The times., 1898-01-17

Mrs Lane wife of Mr. Thomas F.
Lane, of this city, and daughter of ex-
Senator Blackburn, of Kentucky, acci-
dentally shot herself Saturday mid
night at the Wellington, the wound
inflicted being such as to make her
recovery doubtful. Encouraging state
ments were, however, given out last
night as to her ultimate escape from
death. The wound ranges near the
heart. DR.. Il. t. Sewers and DR.. ]. Ford
Thompson were summoned Immediate
ly after the accident. and have been in
frequent communication with their pa
tient ever since.
The occurrence will be news to the
great majority of the people OF the
city today. 1t was not known to more
than dozen people up to a late hour
yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs Lane and an infant
daughter occupy suite Of rooms at
the Wellington Hotel, where they have
been for the past five or six months.
Mrs. Lane and her husband spent a
very pleasant evening ON Saturday at
the Wellington. Their apartments are
parlor a bedroom and room for the
nurse and baby Mr.. and Mrs. Lane
were in the parlor till about II O'Clock,
when, after the baby had been put TO
bed Mrs. Lane left the room to prepare
TO retire for the night. In lifting some
articles out of the top drawer-laces.
gloves and such things-there came
with them little 22-caliber pocket pis-
tol, which was a gift from Mrs. Lanes
father
The pistol fell on the top of the
dressing case. 1t went of, and as Mrs.
Lane was leaning over the dressing
case the ball struck her below the
heart. The report of the pistol and
the screams of Mrs. Lane instantly at
tracted the attention of Mr.. Lane, who
rushed into the room and found Mrs.
Lane on the floor He gave her such
attention as was needed at the mo-
ment. and Immediately dispatched mes
sengers for Dr.. Sewers. at 1920 New
York avenue. and for DR.. J. Ford
Thompson, at S04 Seventeenth street
News of the accident was also sent
promptly to the father of Mrs. Lane
who also lives near the wellington.
When the physicians arrived they
found her suffering very much from
the shock.
OF course the physicians put Mrs.
Lane under treatment at once. They
ascertained that the ball ranged up
wards. they think, towards the Shout
der. Dr. Sewers said that they could
not say definitely whether the ban
penetrated the cavity or ranged around
the rib. 1t has not been removed, and
it may be that il viii not be necessary
to remove it. If it is under the shouI-
derbIade it may become encysted and
it's removal may not be necessary to
her recovery. The physicians, speak
ing of her condition. say that she is
getting along very well. and has rallied
well considering the great shock she
experienced.
Her condition requires the utmost
quiet and the usual precautions have
been taken in the hotel and on the
street to secure it.
Mrs. Lane is the youngest daughter
of Senator Blackburn. She is about
twenty-five years of age, and has been
very popular in Washington society,
and, of course, in her native State. She
was a child when her father entered
political life here. Last September she
married Mr.. T. F. Lane, then a chief
of division in the Treasury. He lost
his place in that department soon after
his wedding trip, part of which was
spent in Paris. Later he was appoint
ed to place with the Maxim Nordhoff
Ordnance Company, and has his Office /
with this company on Pennsylvania /
avenue.
Mr.. Lane is a New Jersey man. one |
of his political friends being Senator /
Smith. of that State.
Mrs. Blackburn. mother of Mrs Lane, |
was telegraphed for yesterday and is |
expected to arrive here this morning.