ACCIDENT AT EPARAIMA.

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1936, Page 4

ACCIDENT AT EPARAIMA.

SCRUB-CUTTER ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. CONDITION REPORTED TO BE SERIOUS. A scrub-cutter named “Buster” Stevenson, aged about 25 years was admitted to the Masterton Hospital on Friday night with a bullet wound in his thigh, received through the accidental discharge of a rifle while rabbit shooting earlier in the day. His condition last night was reported to be grave and there is a possibility that he may lose a leg as the result of his injuries. The accident occurred on Mr. G. Moore’s station, Eparaima, where the injured man was employed as a scrubcutter. It appears that Stevenson went out rabbit shooting early on Friday afternoon and when crossing a fence a couple of miles from the station the rifle he was carrying accidently discharged, the bullet entering his right tfiigh. Stevenson camped with a mate, who at the time was away crutching, so that his absence was not noticed and but for a stroke of luck he might have remained out in the open all night. As it was, he was not found until over three hours after the accident ocurred. About 5 o’clock in the afternoon a station hand named J. Morris heard a peculiar noise on several occasions. At first he thought a mob of cattle was responsible but as the noise persisted he called the attention of a shepherd, A. Hay, who, with another station hand, set out to investigate. About two miles from the homestead they foundStevenson lying near a fence with the rifle alongside him. He had a nasty wound in his thigh and was in a very weak condition through loss of blood. According to the injured man, who was unable to walk, the accident occurred about 2 p.m. and for over three hours he had been calling at intervals in an endeavour to attract attention.’ He was carried for some distance across country and then taken in a dray to the homestead. After receiving attention Stevenson was conveyed to the Masterton Hospital by Mr. Moore.