Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-10-01
Accidentally Shot.

gives the lOllONihS ~"
of the shooting OF Angus Smith,
by w. B. Leonard;
A sad case of accidental shooting
occurred about ten miles east %
Otseco Lake on the morning OF
the 18th inst. The following are
the facts in the case: a MI
Leonard, of Detroit, with two men
were engaged in estimating pine
land for the Hon. VIM. Dodge;
of New York. They had pitched
their tent about 10l miles east OF
Otsego Lake aud commenced their
work. The party consisted OF W.
B. Leonard, of Detroit, and Angus
Smith. of Harrisville, and Nm'
Dessereau, of Cheboygan. Desc
reau acted as cook for the party
and his business was to cut the
wood and fix the fires and keep
the camp in order, and prepare the
the meals for the rest of the party
It was his special duty to keep
fires at night. Leonard and Smith
had been doing hard days work
and returned to camp late at night
ate their supper and retired as
usual. Leonard on the right, smith
ON the left. and Dessereau in the
middle. Smith awoke during the
night and Notwithstanding 1t
If was Dessereau's business to keep
the fire. Smith thought he would
not disturb them, but got up and
fixed the fire himself. He was on
his hands and knees and with a
niece of bark was scraping the
ctinders together. The evening
previous the cook had buried a
pail of pork and beans in the warm
ciuders to bake. Leonard heard
the scratching sound, snpposing II
TO be a wild animal, having met
with a similar experience last June,
Immediately seized his revolver
and fired in the direction Of the
sound. Immediately following the
discharge was heard the cry oh
oh ! I'm shot. Leonard said "fol
Gods sake Angus is it you T
Smith said ayes, how could yor
make such a mistake y Leonard
said 81 thought it was bear
what were you doing 2" He said %
was trying TO fix the fire." Leon
} ard said, "Smith, do you blam
me ~ Smith said "no, Leonard
! but how could you make sue
mistake ?" This was about
o'clock A. NJ. Dessereau was a
! once dispatched to Louk's camp
) four miles distant, for team, an
: when he returned, the wounde
; man was taken to Drinks Hote
5 at Otsego Lake. At this time b
= was able to walk to the wagon an
5 get in to it without assistance. .
. arriving at Otsego Lake DR.
u Warner. Robinson and Gilbei
% were summoned. The two forme
. remained with the wounded ma
5 for six hours. Sunday afternoo
3 DIR. Gilbert notified his friends thu
!! he though he could not live an
80 after consultation a special ira
% was ordered and Drs. Waugh al
50 Curry, of Bay City, were broug
% up to Otsego Lake. They wei
too late to render any assistanc
as the man had been dead son
50 time when they arrived. The
. 9 gave their opinion that the be
Is medical skill in the world cou
y y not have saved his life.
q Mr.. Smith remained console
)" ND to within three hours OF /
% death, and his thoughts were wi
~ his brothers and mother; and
NJ NJ said to lady with whom he b
M lived, "Tell my mother l low
ma her." He exhonerated Leona
ma from all blame in the matter a
ma gave special directions about I
- y disposal of his property. \
.25 Smith has two brothers, one res
so ing in Walton, Ont, aud one
80 80 East Saginaw. Mr.. Leonard
Is the sympathy of the entire CO
ID munity, and no blame is attacf
mas to him by any one cognizant
.25 the facts. He knew DesserC
% kept the fires in order and at t
time d. was by his side and thou
% of course the noise was made
.25 some animal and Leonard &C
% on that supposition with fatal
rs suit. The ball struck Smith
% q below and a little to the ri
{! of the spinal column, pass
IS through the pelvis and str
.2s against the inner front OF the
is glanced thence through the Il
% OF the bladder and through
Is liver toward the chest, eau
Is peritonitus. Everything was {
.2555 that could be TO alleviate his su
Is ing and make him comfortable,
Is Is of no avail. It is simply sad
rs unfortunate affair. On accoun
q. rs decomposition taking place so
20 % idly, Mr.. Leonard, on advice OF
rs physicians, had his remains j
Is red in the Otsego Lake GENE
mn on Monday afternoon. Smith
we'll known in Otsego LAX
DID. many persons, who all testif
20 80 bis good moral character, 8