The Washington times., 1894-09-02
RECEIVED A FATAL WOUND
Ben Sweeney the Victim Of Dis
tressing Cunning Accident.
HE CAUSED HIS ONN DEATH
Despite the Warning Of His Friend Hs
Rested His Left Arm on the Muzzle Of
Loaded Gun and 1t Was Accidentally Ex-
plOded-Main Support of His Mother

A distressing cunning accident, which rs
suited in the death Of Benjamin Sweeney,
aged sixteen years, OF No. PA Tnirteenth-and-
a-haI street southwest. occurred at Roaeh's
Run, one mile south Of the Virginia end Of
the Long Bridge, about o'clock yesterday
morning
Young Sweeney. IN company with bis
friend, Thornton A. Crown. Of No 227
Twelfth street southwest, left the city about 4
o'clock in the morning to shoot reed birds.
At the Long Bridge they hired batteau for
the day for 90 cents. They then rowed from
place to place in the river for an hour or two,
finally stopping at Roach's Run. ~ which
time they had killed seventeen reed and
black birds.
Sweeney, who was in his bare feet, jumped
out into the water when the boat reached
shallow place and pulled the boat Grown
still being in ii, ashore. When Crown got out
Of the boat Sweeney said 70 him, Il am hun
cry. If give you 10 cents will you go some
where and get some sandwichesy'' Crown
replied that he would. Just then two men,
Harry Linberger and Patrick Green. cams
up III another boat. and they asked Crown II
he would get them soma sandwiches also.
Crown replied that he would do so with
pleasure. While Sweeney was talking with
Crown he placed the gun with which he had
been shooting on the ground and rested bis
left arm upon the Euzzie.
he BEGGED BEN NOT TO DO IT.
Crown said last night: II begged Ben not
to stand with the gun in that position. but he
told me that he had often done so and was
not afraid. The hammer was raised, and
think that he must have lifted his foot as be
put his hand in his POCKET for the money and
struck the hammer. which caused it TO 90 on.
THE entire contents Of the barrel entered
Sweeneys shoulder, inficting a terrible
wound, from which the blood poured in a
stream. He exclaimed: i am shotl Mama!
Mama! Will never 90 cunning again, and
then fell TO the ground"
Except for the sxertions OF DR.. Church,
who accompanied the Emergency Hospital
ambulance wagon 70 the end Of the Long
Bridge. young Sweeney would have died be-
fore reaching the hospital. bur frequent hy-
pOdermic injections OF stimulants sustained
him until the hospital was reached. The ex-
animation showed that the entire load Of No.
shot had entered the left axilIa and severed
al the arteries and veins IN the shoulder.
The arm was almost completely torn on and
Sweeney was in a state OF collapse on account
Of the great loss OF blood be had sustained.
Sweeney was placed on the operating table
revive him. but without avail death oc-
cured within ten minutes after he had en-
tered the hospital. Coroner Hamnett was
notified and ne at once went 20 the hospital
where he heard Crowns statement OF the af-
and decided that an inquest was unnecessary
MAIN SUPPORT or WIDOW.
Young Sweeney was the main support an
only son Of his mother, who is a widow with
hree daughters. He was employed as a
messenger in the Weather Bureau, az a
salary of $3.50 per month In order
10 have few days Of pleasure, he on Friday
secured a short leave Of absence and in com
panY with Crown went 70 a pawnshop on E
street between Tenth and Eleventh streets
northwest and deposited SS for the safe return
of the gun for the use of which Sweeney
agreed to pay s1.50 for three days. Young
Sweeneys sister arrived at the hospital few
minutes after her brothers death. Mrs.
Sweeney has been sick for some time and the
unfortunate accident has completely PROS
trated her.
The dead youth was well known IN the
vicinity in which he lived and was highly
respected. Late yesterday afternoon the
body was removed to Sweeney's late home TO
await interment.