The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-03-11
Fatal Accident at stemarts Run.

On Friday evening of last week,
Ralph Dawson, son of John A. Daw.
son, living at Stewards Run, this coun.
ty, accidentally shot himself, death
resulting almost instantly.
The particulars are as follows, as
near as we can learn them: A few
days prior to the time of the accident,
it seems that the deceased had come
into possession of a single barreled
old.time style of pistol; the pistol had
been fshed out of a barrel of old
rubbish, and the boy, as any boy is
more than likely to do, without any
fear or thought Of harm to follow, had
proceeded to use the weapon. The
pistol was not in good shape; the trig.
ger was broken, and the hammer
would not stay cooked, it being neces.
sary to hold it back when a cap was
placed on the nipple preparatory to
shooting the weapon. The weapon
was fired off by pulling the hammer
back with the finger or thumb and
then letting it go. The deceased had
had the pistol at school and he aud
the other boys there had used the
weapon considerably, and it would
seem had been in the habit of loading
the pistol with very heavy charges.
On the evening referred to above he
had come home from school and came
into the house to where his mother and
an aunt who was visiting with thom,
were. His mother said something to
him about their going out that evening
to make a call on some friends, He
made the remark that be did not care
to go, and soon after went up stairs to
his room. Not long after he had gone
up stairs his mother and aunt heard a
noise that sounded like the report of a
pistol; they thought however that it
came from out Of doors and so thought
little of it. His brother George, who
was out at the time, had also heard the
report and came in and spoke about
il, and started up stairs, Mrs. Dawson,
his mother, following. On entering
the roc a sad spectacle presented
itself. On the bed, face downward,
feet hanging down on the floor, aud
arms outspread lay Ralph, and zeal
his right hand lay the pistol, dis.
charged. They turned him over and
laid him on the bed, but the ouly sign
of life he gave was the opening and
turning around of the eyes in an in
voluntary way. DR.. j. B. Siggins Of
Tionesta-4 miles distant-was hur.
riedly sent for and came, but when he
arrived the only sign of life remain.
ing was a very slight fu;tering of the
heart aud that soon ceased.
It is supposed that after going to his
room he had loaded the pistol with q
heavy charge Of shot-or it may be it
had been Loaded beforehand he was
putting a cap on when the shooting
occurred. He had probably taken the
pistol in his left hand, muzzle toward
him, with his thumb was pressing back
the hammer and with his right hand
placed the cap on when his thumb
slipped and the weapon was discharged.
The charge had entered his breast
about half way between the two sides
making a hole where it entered almost
as large as a silver dollar, rather oval
in shape, and lodged 10 the lungs tear.
ing and decorating them fearfully.
Ralph Dawson was born May 20,
1877, and SO was aged Is years. 8
months, and 16 days. He was a boy
of excellent traits and character. His
friends, of whom he had many, unite
their sorrow with that of the grief.
stricken parents, and extend them
their warmest sympathy in their great
bereavement.
The funeral services will be held in
the NJ. L. church at this place, to day,
at l o'clock p. M, Rev. G. @. Rumber.
Der officiating. Interment in River.