The morning call., 1891-02-15
WONDERFUL VITALITY,
Accidental Killing of a San Ouen.
tin Prison Guard.

Hugh j. Lynch, guard at the San Quentin
Prison, was killed on Friday evening by the ac-
cidental discharge OF his gun. Lynch was one
of the night patrol, and his post was on the wall
over the foundry, his beat extending about thirty
yards.
Immediately above the engine in the foundry
is a glass-coyered box known at the prison az
the mole in the wall" and serving the double
purpose OF enabling the guard to watch convicts
who may be at work on tue engine below and of
protecting tie officer from tile nclemency OF the
weather.
To reach this place OF shelter it is necessary to
climb or jump from the wall down to the roof of
the foundry. height OF about three ieet About
6:l5 O'Clock Lynch was on The wall in a stooplnp
posture, had placed his gun on the roof below,
aud then with his left hand on the barrel pulled
II toward him. muzzle upward. intending to place
1t in more convenient location.
1t Is supposed that tho hammer caught against
the wall. dischaTging The contents of the barrel
which lodged In Lynchs left side between The
seventh and eighth ribs, tearing large Irregular
hole. The gun was a breeclloader with twenty
| four heavy buckshOt in each barrel, and tie
| charge shattered the whole side, ranging ur-
| shoulder blade.
William J. Barns was the guard on the bridge,
about 25o ieet from the scene OF the accident
| lie heard The report, saw the flash and then
heard Lynch cry out: "Oh, my God Pm snot
! What viii become OF my poor wife and chill
! dren?" Burns FASTENED 10 his Assurance and
| found him clinRlng to the railing endeavoring TO
| return along the wall.
The wind was blowing perfect hurricane.
and Lynch, whose strength was almost eX.
! hausted, would certainly have fallen 10 the
| ground, thirty feet below, had not Burns SUP
| DRIED him 10 tile bridge over the road. Here
| Guards CIoniiI, Sunnott, Smith aud Prtchard,
who had also heard the report. fastened TO the
| wounded mans assistance and eXtinguished the
flames bursting from his Overcoat. which had be-
| come lgntted II Om the powder.
y wagon conveyed him 10 the office OF Captain
| Reddy, whence lie was carried TO the hospital
| DR.. Duranf, the resident physician was sum.
| moned, but was unable to relieve the suferinps
| OF HE dying guard. who expired thirty-fye min
| utes after the infection OF the wound Lynch
| death, the immediate cause of which was in.
! ternal hemorrlIage. He possessed wonderful
vitality 10 have lived so long after receiving such
| q terrible wound
| Coroner E. l.. Eden of San Rafael was notified
OF The occurrence 10y wire, and at 10 O'Clock YES
| terday morning conducted An Inquest before
jury OF six residents Of San Quentin and The fol.
| lowing verdict was rendered:
We, tine jury, find that the deceased, Hugh J.
Lynch, died from the effects of til accidental dis
charge of shotgun while on guard duty ut the san
Quentin State Prison.
Lynch was about 80 years or age and leaves a
WIDOW aud four boys, the eldest OF whom Is O
years and tie youngest 2. he had been a guard
Tor about nve months, and Was an efficient OIL.
Ger ills conn AIDES state that he had not touched
| liquor since lie November election and that ne
was perfectly sober al the lime OF the accident
| lie WAS native of MaripOsa County but was
well known In san Francisco having been al
one time CommisSary AT the House OF CorTec ion
ana subsequently a deputy In he offices of The
Tax Collector ana Sheriff. He was also engross-
Ing clei III tEe Slate Senate during TWO terms.