Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-11-17
Accidentally Shot and Killed While
Hunting Deer Yesterday on
Sibley Island.
The Accident Occurs While He IL
In the Thick Brush Looking
For Game.
Not Known Whether It Was Hi
Own Gun, or One Discharged
BY Other Hunters.
A Fatal Hunt

noon. The life of one Of the most popu-
lar residents of the community, a person
of exceptional virility and robust consti"
tuition, was suddenly snufed out by
another of those oft repeated hunting
fatalities, and to-day Claude Holly, who
started hunting yesterday afternoon, all
unconscious of the fate which awaited
him ere the day should close, lies at his
home, dead, and the accident has caused
Affecting of sadness which Is general
throughout the city.
There is no one better known and
liked in the city than Claude Holley.
There was no more ardent sportsman,
and it was the following of his ~favorite
pursuit which resulted in his death. In
company with Elliot Barnes, he left
early in the afternoon for Sibley Island.
The two hunted around through the
thickets for a time, and at the time of
the accident, we're several hundred yards
apart. Claude was hidden in a thicket
of brush and underground, watching for
deer. Elliot says he
HEARD TWO SHOTS
and then heard Claude calling to him.
He ran to the spot, and when he arrived
there, found Claude on his hands and
knees, crawling through the brush. His
BLOOD WAS STREAMING
from q wound in his thigh. "1m shot,
Elliot" said the wounded man, family,
"it's through the body, and I guess it's
DEATH" Elliot took the wounded man
in his arms, and the latter lived long
enough to breathe q faint "good bye,"
and died in the arms of his companion.
There were a number of hunters on
the island at the time, and two of them
we're found, and came to the scene of the
accident. Tenderly the body was lifted
and placed in the wagon, which had been
so often driven by the ANIMATE man,
whose inanimate body it was now des-
tined to bear homeward for the last time.
The shooting occurred at about 4 o'clock,
and it was after dark when the party
reached the city. The body was taken
to the home of the deceased, and then
the report of the accident began to be
circulated about the streets. 1t was diff
ficult of belief, so great was the shock.
First reports were confirmed, however,
and then were his friends forced to reach
realization of the truth. It was sadden-
ing to everyone. The wide acquaint-
ance and popularity of the dead lent to
the force of the shock.
Coroner Webb at once impaneled q
Jury, consisting of Fred Roberts, Thomas
Cunningham and ]. B.Taylor, the remains
being viewed by them, in the presence OF
Drs. Kendrick and Smyth, who made an
EXAMINATION OF THE WOUND.
The bullet was found to have entered
the left thigh, about six inches below
the point Ct the hip. It passed through
the left leg, cutting the main artery, into
the right leg, through the flesh, and
passed out. The jury, after the exami
nation, adjourned to 2 o'clock this after
noon.
The deceased had been q resident o.
the city for nearly fifteen years, and wa
known to everyone. He was deservedly
popular among all classes, and especially
among the sportsmen, of which fraternity
he was an ardent member, was he
leader. But % years Of age his sudder
death is all the more sad. He leaves {
wife and mother, by both of whom hi
was idolized, and their grief at this time
is inexpressible. Words Of sympathy
have 10 meaning in the sadness of theil
bereavement.
Whether the accident was the result O.
the discharge of his own gun, or whether
the shot was fred by some n of tn
other hunters who were on Sibley islant
at the time, is a mooted question, bu
circumstances seem to favor the latte
theory. The bullet entered the lef
thigh, and follows a straight course
across. That he could have shot him
self, and the bullet have taken such
conrse, seems hardly possible. Their
was a shell in his W gum, and dis
charged, but there were two shots heard
almost simultaneously, and it is probable
the discharge of his own gun was tn
result of the involuntary movement o
his finger on the trigger, when he wa
struck by the first ball. With the thick
cts teeming with hunters, it looks a
though he were the victim OF q stra.
ball.
THE INQUEST
was held Monday ut the office Q
Gen. Hughes, and Elliot Barnes was tn
first witness examined. His story wa
that at about 3 o'clock or t%bereaboutf
he and Claude had separated, he takin|
clearing and Claude the thick brush