The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-22
WAS HUNTING IN MEXICO
LONG RIDE WHILE WEAK FROM
LOSS OF BLOOD.
Was Believed to Be Dying, but Raj
lied, and Is Now Pronounced
in No Immediate
Danger.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21.-Melbourne
Chadbourne, son of F. S. Chadbourne,
formerly Harbor Commissioner of San
Francisco, met with a peculiar accident
on Wednesday last while On hunting
trip in Mexico.
Chadbourne left Los Angeles two
weeks ago to take a responsible posi-
ton with the South Bisbee Copper
Company. He accompanied the board
of directors, which is composed of Los
Angeles business men. The board, nav
ing elected officers, gave the employees
a holiday. Chadbourne, an ardent
sportsman, improved the opportunity
to go hunting, and in company. with
Samuel Hayhurst, who Is an expert
shot, he crossed the line ON horseback
and entered Mexico. They stopped at
the ranch of the Custom house, in
which Hayhurst has an interest. to get
luncheon. Having eaten they retired
to vacant land adjoining the ranch to
practice snap shooting.
Chadbourne, who had new model
Colts double action 3S-cal1ber revolver.
whipped the weapon from his Delt ana
at the same time pressed the trigger to
work a quick shot at the target. Inc
sight on the revolver caught on the
Waistband of Chadbourne's trousers
This held the weapon fast. 1t was dls-
charged. and the bullet entered his alb
domen.
Although dangerously wounded and
suffering excruciating pain, Chad
bourne mounted his horse and rode to
the American custom house, over
quarter of mile from the ranch. Chao-
bournes saddle was drenched with
blood that had flowed from his wound.
He was so weak that he could scarcely
get out of the saddle.
Custom House officer Welsh, Line
Rider Miller and Hayhurst did what
they could in an unprofessional manner
to stop the flow of blood and ease the
wounded mans sufferings. A courier
was sent posthaste to Bisbee, twelve
miles away for surgeon. Chadbourne
believed, as did his attendants, that he
would die before the surgeon could ar
rive. Game to the core, he did not
shrink from death. He calmly called
for writing material, made his will and
gave some final instructions. Then he
lighted a cigarette and laid back on
the pillows to wait for death.
The surgeon reached the Custom
house four hours after Chadbourne ar
rived there and found the wounded
man in very weak condition. From
the nature of the wound the surgeon
believed that the intestines had been
penetrated and that death would re-
suit The bullet had lodged in the
right thigh. The wound was dressed,
and at midnight Chadbourne was
placed on an improvised stretcher and
put into a wagon, which had been sent
to the Custom house by the South Bis
bee Copper Mining Company. The
twelve-mile ride to Bisbee was torture
to Chadbourne At Bisbee the Copper
Queen Mining, Company, which owns
the Arizona and Southeastern Railroad,
provided a special train to carry Chad
bourne to Benson, AriZ.
The special was connected with the
Pacific limited on the Southern Pacific.
which arrived yesterday noon. DR.. Bry-
ant was at the depot with an ambu-
lance to meet the train, and Chad
bourne was taken to the Sisters Hos
pital. Bryant made an examination
and found that the bullet had not
pierced the intestines, and that the
wound, although extremely painful, is
not necessarily fatal.
Chadbourne, who is well known in
social circles and a great favorite, lives
with his mother on Also street. He
is reported as resting comfortably to-
night.