AT THE WAKATU MOUNTED RIFLES NEW STOKE RANGE.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11432, 11 September 1905, Page 2

AT THE WAKATU MOUNTED RIFLES NEW STOKE RANGE.

A fatality of a most sad and distressing nature occurred on Saturday afternoon at the new private rifle range at Stoke belonging to the Wakatu Mounted Rifles, liwhen Charlos Mills, aged 33, who was act^ ing as marker, lost his life. A onerange match was being fired between the Wakatu Mounted Rifles and the Stoke Rifles at 600 yards, find was drawing to a conclusion, when a feeling became prevalent that the non-marking of several shots pointed out that either the marker had left the butts, or that an accident had happened to him. An tin-marked shot had been fired by Saddler-Cor-poral Dickson. It is not an unusual custom, after a considerable pause, to again fire when a shot is not marked, and the marker then examines the target, and places a spotting disc to indicate the nature of a hie. However, several shots were fired with no response from the marker* It was thereupon assumed that something was wrong. Sergt. Bell galloped to the butts, followed by Captain A. F. Trask and others, whilst Sergt. -Major Redmond crossed the tideway to the butts. On arrival of Sergt. Bell the sign of distress was given, accompanied by the cry of '' Help.'' A messenger was at once despatched after Surgeon Captain Orford, of the Stoke Rifles, who had previously left the ground. SaddlerCorporal Dickson returned with the distressing news that Mills was killed, shot the top of the head, two pieces of skull being afterwards discovered. Mills was found in a prone position, lying on bis back a few feet in the marker's butts, the red danger flag which he had apparently held having fallen forward, and the position of deceased when found revealed the fact that he had ventured too close to the dangerous zone. Steps were taken to convey deceased to town, two of deceased's brothers-in-law being present. Surgeon-Captain Orford, who arrived after the body had been placed in a conveyance, could of course do nothing. The fatality caused a gloom throughout the town, and universal sympathy is expressed for the widow and the four* young children who are left. Deceased was employed at Griffins, Limited, where he was a great favorite. He was an experienced marker, having marked for several years, and was well acquainted, with his duties. We are in a position to state that all the usual precautions had been taken for safety, both at firing and marking points, the usual danger flag being supplied, and the firing being under the conduct and supervision of either an officer or non-commissioned officer of one of the competing teams. The inquest will be held at 10 o'clock this morning, and a military enquiry will also be held.