The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-09-18
UNFORTUNATE.
A CHANGING Bal Fired During a
Shooting Match
Stops the Life of ThOs. y. Roads, q
Respected Citizen of Rainsboro.

ora reached mere from Raln6DOrO
by telephone last Friday evening of the
accidental death of Mr. Thos s. Roads
at shooting match held near that place.
Some time since an eccentric character
named Estill had announced himself as
the best shot in Paint township. and
challenged any one to beat him. For
mere amusement number of persons
at Rainsboro agreed to arrange match
in which the old man should show his
skill. place was selected in field
near the grove in which the celebrated
Spargur Reunions are held, and on Fri
day afternoon last quite a crowd assem-
bled to see the contest. There were
several contestants, among them a
young man named Jas. Ferguson, a
friend of MIR. Roads.
The weapon was an old-fashioned bear
rifle carrying an ounce ball. Ithas been
said that the gun did not carry true and
that this was the cause, rs will be shown,
of the tragic ending of the innocent af-
fair. The target was placed on tree at
distance of 100 yards. Between the
target and the place where the marks.
men stood were two trees standing close
| together between which the bullets
must pass to hit the mark. In order to
strike the center of the target the ball
must pass within six inches of one of
these trees. Mr.. Roads was spectator
and was selected to act as one of judges
OF the contest. He took his station at
some distance to the right of the target
and about opposite the two trees men.
toned above. The shooting continued
some time, as it seemed to be the pur-
pose OF the others to allow Estill to win
the wager in which he was very much
interested. Finally on the fourth round
a shot was fred by Mr. Ferguson, when
at the instant of the discharge Mr..
Roads, who was standing at some dis
tance to one side and apparently out of
any possible range, fell to the ground.
The Mortified spectators and marksman
hastenod to his side and tried to raise
his PROSTATE form and rouse some signs
of consciousness. Within ten minutes
and before he could be removed to a
house or medical aid could be summon.
ed all signs of life had departed. The
ball had struck one of the two small
trees and after penetrating the bark had
glanced off at almost right angle and
struck the body of Mr.. Roads, who was
intently watching hefarget. 1t enter
ed the right side at the waist and is
thought to have reached the neighbor-
hood of the spinal cord as death was
almost immediate and painless.
A reluctant messenger was dispatched
to the home to announce the heavy
news, and within half an hour the body
of Tom Roads, the sturdy blacksmith,
who had gone out few hours before in
the full strength of manhood, was being
bourn on the sholders of sorrowful com.
panions, corpse toward his own door.
The scene of passionate grief that greet.
ed this solemn homecoming will not
soon be forgotten by the sympathizing
neighbors who were powerless to com.
fort.
Mr.. Roads family consisted OF his
wife, son aged 10 and two younger
daughters. He was about fifty years
old and man of powerful physical de-
velopment. He was faithful soldier in
the war for the Union, having served
three years in the Goth O. v. 1. and the
I'd Ohio Heavy Artillery.
He was buried at Rainsboro on Sa:ur-
day, the services being conducted by
the G. A. r. and Rev. G. l.. Winget,
pastor of the M. E. Church, of which he
was worthy member. The shooting
was purely accidental, and much sympa-
| thy is felt for Mr.. Ferguson, who is
almost crazed with grief over the sad
affair