BUSHMEN QUARREL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19500, 8 June 1925, Page 8

BUSHMEN QUARREL.

SHOTGUN EXPLODES. MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED. (Peh United Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, June 7. A fracas in a firewood cutters’ camp, six miles from Otira, on Friday evening resulted in Frederick Easterbrook being shot through the right thigh, the bone being fractured. The man is now in the Greymouth Hospital in a precarious condition. Prior to the affray Henrv Thomas Herron and Frederick Hobson, who were working with Easterbrook—all three being from Christchurch —had had a number of drinks at a neighbouring bush inn, following some others earlier in camp. On the return to the camp in the evening Easterbrook kicked over the teapot, for which Herron, who was the boss ■of the party, took him to task. Later, when the other two were seated in Herron’s tent, Easterbrook appeared with a gun and attempted to hit Herron on tho head with the stock, but a rope at the roof of the tent deflected the blow, which only grazed Herron’s head. The latter grappled with Easterbrook, and the gun exploded in the souffle, tho shot passing through Easterbrook’s thigh and entering the jamb of door. The police have ascertained that the ran was not loaded at raid-day, when it was examined by a visitor to the camp named Peter Buttola, who brought a few bottles of beer, which were consumed in camp before the visit to the bush inn. Easterbrook, who was conveyed by ambulance to the hospital during the night, alleged that Herron shot him, but Hobson, who is Easterbrook’s work-mate, corroborates Herron’s account that the gun exploded in the scuffle. Tho police later found the gun bent and smashed. Herron and Hobson conveyed Easterbrook to Otira for first aid immediately after the explosion. Ho lost a lot of blood, Jmt as no artery has been severed ho has a chance of recovery.