The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-24
SHOT In A FROLIC.
William Weigel's Narrow Escape
From Death.
A Tco Enthusiastic Celebration n Washing
tons Birthday That Very Nearly
Ended in Tragedy.

William Weigel, nephew Of Robert Nc
Murray, mining man and capitalist, had
very narrow escape from a violent death in
the early hours of yesterday morning.
lie was shot in the left groin, but by one
of those queer freaks familiar to army sur
geons. the bullet took the outward track
around the hip bone and was easily extract
ed behind, having traversed over eight
inches of flesh and muscle without cutting
an artery or seriously niuring a bone.
with ordinary good luck Mr.. Weigel will
perfectly recover. but it will be many long
year before he starts out to celebrate Wash
ington's birthday in a saloon with convi-
vial acquaintances
NOT A GAMBLING QUARREL
The affair occurred in the Laurel Palace
saloon on Kearny street The actual hour
was o'clock yesterday morning There
was no dce game in progress and there is
nothing to snow that the mysterious pair,
one OF whom did the shooting, were tin
horn gamblers. Finally there was no
quarrel. The shooting was quite probably
accuehtal, the weapon exploding In one OF
the strangers pockets during a sort of play
full scramble on the floor
WILL I'VE HUSTLED UP.
Now that there is found to be no danger of
young Welgel dying those connected with
the affair are very DESTROYS of having it
hushed up. Mr.. McMurray communicated
with Chef Crowley yesterday, and it is I'M
derSt0od that the latter made the proper ar
rangements to have the affair investigated,
but subsequent developments have placed
the matter IN the proper light, and it is
quite probable that the inquiry viii be
dropped.
The exact facts as gathered from eye
witnesses are these: Weigel nephew OF
Mr.. McMnrray, accompanied by a son of
Captain Healy of the revenue steamer
Bear and son Of the Rev. DR.. Brewer
Of San MateO, started out from the
Occidental Hotel about IL o'clock to do a
little celebrating of Washington's birthday
on their own account. All three young
men are about % years Of age and OF steady
habits, except on special occasions like that
referred to.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
In the course of their perigrinations the
trio drifted into the Laurel Palace saloon,
kept by Rome Harris for Lilienthal " Co.,
on tie northwest corner Of Bush aud
keany streets.
The young men were standing before the
bar, about 4 o'clock in the morning, and
had scraped up acquaintance with two or
three strangers who were celebrating like
themselves and had looked upon The wine
while 1t was red till the entire horizon ex-
panded into rosy sea Of exuberance.
4 sort OF goOd-humOred scramble eDsued
and the party rolled over on the floor
While this game was in full swing a pistol
went off in somebody's OvercOat pocket,
and young Weigel exclaimed that he was
shot. CuTiOusly enough neither the police
nor any byStauders heard the sound Of the
explosion.
THE PARTY SCATTERED.
The merry party brcke up at once. Young
Healy had gone a short time before the
Scuftle began, and young Brewer has not
been seen since tie shooting Weigel was
not so badly hurt rs 10 be unable to walk
to the Occidental Hotel with a little assist
ance. lie was Immediately put to bed and
Drs. Norris and Shields were sent for.
They extracted the ball. and have since
treated the wound on the most approved
modern aseptic principles.
TRACK OF THE BALL.
DR.. Norris was seen last night by CALL
reporter and admitted that while young
Neigel is not IN danger. he has had a very
close call indeed The ball which had ap-
parentlY been fired from a 3SCallber pistol,
entered the tieshy part OF tie left groin
ranging outward, passing across the broad
hlp-DOne, ploUghlng 1t up and leaving a
furr0w 1t was extracted quite fiattened
near the crest Of the ileum, pOsterioTly. II
had struck close 10 the fPmoTdl artery, Just
where the latter leaves the abdomen, and
passed through at least eight inches Of
muscle at depth Of two and half inches.
The bah might easily have proved fatal
by entering the abdominal cavity or by
cutting the artery, and 1t came very near
going INTO tile hip joint. The present
danger is only from blood poisoning or q
possible injury to the hip joint.
Mr.. McMurTay was to have gone tOWash-
lngton With the mining delegation, but will
have 10 stay with his nephew till the latter
is pronounced entirely out Of danger. He
told a reporter yesterday that the young
man is Of steady habits and usually spends
his evenings AT home He is a partner in
the California, Oregon and Idaho Stage
COmDauV and il unmarried