Answer
A gunpowder accident occurred when John Smith was travelling by canoe. This accident happened on 1608-12-22, when Smith was returning from a visit to Powhatan, a local Indian chief. He was accompanied by two other Englishmen, Edward Powell and Thomas Emry. As they were travelling, a spark from the fire in the canoe ignited the gunpowder that was being stored there. Smith was badly burned, but he managed to survive.