The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-08-05
A Terrible Accident.

A thrill of horror was sent through
the city shortly after noon yesterday by
the intelligence that bright boy of Dr.
B. w. Taylor's had been accidentally
killed by his brother while hunting. on
Col. Tom Taylor's plantation just below
the city.
The news quickly spread through the
city and while it awakened fertile
fear, such was the general sympathy for
the parents that everywhere the hope
was INDUCED that the report was exag.
gerated. The hope was soon dispelled,
however, for by 2 o'clock the worst fears
were confirmed and the truth was known
that one of the saddest occurrences
which has been recorded in our midst for
years had really transpired.
The remains of the dead boy were
brought to the city, and Deputy Coro.
ner Knuck was notified and at 6 o'clock
yesterday jury, after viewing the body
at the residence of Colonel Taylor, held
an inquest at the Sherif's Office to in.
quire into the cause of the death.
From the testimony of Colonel Taylor
and DR.. Howe the following facts of the
distressing occurrence were gathered:
Yesterday morning the two sons Of
DR.. Taylor, BENZ. F. and Nat. H., went
with their uncle, Colonel Taylor, to the
plantation, as has been their almost daily
custom since the Summer vacation com.
menced. While there yesterday the
boys went out into the field where Colo
mel Taylor was experimenting his farm.
ing operations, and each having gun
were engaged during the morning i'll
shooting doves.
About 12 o'clock they had gone some
distance off to the edge of the field, and
Nat, the younger, about - years of age,
being in the edge of the tall grass just u
few feet in front of Ben, the latter's gun
was discharged, carrying away the left
side of Mats head, killing him instantly.
The poor boy, as he saw his brother fall
threw down his gun at bis feet and ran
to inform some hands in the field, who
quickly hurried to where Col. Taylor
was and told him the sad story. He
hurried to the scene, and on the way
found Ben dazed with grief, but suffi.
ciently at himself to tell thathe had killed
his brother and to direct his uncle to. the
spot. -.
When the latter reached the scene his
worst fears we're realized, aud the poor
boy was found lying where he had fallen,
with every indication that his death had
been instantaneous.
Immediate steps were taken to bring
4 L. ~ k10 ifry nd rnQNhfn
town about 4 o'clock.
DR.. How e's examination showed that
the whole of the upper central portion
of the frontal bone had been carried
away from the left side Of the cranium
together with the brain matter which il
inclosed.
The Coronor's jury found that Ma
thanel Fl. Taylor had come to his death
by an accidental gunshot wound at the
hands of his brother, Benjamin F. Tay'
lor.
The case is peculiarly distressing from
the fact that Mrs. Taylor is absent al
Asheville, having been away from home
for several weeks, and these two boys
during the time have been inseparable
companions, devoted to each other in
their daily sports.
The bereaved family, aud especially
the mother and the unfortunate boy, vii
have the earnest prayers of many sym
pathizing Christian hearts that God vii
temper this fearful visitation, and com
fort and soothe hearts which other Vist
must be crushed under the weight OF sc
dreadful an atfiiction.-Columbia Register
JuLy %.