IFQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 30

IF QUEST.

An inquest was held at the Dunedin Hospital on Thursday morning into, the circumstances connected with the death of John Wm. Lindsay Davis, who met with a gun accident at Waitati on Boxing Day, and who afterwards died in the Hospital from the effects of the injuries received. The inquiry was held before Mr Coroner Graham and a jury, of whom Mr Bobert Sellars was chosen foreman. Jaires Davis, wool-buyer, father of deceased, stated that his son, who was a wool-sorter's apprentice, was 17 years of age, and left home on the morning of the 26th inst. for Waitati. Vvhere he intended to shoot rabbits. He had since learnt that his son met Reubin May ancl a lad named M'Donald there, and that the three went shooting together. Decsased was accustomed to the use of firearms, and took a gun with him Word was brought to witness's house late on the night of the 26th •that his son had met with a gun accident, and that he had been brought to Dunedin and was m the Hospital. In company with deceased's mother witness visited his son at .the Hospital, and spoke to him of the accident, but the latter did not say who was responsible for it. Reubin Ratcliffe May, an apprentice to tha cycling trade, residing in North-East Valley, stated that in company with a companion named M'DonalQ he went to Waitati on ths 26th inst. They met deceased there, but did. not know him previously. Davis was by himself, and, after some conversation, he went shooting with witness and his companion. Witness was shooting with a double-bairell-edl gun, and, as they were walking along, lie saw a rabbit, and,, raising the hammer to full cock, he raised his gun to fire lit it. After doing so. he came to the conclusion that the rabbit was out of range, and lowered the gun again. At this time Davis was about three yards in front, but witness did uot observe him particularly as his attention was fixed on the rabbit. After lowering his gun, he was in the act of putting down the hammer, when his thumb slipped and the gun 'went off, and tha charge of shot entered Davis's leg. and he fell down. Witness and M'Donald ran up immediately to Davis, and they found he had been shot in the left leg behind the knee. They tied a, pocket handkerohiei tightly above the knee to stop the bleedirsg from the wound, and witness went away for assistance .o a farmer, while M'Donald remained with Davis. When assistance arrived the leg was further bandaged! by Dr Gaiut. of the Inebriates' Home, . and Davis was lemoved iv a. cart, and afterwards taken to Dunedin by the late express, and removed to the -Hospital in the ambulance waggon. Witness had not much, in the use of firearms, although he had been out shooting before. James F. M'Donald, an apprentice, residing at Worth-East Valley, gave evidence corroborative of that given by the lad May. He was * .few yards behind the others at the time' of tha "accident, and heard the l*eport~ of the gun. and saw Davis fall, but could not say how the accident happened. " He gave Davis a drink of water from a creek near by after the accident, and bandaged his leg tighter to stop the _ bleeding. .Davis said , something about 'being - shot, -but witness did -'not remember ' -what it . was.!-' ■-''„-' , , - . Henry Buck, resident "surgeourat.Diuu,edm' Hospital,- staged' that at about 11 p.m. • on the 26th inst. the' boy- Davis ■vrja.s brought "to the Hospital in the ambulance waggon. He was' suffering severely from shock; and from hemorrhage from a.gxuishot wound in leg/ He was almost^'pulseless, and, after examina- ■ "tkwr. and consultation- with Dr Gordon' Macdonald, it was -decided that Davis^was in too> weak a condition' to be-'operated -upon. There was a large gunshot wound at the back of the left leg. The main artery was completely severed, and there had be«n considerable hemorrhage. The , full charge" of shot had struck the bone and shattered it at the. knee .joint. When deceased was admitted there was an improvised tourniquet on the leg. Everything was done for the patient that could be done.- -and the next afternoon the leg was amputated above the knee. Deceased was put under ether for the operation, which he stood very well. His condition appeared to improveafter the operation, but he afterwards got weaker and gradually sank, and died on Wednesday. 28th inst., at about" 1 o'clock. The cause of death was- shock t and" hemorrhage, tho result of a. gunshoi wound. Deceased was conscious while N in the institution, and stated that the accident occurred a little after 5 I o'clock on the 26th inst., and he did not attach ! , blame to anyone. 1 The Coroner said there could be no- doubt j that the unfortunate affair' was the result of ! an accident, and that there was" no blame ' attachable to anyone beyond, perhaps, a little | carelessness on the part of the boy May,' who f had bis gun at full cock without taking the precaution to see if anyone was in front of him. It was an unfortunate, thing that iium- - bers^of youths went out,on shooting j&peditions , and 'few-, if any." of -them understood how^ to . uSe 'firearms. ' They should be informed c thafc , on no occasion, and under no circumstances, should they carry a (gun with, the muzzle pointing towards anyone with whom they were in company or in any direction where thdre was -Likely to be an accident. Now that the cadet Movement -had been introduced in the schools, it would no v doubt become a part of .'the in-'. , struction that boys would be taught the danger', of a careless handling of firearms- and accidents of the kind by which Davis had met his death would be less frequent. In the case of the present accident, the lesson the boy May had received would probably be remembered: by him all his life. The Jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death as the result of a gunshot wound accidentally inflicted on the 26th i mat.

Mr Frank Palliser returned last week to Timaru, after successfully conveying the Himalayan thar to the sanctuary at ' Mount; Oook. The road from Pukaki onwards was m a very bad condition, the recent and continuing fresh in the creeks having destroyed the fords; nevertheless, the journey was made in safety, and the animals arrived safe and sound. A little trouble was oaused by one of the kids, which separated itself from the rest when let loose, and when it had been recaptured the rest had gone away into the bush, and the little one vros kept encaged in the meantime. A number of tourists at the Hermitage showed great interest in the animals. A young man named Charles Mills had an exceedingly narrow escape from violent 1 death at Gore on Friday (says the Mataura Ensign). He attempted to board the 12.30 t train for the north, which was already moving away from the platform, and in so doing his feet slipped from under him. Ha managed to grasp the stanchions of two adjoining carriages with his arms, but could not obtain a grip with his hands. He was rapidly slipping beneath the wheels, when his plight was noticed by two of the porters, who grasped the young man's legs, taking the weieht off his arms, and at the same time signalling to the enfiine-dr™*"* X to atop the train.