The Germans weren't expecting any resistance and the first salvo from " Canopus " s guns at 9 : 20 caused them to sheer off from their planned bombardment of the wireless station and fall back on Spee's main body.
12.
Its exuberant design sheers off part of a support wall, veering off at a vertiginous angle . ( The sheered wall was the result of a builder's mathematical error, which created a gap that everyone liked so much that they kept it .)
13.
Union commander Rush Hawkins, who was in the crosstrees of the foremast, spotted the Confederates and warned the helmsman in time to sheer off . " Delaware " s superstructure was severely shot up by rifle fire, but fortunately the artillery overshot its mark.
14.
He steered into a power pole in order to sheer off a wing and dissipate speed, and ended up upside down in a ditch having lost both wings, half the canard, and the nose of the aircraft . Johnson suffered severe injuries including a broken neck and back.
