The Express.
London, England, 1864-07-22 00:00:00

TEI NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION AT

WIMBLEDON.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.
WIMBLEDON, Tauzin:oar Ereersc.
To-day, a melancholy occurrence took place,
which oat a gloom over the whole camp end the brilliant
wooer which had hitherto attended the meeting.
It appeared that the offioer in charge, Ensign Monism,
of the god battalion of the Ist Foot, wan at the
firing point of the 500 yards pool and sweepstakes
twists about twenty minutes after three o'clock, when
the time allowed far towline having expired, he mid to
Sergeant Roberts, " We must hays those men in (moaning
the markers at the baths), ea it is time to COMIZIODOO firing?'
He then told a man who was sear to wave the men in at
the butte. He thou turned round to answer a question put
to him by a gentleman standing near, sod while doing so he
heard • shot fired cloth to him, but on the other side of the
Elcho mem Some parson then cried out, "Oh,
there is a man shot." He then looked through
his Iglus and saw a man lying beside the target
supported by soon of his comrades. Monism then cried
out to the range officer, and told him what had happened.
The knell' one dais used for pool sad sweemeakes.which are
numbered from the left 1,2, and so on, up to this target,
No. 6. The other target' were all protected as well as thin
ono by the huger Bag sod the red disc. The marker at No.
6 said to this unfortunate oaa, " It will scam be time to go
u;" to which he replied, .n '
I will go in after I have picked
up swan bullet." He was then on hie hands sad knees.
A shot warn thee fired which struck him, and be immediately
cried out I. • voice of agony, " Oh, Disk, lam shot." The
betimes then went forward, sad found that he was shot
through the back, whereupon they raised an alarm as well
as they could, sad Inspector Maul sad some others con-
veyed him to the hospital tent, where be received every
are and 'Orgies from Dr. Weirtmeoott, of the
Scottish, surgeon to the association. sod
also Dr. Hound, of the Queen's Westminster's,
sad several other medical gentlecose, but he sank into a
prosiest* Meth and se he appeared in great agony lau-
danum, he., was administered to him. We have also Lunt
that the natortneate man's name is Thomas Cooper, aged
about 25, a private in the Ist battalion 4th company of the
Coldstream Guards, sod he had only bees married a few
days. The person who fired the shot wee Sergeant John
Bober* trifle instructor, who has since been takes to the
Bone Gouda wider anat. It is stated he fired the shot
whom all the red danger figs were up. It V understood
that the burgess% fired the rifle clearly with • view of at-
honing his thoper's attention. The poor fellow, late to-
eight, Not expected to live many Manx
Dufferie drove some dietetics to meet the poor
fellow's wife on the way, and prepare her for the none she
was &best to wither. About 7 o'clock he retersed with
the poor woman sad her rider. la the meantime • clergy-
man le camp bad volunteered his services, which were cheer-
hilly nospted, end the wounded man enjoyed, as wall as his
state would permit, the coesolnioca of religion. Is camp all
flits at the nage where the accident occurred was sus.
the buds stopped playing, and whatever had beer
eontheaplated is the esters of festivities for that evening
was duodena& It was felt, however, that it ireald net be
fair to stop what must be regarded as a national movement on
aotheet of each • mishap, and firing was accordingly con-
tinued till the weal hear at all the other ranges. Dr. Free-
' ant Hewett, of St. George's Hospital, who had ben tele-
' graphed for immediately Uneven' occurred, saw Cooper at
• late hour. and ids report wee that the ease wan hopeless.
The In temational match for the Elcho Challenge Shield
between England and Scotland was the pried* cosiest of
the day, and was watched by • number of thearistomecy,
who appeared to take great unseen is this exalting event.
Than were eight competitors on each aide, and 15 thole at
naps 800, M, and 1,000 yards, with say rifle and any
position. The highest posible 111111Thplie NOM that could
be made was 1,440 points. The Soothsh was by 25 marks.
Last year England won by 83 points, having made 1,083
points to Sectlend's noon of 999.
There was • deem westerly wind, which materially
affected the shooting. Mr. Hercules Ross made six ball a
eyes at the 800 yards raw, which elicited warm applause.