, 1890-05-15
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Johnny, Son of ID. s. Downer.
Killed by the Accidental Dis
charge of a Shotgun.
The Hammer Struck Timber
Discharging the Woapon--
Full Particulars.

y SNl ana lulsN NCtIutnt oc-
CURED ut the Northern Pacific tres
tie east OF the city Tuesday after
noon, resulting IN the death of John
Downer, the ll-yeur-old son of ID.
:. Downer, the well-kuown stone
contractor, 10y tho accidental dis
charge of "A shotgun. Young Down
or, In company with his elder bro
Tiers stepson, Johuny Downer,
aged IL, had been olrt hunting aud
they were on their way home, about
o'clock, when the accident oc-
Cured. They crossed from the
north to the south side of the river
ON boards which are strung along
on tho lower timbers of the trestle.
When they reached the south bank
the elder boy started to set his gun.
u doublc-barrcled shotgun, down
on the ground, II distance OF about
four feet, preparatory to jumping
down, when one of the hammers
struck timber, discharglng the
weapon, the charge en- tering tho boys
right breast, Just above the nipple,
ranging upwards. He reclcd and
staggered from the board on which
he was standing and fell to the
ground, alighting on his feet. lie
then ran about u rod and fell. His
companion ran to his side and at
tempted TO raise him up, when n
man who saw the accident from the
opposite side of the river hurried
across aud laid the wounded boy In
more comfortable place and bathed
his face with water, while the
other boy started to the city for aid.
The deadly charge had done Its
work, however, and the poor boy
only survived about twelve min
utes. The other boy hurried To
n policeman, and then hurried
home to give the alarm. The father
of the wounded boy lives next door
to his elder son, on Washington
street, near the Union depot, and
upon receiving the news, at once
ran to the scene of the accident,
only to find his son dead upon ar
rival. The remains were taken to
the rooms of the Spokane Under
taking Company, and afterwards
removed To the family residence.
The poor boys companion was
naturally very badly frightened and
ran SO hard that when he arrived
home great beads OF perspirntion
stood out OH his white face, und he
fell TO the ground completely ex-
hausted, gnsping, Johnny Is shotw
He thus described the accident 10
a REVIEW reporter last night; I'VE
stopped OH the south side of the
river, where there was u man fish
ing, and Johnny had the pole
for while. Then we start
ed across under the trcstle on
the planks, Johnny being ahead.
When we got TO the other side
j ohuny went To set his gun down,
and one of the hammers struck II
timber and the gun went oil.
Johnny staggered back and fell TO
the ground. lie lit on his feet, and
then ran rod or So and fell. The
only thing lac said was oh! helpr
ran to him and tried to raise him
up, and just then the man who was
fishing came across, and | ran to
town for help"
Deceased was n bright, healthy
boy, and up to few months ago
was employed In the district mes
senger service. There were up to
the time of his death ten children
In the family. Mr.. Downer re-
moved to this city with his family
from Iowa two years ago, and has
since been engaged In brick and
stone contracting. He Is an old SOL
dicr, aud ls n member of Sedgwick
post, q. a. r., of this city.
Miss Belle Downer, one of the SIS
ters of deceased, Ia In San Francisco,
and Sadie, another sister, is in Port
Townsend. Both have been ap-
prlsed by telegraph Of the death
of their brother. II will be Inn
possible for Belle TO reach here
from San Francisco, but the no.
mains will not be buried until
by which time the other
young lady Is expected from Port