Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-11-21

!
ne,,iay morning, southerly winds, be-
coming northwesterly. increasing.
ANOTHER SAD ACCIDENT.-Two or
tbree weeks ago this column contained
The particulars of a sad and fatal acct
dent which caused the death of young
Washington Harper, son of Mr. II. H.
Harper, due to the thoughtless hand
linz of u pistol, and now it is our sad
dufy to chronicle another accident from
a similar cause to another youth. On
saturday last Howard d., the l6-year-
old son of Mr. Henry c. Field, left here
in a boat in company with John Barley,
2 youth of about the same age, on Il
hunting trip, and after having arrived
nj the dyke, mile or two below the
city. the boys landed and made fire.
Young Field rested his gun in bush
and late in the evening, hearing noise
either in the bushes or water, reached
for the piece. taking hold Of it by the
muzzle and drawing it toward him. 1t
is the same old story-the hammer
caught in the bush, the weapon was dis
charged and another victim added to
the already long list of those who have
forfeited their lives under similar cir
cumstances The entire charge of duck
shot from the gun entered the right side
Of the unfortunate boy abdomen, max
ing CHASTITY wound, the load forcing 4
knife and an iron key to which wood
en- tag was attached, which were
in the BOYS pocket. into the intestincs,
badly decorating those organs, the bad
der, &c. The young man staggered
back and fell and his companion ran
quickly to him, and upon realizing
What had happened made an eXamina-
tiou of the wound, during which he
pulled the key out of the aperture.
He then called to colored man who
WAS in boat near by to come TO their
assistance, and few minutes later the
Young man was placed i'll the boat and
his companion started Ito row him home.
Irpon reaching Jones's Point, Barley
undertook to land there, but the people
nj The point, upon learning the serious
nature of the young mans injury, adj
yised Barley to get him home as soon as
possible so that he could have immedi-
ate medical attention. Barley then
continued on with the boat TO Prince
street wharf On the way up the river
Young Field grew drowsy, and his com
panion had no little trouble i'll pre-
venting him from lapsing into uncon-
seriousness. Upon reaching the wharf,
Doctor Jones was summoned, and hav-
ing made diagnosis of the wound dis
covered it TO be mortal. The young
man was then taken to his home, where
the wooden splintcrs Of the tag, and Il
,,art of the knife were removed from the
wound, and being made as comfortable
as possible. he grew cheerful, and yes
terdav morning talked with friends
who went to see him, seemingly obliv-
ious TO the fact that the sands OF his
short life were nearly run. In the
meantime Dr. Gibson was called i'll con-
sultation but he agreed with DR.. Jones
that the Young man had but Il short
time to live. Between II and clock
Yesterday he grew FESTIVE, gave vent to
rroans and made ii evident to those
around him that his death was then a
mere matter of time--and, as the Sc
ouel proved, very short time, for
about the hour the churches were dis
missing their congregations his soul
was taking leave of earthly surround
ings. The ill-starred young man had
Two very close calls in about as many
wears. On one occasion he had n mar
row escape from death by the explosion
of TOW cannon, and Il short time after
wards he fell overheard from one ofthc
docks and was nearly drowned when
rescued by Mr.. VIM. Hayden, who
jumped into the water after him,
Mr.. Field and the other members OF
his household who are plunged into
sorrow by this sad accident have the
sincere sympathy of their many friends
and acquaintance, especially when il
is remembered how often the angel OF
death has entered the portals OF their
home and stricken down those near
and dear. Eight or nine more or less
near by ties of kindred have died in
about as many years. An interesting
son died few years ago and hardly
had Time healed the wound when 4
daughter was called upon to pay the
debt of nature. Mr.. Geo. w. Markell
Mr.. Fields fathcr-in-Iaw. who had long
been q member of the household, dice
suddenly short time after having fol
lowed his wife to the grave, and hardly
lad the habiliments of mourning beer
discarded before Mr. Fields wife was
forced to Join the loved ones gone be
fore. Six months have scarcely inter
yened since The household was darken
ed by that aliliction, and now anothel
cap is made In the family by the dis
Pressing accident described above.
Howard Field was pupil OF Wash
incton school, and to-day the flag OF
that building was lowered to half mas
in respect to MS memory.
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I,n,.,-n ,rhic manning Ghnu