The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-01
SAD END OF A HUNTING TRIP
Il. H. MITCHEEL SHOT BY ACCIDEN.
TIL DISCHARGE OF A GUN.
The Unfortunate Affair Occurred on tho
Hill Back of Donald S. NIitcheII's Rcs-
fdencc-Chances of the Young Mans
Recovery Thought to Be Very Slight
Details of the Accident

|
AS the result Of an accidental shoot
ing while out hunting yesterday after
noon, e. H. Mitchell eighteen years
old, SON of Robert f. Mitchell
of 244 Whalley avenue, con-
tractor at Winchesters, lies at the New
Haven hospital in a critical condition
and slight hopes of his recovery are en-
tertained by the hospital physicians.
The young man with two friends, Henry
Keppel Of Edgewood avenue and w. e,
Staples of GIL Elm street, both of about
his own age was out hunting on what
is known as Mitchelrs Hill, near West
vile, when he was shot in the abdomen
by the accidental discharge Of shot
gun in the hands Of his friend Staples.
The young men had some new guns
and started out yesterday afternoon
about o'clock to try them They took
course out over Mitchelps Hill and af-
down to rest, standing the three guns
against tree. Mitchell walked down
the hill below his companions and after
being gone few minutes returned. AS
he came back and had nearly reached
his two companions they arose and pre-
pared to start on. Keppel and Staples
picked up their own guns and Staples
picked up MitchelPs gun and was about
to hand it to MITCHELL who stood about
three feet from him, when the gun was
accidentally discharged, either from a
twig catching in the trigger or from
some other unknown cause.
The gun happened to be so pointed
that the charge of No. shot struck
Mitchell in the lower right side Of the
abdomen. He sank to the ground
groanfng and his companions greatly
alarmed at once began calling for help.
George X. Foster, assistant steward OF
the hospital corps of the Second regi-
ment and chief clerk at q. Hewitt &
Co.'s Chapel street drug store, and
Frank Penney, clerk in the drug store,
were taking a walk over the hill and
were not far away. Hearing the calls
for help, they hurried to the scene Of
the accident. Mitchelps companions
were SO excited that they were unable
" lClldCl Hllit ally dSSlSldlISC anu 1ACP~A
pei was dispatched to the residence of
Donald G. Mitchell, the nearest house,
about mile away at the foot Of the
hill, to summon assistance.
Mr. Foster, with his training in the
hospital corps, was enabled to render
valuable assistance. He stanched the
flow of blood and dressed the wound
as we'll as he could with the meagre
means at hand and then improvised q
stretcher. He took two coats and stick
ing two guns through the arms Of the
coats on each side made an army enner-
gency stretcher The unfortunate young
man was placed upon it. AS carefully
as possible the wounded man was car
ried down the hill towards Donald G.
residence and near the foot
of the hill a party was met coming from
there with stretcher.
On the way down the hill the young
man, who had not lost consciousness
and had borne up bravely with the pain
of his wound, asked for a drink Of
water. Mr.. Foster went to a nearby
spring and scooping up hat full Of
water gave some to Mitchell and bathed
his head. Shortly after the party
DR.. Marsh of Westville, who had been VI
summoned, arrived. He found
that Mr. Foster had already done about
all that could be done until the patient
reached the hospital. In very short
time the ambulance of the New Haven
hospital which had been telephoned for,
arrived in charge of DR.. Littlejohn. At
the hospital the wound was dressed by
DR.. Carmalt 1t was found to be very
a large hole being torn in the
abdomen and the intestines badly cut.
The young mans father, who had
been informed of the accident and learn
I'd that his son was being taken to the
hospital, hurried to the New Haven hos-
oital and was waiting outside when the
ambulance arrived there. He was over
come with grief. At a late hour last
night it was stated at the hospital that
young Mr.. Mitchell was no better and
hat he would probably not live until
The young man Is a member Of the
Central Y. M. G. A.