The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-09-10
ALMOST A FATALITY.
Druggist Newton Narrowly Escapes Death
by the Accidental Discharge OF Il Gun.

Druggist Newton Narrowly Escapes Death
by the Accidental Discharge of Il Gun.
j. w. Newton. a druggist Of this city
city. accompanied by DR.. j. X. Carskad-
don, went up the river Saturday on a
hunting and fishing trip and spent the
day in the fields and along the river
bank, being successful in securing nu-
merous trophies of the feathered and
tinny tribes. When the steamer reached
there Sunday forenoon they made prep
arations to return. but having an hour
or so to wait concluded TO spend it fish
ing. Mr.. Newton had removed the car
trldgcs from his gun, a Winchester re-
p~eating shotgun. but before going to the
river reloaded it andtook it with him. eX-
pecting to see some ducks and not want
ing to lose the opportunity OF getting
them. When the time to return
arrived Mr.. Newton had his
gun, fishing tackle, an ulster and a pair
of rubber boots. DR.. Carskaddon pre-
coded him from the pavilion and was "a
few steps in advance when he heard the
butt of the gun carried b.. Mr.. Newton
strike the floor OF the pavilion and al
most simultaneously heard the discharge
of the weapon. Turning round he was
Mortified to see Mr.. Newton stretched
upon the floor of the pavilion. the left
side of his face almost torn away and
the blood squirting from the ghastly
wounu
Mr.. Newton rose to his feet and re-
marked that he supposed he was a
doomed man. but his friends thought
differently. hurriedly put him aboard
the steamer and staunched the flow
of blood. In eighteen minutes
the landing at Great Falls
was reached. and DIR. Gordon sum
moned to the boat house. where the
, wounded man had been taken. a glance
| showed HIM that additional surgical aid
: was necessary and Doctors Gelsthorp2
and Longeway were called.
i MI. Newton had been frightfully III
jured. the charge of shot going into his
: left Jaw. causing a compound com
s minuted fracture. also tearing away the
: flesh of the left cheek to the mouth. The
: eye was almost unipjured. although the
. orbit was pierced and his ear showed
I traces Of the shot. The jaw was broken
in five different places. The attending
physicians called 10 their aid Drs. Cars
kadden and Jones. and drilled and wired
the Jaw. The wounded man reached
the city about II o'clock, but was bleed
: ing badly and after the flow Of blood
, vas staunched and his wounds dressed
l he was left at the boat house until t p
IN. before recovering sufficiently to be
! taken to his home, where he is o re.
ceiving the best Of medical treatment
and the kind attention of his wife and
friends.
} DR.. Gordon told a TRIBUNE reporter at
a late lou last night that Mr.. Newton
was dong very nicely considering the
severe nature of his wounds. No fever
: has appeared and little pain has thus
far been experienced by the patient.
The tissues have been drawn to cover
the wound and with favorable condi-
tons Mr. Newton may hope to speedily
{ recover. and while he will carry the
marks of his accident, he may upon his
restoration to health, congratulate him
self upon his narrow escape from instant
1 death.
Mr.. Newton came to Great Falls some
four months since with his wife and
, children. and has made many friends in
l. the city. who unite in wishing him a
e speedy recovery. The gun was one of
\ a pattern with which Mr.. Newton was
no doubt unfamiliar, and while the ac-
cident was seemingly unavoidable, and
it furnishes an additional illustration
! of the great care which should be taken
, in handling fire arms.