Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-11-19
SAD ACCIDENT.
John Whitehead. of Bowling Green, Ao-
cidentally Shot by his Playmate.
While Quail Hunting, Morris Beers Shoots
His Companion.

A terrible accident is reported from
Bowling Green. Two young boys, the
best of friends, go out hunting quail
and one accidentally shoots the other
in such n manner as will probably prove
fatal, and thus two families are suffer
ing the deepest grief. The particulars
of the tragedy are taken from the
Daily Sentinel and are as follows:
John Whitehead, aged 16 years, son
of DR.. j. H. Whitehead, and Morris
Beers, aged 1S years, son of d. b.
Beers, started out this morning at s
o'clock to hunt for quail. Morris had
a Quackenbush 22.calibre rifle, and
John had breech-loading shotgun.
They were accompanied by the latter's
dog, and were last seen before the ac-
cident going southwest of town on the
Ridge Road. Until II o'clock their
subsequent actions cannot be ascer-
tanned. At that hour doc" Mum
who was out hunting on the farm of
Joseph Horn, about one and half
miles southwest of town, on the Ridge
Road. heard two quick sharp reports
about SO rods distant, which were ac-
companied by II faint scream.
The incident startled him for an in
stant, as his son Cloyse was also out
hunting in the neighborhood, but as he
noticed no further demonstrations he
made no investigation. About half
hour later he had made his way nearer
the sound of the shots, and observed
the boys dog frantic;,lly running 10
and fro, and upon his approach dart to-
ward nearby thicket. Mr.. Mum
followed him thither, and pushed the
underground aside.
He was Mortified to discover the
Whitehead boy lying prone upon the
ground, in an apparently lifeless con-
dition. Two guns were lying near.
giving the impression that the injured
boy had companion. Mr.. Mum dis
| patched ClOyse, who had now arrived
upon the scene, for aid, and w. c.
Singleton, an oil pumper who was
working near, hurried to the spot. The
men then made II hunt for the missing
boy, and found Morris in an adjoining
| WI III doSCu COuulGlOu
wringing his hands in agony.
1t was with the utmost difficulty that
the lad gave an account of the affair,
but by pressing him with questions
and judging by the location of the guns,
they were led to believe that John was
stationed few feet in advance of his
companion, that they both sighted Il
quail on the rise, and both attempted
to shoot, with the result of Morris gun,
which had Il treacherOus coil-sprlnG
action, being prematurely fired, the
bullet lodged in the back of Johns
head.
Mum and Singleton carried the lad
to Ezra st. Johns where horse and
buggy were procured and he was
brought TO his home on Pearl-st. Ply
sicians were hastily summoned, and
Drs. Lincoln, Thomas and Tullel
promptly responded. An investigation
developed the fact that the ball haC
taken effect in the back OF the head
well up on the left side, and had found
Judgement in the cerrebrum. Probing
failed to locate the ball although the
instrument was inserted three inches
The boy was in an unconscious condi
ton and it seemed to be only II ques
tion of an hour or so when he would b,
, a corpse.
LATTER Johnnie Whitehead die,
: on Sunday last IRON the effects of tn
wound caused by the premature dis
charge of the gun in the hands of hi
: innocent schoolmate. The loss of tn
, child to DR.. Whltehead's family is no
T much harder to bear than the sorro,
in the family of the boy who was
3 party to the sad affair. One youn
+ life is blotted out forever, and the othe
is blighted with sorrow brough
about by an accident, the memory {
which will cling to him through life
, God pity the families OF both.