The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-10-28
A SAD ACCIDENT.
Sidney SOule Shot and Killed
While Hunting.
The Shot Strikes Him in the Face,
Tearing Off the Top Of
His Head.

Friday afternoon at about $50
O'Clock terrible accident happened
across the river in Nicollet county in
which Sidney Soule, of this city was
Instantly killed by the accidental dis
charge Of shot gun. The particu-
lars as. near as we could learn are as
follows:
Friday afternoon, just after din
ner, Sidney and Ray Soule, sons of
Mr.. and Mrs. S. G. Soule, who live at
92S South Front street, in company
with their brother-in-law, John M.
Smythe, went over across the Mime
sofa river in Nicollet county near
Fred Forces place to hunt quail.
They spent the afternoon in that
vicinity, and shot quite number of
quail. Shortly after tlye o'clock and
just as they were ready to return
home, Sidney shot rabbit, and pick.
ing it up, carried it to his brother
Ray, who had on vame coat, and
went to put 1t in the back pocket.
The quail they had shot were in this
pocket, and Ray told him not to try
to put it there, but to put it in one
of the side poke is. Ray had in his
hands double barrel hammerless
shotgun. This he put down on the
ground standing on the butt end,
holding the barrel with his left hand,
while with his right he unbuttoned
his coat and threw it open so as to al
low Sidney to put the rabbit in the
left pocket. Both were bending over
in this act when suddenly Rays gun
was discharged, the charge taking
effect in Sidney's face, striking in the
left cheek, taking away the upper
cheek bone, going through the left
eye. tearing away the frontal bone of
the left part of the forehead, but not
breaking the skin, bursting open the
top of the skull and taking away
the most of the bone, leaving the
scalp hanging. The greater portion
of the brain was also blown out.
Death, of course, was instantaneous.
When the explosion occurred, Ray
jerked himself over to one side, but
did not fall down. Sidney fell over
backwards. Ray supposed he had
thrown himself back thinking he
would thus escape injury. When Ray
up, he spoke to Sidney,
and as he did not answer, went to |
pick him up and then discovered that |
he had been shot. He gave scream,
which brought Mr.. Smythe, who was
but few rods away, to his side at |
once. The latter examined Rays |
gun and found two empty shells |
In the barrels. Ray stated that |
TO the best of his remembrance |
neither one had been exploded when
be placed the gun on the ground.
AS to how the accident happened |
it is not definitely known. II ap-
pears that the gun Sidney carried |
was muzzle loading shot gun. and
be had been carrying the ramrod |
hanging through button hole in his |
coat. After the accident the ramrod |
was found where they had been stand
ing, sticking into the ground. The |
theory is that as Sidney bent over
RI mt tho 70 hhif into tho ooot poolzaf |
the ramrod hit the trigger of Rays |
gun, letting it off.
G. L. Benedict, Henry Dreher and
Joe Schingle were returning from
Swan Lake, and were near by when
the accident happened, hsaring the
report Of the gun. The body of the
young man was placed in their buggy
and brought to this city, and taken to
the undertaking rooms of John r.
Thomas. Mr.. Thomas at once tele-
phoned to the coroner of Nicollet
county, G.. T. Merritt, of st. Peter,
informing him Of the accident. Mr..
Merritt came over in the evening and
looked into the matter, but after
hearing the story of the accident as
told by Ray Soule and John Smythe,
decided there was no need of an in
quest and none was held.
Sidney Soule was about IL years OF |
age. He was fine young man, well |
liked by all of his associates, and his |
sudden death comes as severe blow |
to his parents and family, and to his |
many friends.
The funeral services were held at |
the house Sunday afternoon at two |
o'clock, and the remains were in
terred in Glenwood cemetery.