploded military ordnance at his house, and on Tuesday they were still collecting and detonating explosives.
White's business, Sam White Relics, advertised various relics for sale including Civil War artillery shells, cannonballs and bullets. His Web site says he would "disarm, clean, and preserve your Civil War period and earlier military ordnance" for about $35 each.
About two dozen nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and police spokeswoman Ann Reid said the evacuation would remain in effect indefinitely.
Neighbor Brian Dunkerly told the Richmond Times-Dispatch the explosion hurled a chunk of metal weighing about 15 pounds that struck the roof of his front porch about one-quarter-mile from White's house. He said no one was hurt, although the piece of metal shattered his glass front door, hit the floor inside and bounced to the ceiling before coming to rest in the center of his living room.

Wow.  I use to be a demolition sergeant in the Army and this just makes me feel...well, I just can't describe it.  You just got to know what you are dealing with.

Darwin Awards candidate.

 A few years ago, while attending a local festival at a smaller than small south Mobile County, AL, community called Coden, I blundered into a display an oyster tonger had provided.  In it was quite an array of Civil War ordnance this guy had raked up in his oyster tongs.  

Geez, when will people learn that 145 year old gunpowder goes boom just like 145 day old powder does