, 1883-09-15
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.
The Careless Handling of u
Loaded Gun Results in the
Death of +. r. Fox.

Hardly Il day passes that the reader
Of the daily press is not warned
against the careless handling Of
loaded firearms by reports Of deaths
and injuries to persons through the
instrumcntality Of recklcssncss i'm
the use Of guns, and yet pcoi e will
continue to jeopardize the lives Of
themselves and others by persistent
carelCssncss. One Of the saddcst
cases Of this kind that has ever Oc-
Cured in the territory happened last
Sunday morning at Loon Lake, a
station on the SpokQne and Fort
Colville road, thirty-eight miles
north Of this city. Last Saturday a
party Of four men passed through
this city bound for the Colville Val
ley. TheyCwcre in search Of land to
locate upon, and were supplied with
full outfit. Upon receiving direc-
tiOns as to the road to follow they
continued on their way, reaching
Loon Lake, favOrite camping spot
on the route, that evening. Sunday
morning one Of the party named +.
p. Fox, a native Of Indiana, who has
been stopping at Vancouver for some
weeks, put his shot gun, a large No.
10 weapon, into the wagon, both
barrels Of which were heavily
charged. Shortly after breakfast
the party desired to load theirequip-
page IN the wagon and Fox stepped
to the vehicle and attempted to re-
move the gun by drawing it toward
him. In so doing one Of the barrels
wasIlfscharged, the contents striking
him in the muscular part Of the
right arm just above the elbow,
mangling the member in frightful
manner, in fact the arm only hung
by few shreds Of the flesh. One Of
the party was a physician, and at
once set to work to do all in his
power for the unfortunate man, but
having no instruments with him he
could do nothing but take up the
bleeding arteries and apply "A tourni-
quet to check the hemmOrhage. The
party at once started on their return
to Spokane Falls to secure medical
assistance, reaching the city Sunday
evening" The sufferer was taken to
DIR. J. NJ. MOrgan's office. Upon ex-
amining the wound the bones and
flesh were found shattered to shreds
and amputatiOn was decided upon
at once, although Mr. Fox was very
low from the shock to his system,
that had been greatly reduced by i'll
health and loss Of blood. The oper-
alton was quickly performed, to the
entire satisfaction Of the friends Of
the victim, the arm being removed
q few inches below the shoulder.
JNTice during Sunday night the in
jured man came near dying, and
neither Of the physicians had much
hopes Of his recovery. He rallied
somewhat Monday, but toward ev-
ening he commenced growing weaker
and expired Tuesday. Everything
was done for the man that lay in
human power, but the extent Of the
hurt, the long ride afterwards, and
the broken condition Of the mans
health all worked against him. Mrs.
Fox, who was at Vancouver, was in
formed Of the accident, and started
for the Falls, not learning Of the f,i-
tai termination Of the wound until
reaching here Wednesday. She has
two young children and the death Of
her husband leaves her in desti-
tute condition. The remains were
kept on ice until her arrival. Her
distress is heartrending. The re-
mains were inferred in the cemetery
at this place, and the unfortunate
widow and mother will return to
Vancouver, where she is slightly ac-
quainted, until able to secure suffice
lent means to take her back to her
home In South Carolina.