Columbia fraternity blows up cannon

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Members of the Kappa Alpha fraternity tried to load an antique cannon on their front lawn with fireworks, but destroyed the cannon and blew out the window of a second-floor apartment across the street.

An 8-inch portion of the cannon, which legend says dates to the Civil War, crashed through the roof of the apartment building Thursday. No one was hurt.

Two fraternity members were arrested. The national Kappa Alpha fraternity said Missouri's chapter president and vice president were facing charges.

Columbia police Capt. Zim Schwartze said they were investigating a third person for his possible involvement in the incident.

Elaine Pohl, a teacher at Missouri, said she and a visiting scholars from China had been playing a game of pingpong about 8 p.m. in a fourth floor lounge of University Place apartments, located across the street from the fraternity, when they heard two loud explosions. She said she then noticed a 12-inch hole in the ceiling, and a piece of metal on the pingpong table.

"It came down into the net like it would've sliced the table in two, though it didn't break the table," she said.

About a dozen people were in the room at the time, she said.

The fraternity chapter has been suspended by its national office and the university, pending the outcome of an investigation, the Kappa Alpha Order said Friday. The chapter at Missouri is required to cease all activities.

"KA deeply regrets the actions taken by certain member of the chapter which violate our regulations and policy. KA policy prohibits the possession or firing or any type of firearms on fraternity property," said Larry Wiese, executive director of the fraternity, in a statement.

The phone at the fraternity range unanswered Friday night.