The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-08-20
FATAL ACCIDENT.
BY the Accidental Discharge of q
Pistol John ID PIgh Ices
his L e

About ten o'clock last Friday night
runner came in from Highland for doc.
tor, stating that John B. Pugh had been
accidentally shot and it was expected
would e from the wound. DR.. Crow
der Immediately went out and found
"ugh suffering from wound in the alb.
domen, end which he thought must
soon prove fatal. In the hope however
of helping tt , wounded man, and with
his consent, an operation was performed
which disclosed five punctures of the in
testines and ended any hope entertained
OF recovery.
1t appears that Pugh, together with
5. l.. Mclaughlin and d. b. Aikev
were in McLaughiin's cabin Friday even.
ing when the conversation tm ned on
firearms, and Pugh asked to see new
pistol which Mclaughlin had recently
bought and which Pugh wanted to buy.
Mclaughlin went into anadjolningroon,
got the weapon, but before handing it
over, turned the cartriigr out on the bed.
1t was then examined and commented
on BY II three for some time, when
Mclaughlin reloaded it, which was not
observed by the others, and hung it up.
They proc, eded then to clear away the
supper dishes which w,s about done,
when Pugh asked again to see the gun.
McLau ghlin handed it over, this time
without taking out the loads, and after
looking at it, Pugh swung it around ON
his finger, illustrating how he had seen
weapons fred, then laid it on the table.
Aikey, who was then sitting at the table,
picked up the pistol, remarking that he
also had seen such work, when the
weapon went of, the bullet striking
Pugh in the abdomen as stated. This
occurred at eight in the evening and he
died at half past three the following
morning. Aikey and Pugh were firm
friends, and after the accident, and
when he knew he must die, Pu2h called
all about him TO impress them with the
fact that nobody was to blame for the
injury, and that it was purely accidental,
The body was brought to town Satur.
day and taken in charge by members of
the Fire Department, of which deceased
was an active member, and was buried
Sunday from the Episcopal Church
where H. f. Prudential read over his
remains the following touching al.
dtess:
My FRIENDs;-T occf sion OF our
gathering to ,ether to-day is an exceed
ingly sad on to pay the last tribute of
respect to the memory of our young
friend now lying before us in the EN-
brace of death, and to perform the last
rites which humanity and Christie nifty
dictate over his remains
The manner Of his summons to leave
us and Join the ever.increasing thronl
travelling to the unknown realms OF flu
tire existence impresses us with a sor
row aud awe, which the ordinary call o
the Great Destroyer fails to impart
Only two days ago he was one of us
young, and in extraordinary health, an,
looking forward with hope that t.
him seemed almUc. f.ac.;fed to tn
speedy meeting with the loved ones h,
had left behind more than two year
since to seek his fortune in our western
wilds.
He leaves to mourn his untimely fate
father, a mother, four brothers and tw
sisters, aud still nearer one, with whor
he expected within few months to ioi
HI Ids and travel in happiness the du
course OF human existence. None {
them were here to sooth his last suifel
ings, to hear his last firewel's or 20 sin
the las, sad + luiem over hls grav,. w
have known him long time in our socii
circle, we have experienced his kline
ness of heart, his gentle bearing and h
ever ready willingness to contribute
the well being and enjoyment of his q
socia.es, and we mourn over him
friends mourn friends. We know it
well with him, and for our own consol
. ton the beautiful lines:
'There is no death -
What's called so, is transition;
e This life OF fleeting breath sic
# Is but the entrance to the gates FL
:, Which men cali death"
c But how must it be with those belov,
}. ones far away? How must the faith
II feel when he hears the fatal tidiugs tn
It blasts his fond hopes of the bright (
e ture of his son? How must the mother
hearsstrings be toln when she thinks
the painful death of her dear boy, so I
away among strangers with no mothe
IT hand to smooth his pillow, or assuage
IL pain, or lilten to his parting words;
"a the brothers and sisters who were
'e anxiously awaiting his spe ly retuln
CT them, and were all expectancy to he
NJ the marvellous tales that their broth
N "Johr ny" would tell them Of his adve
IL turas in the Far West.
ne What can we say to them, or ho
shell we approach them to cons
&C. them?
as We can assure them, in smeliorati
of their suffering and sorrow, that
did all we could for their dear one, o
tie that every attention that could be Civ
him was given with willing hands a
70 tender hearts. We will not attempt
IS. approach them with the set formula:
y. consolation, for il we do we may expo
to in the bitterness Of their grief, they +,