SHOOTING FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1933, Page 5

SHOOTING FATALITY

TRAGEDY AT THE HAITPIRI

SAD END TO SHOOTING TRJP.

GREYMOUTH, May 22

While duck shooting at Ilaupiri yesterday, James Alexander Cowan, aged 39 years, a, married residing at Marlborough Street, ; .. rJ Gijqymouth l was accidentally Killed by the discharge; from a shot gun.

With his companion, Mr Frank Jacobson, of Gladstone, aged 19 years, machinist employed at Messrs Ogilvie and Company’s sawmill at Gladstone, they reached a spot on t.he banks oi the Haupiri River, about three miles from Wallis’ sawmill, and about 43 miles from Greymouth. Here they took up a position, hiding themselves in light undergrowth. At ab°ut ’10.30 a.m. they 13 iw a pair of grey ducks coming across the river on their left. They were both kneeling down, s ix or eight feet apart, with Cowan on the right at the time. Both men fired at the ducks whilst kneeling, whereupon the birds took fright, flying away, to the right of the shooters. Thereupon Jacobson said lie. was going to have another shot with his second barrel. Ju-st as h e fired, however, C°wan stood up and received the full force of the discharge in the hack of his head, death being instanteous. The late Mr Cbwan was a native of Nelson, aud a civil engineer by profession. He was engaged on the Union Ship Company's trading vessel “Kahika”, and later for some time on the ferry steamer Maori. For the •.in.st fourteen years he had been foreman for Messrs T. B. Baty, Ltd., garage proprietors, Guincss Street. His .father, the late Mr James Co-wan, who died some four years ago, was a well-known dredgemaster on the West CVas'; and narked chiefly at Nelson Creek.