The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-12-08
Accidentally Shoots Himself
His Body Found in the poOtatuok Brook.

zig Vi tue sAuues[ Items Of news THE
BEE has been called upon to chronicle in
many month, Is the accidental shootins
OF Thomas Joseph Blake, young man
OF much promise, who met his death a,
his own hands while hunting not far
from his home on Thanksgiving dav
morning, Thursday of last week. For
the last IA or 10 months young Blake had
been employed by the Burns & Silver
Co., in Bridgeport, and on Wednesday
night he came to Newtown to pass the
Thanksgiving holiday with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs Michael Blake, worthy and
esteemed residents OF Walnut Tree Hill
The young man was fond OF hunting.
and on coming home In the hRatine
season often took his gun and went out
Tor little pleasure in the woods. On
the morning of the day be met his death.
Thursday, he arose shortly before ?
O'Clock, and taking his gun started for a
hunting trip. He told his parents he
should be home for dinner, and went of
IN happy frame of mind, little thinking
he should meyer in life enter the home
dear to himself, his brothers and sisters
and parents.
The person who saw him Iastralive was
MISS Mary Carley, who lives on the Glen
road above and northwest of the lower
huooer factory. Miss Carley wss re-
turning to her home about 10. 80 O'Clock.
and when passing over the iron or
BLACK BRIDGE" in the Glen, noticed a
hunter on the steep side of the mountain.
some 90 or 60 feet from her. She did not
recognize the boy, as his face was turned
from her, but from the description ghe
gave OF the clothes he had on, and the
tact MS body was found In the brook be-
low this place, leaves little doubt but
that 1t was Blake. AS she came down
the hill toward the bridge, she heard the
discharge Of gun, and on coming on to
tne bridge, paused a second to see IL she
could recognize the person. She saws he
appeared to be trying to get the go uirrsl
out OF the stump of the old tree and
could hear him talking to himself. al
though unable to understand what he
said. She hurfiedlY passed on to her
nome and ga We the matter no further
thought till she heard of the disappear.
auce OF Blake. Earlier In the dav it an.
pears Michael Turner also saw him. The
latter was onthe road opposite the noun.
tain and seeing Blake on the other aide
shouted out to him, In Substance Tur.
aer asked Blake what luck he was hav-
ng, and the latter said he had shot a
squirrel and asked Turner to come over
IND help him get it. Turner replied that
he could not, as he had an engagement.
'r words to that effect.
just how Blake met his death no ore
Knows, although there Ia no doubt that
was accidental. Several theories have
'een advanced, but the one that seems
ne more reasonable was that outlined TO
BEE reporter by William Egan. who
vas the man who located the BODY OF the
Unfortunate boy in the water by grap-
ling irons. Mr. Egan thinks young
slake was first at the top of the preci-
'ice' Evidence of this was had In the
found on the ground. He then
worked his way down the precipitousI
fountain side, and when part way do wn
not his squirrel, which dropped farther
own the steep incline. Blake very
roeably started after 1t, and when seen
y Miss Carley was working away to
/ lodge the wounded squirrel from the 8
funk Of the old tree. After securing his {
anne 1t is thought he started ND the I
fountain again to go home and OF the q
,ay up slipped, discharging the gun. s
he charge took effect la his, face and t
BAD, blowing ridge above the left eve n
I'd fracturing the skull. He wore CAP, l.
ID hole was shot through 1t. After a
% discharge OF the gun, he doubtless 81
81 consciousness at once and plunged @
'wn the mountain side, into the Poosa. d
ok brook, which at the pllce where he 4
tered above the Black bridge, ID some Il
or 10 feet deep. Another theory adj W
need by some others Ia that Blake shot d,
squirrel on the summit OF the moun. -
"a, and the wounded animal fell ove, ~
cliff. Blake started down after fha =
uirrel and In going down, thouRhtless-
used the gun as cane. A twig p.
tching the trigger in an unexpected Z,
'ment, discharged the gun and the M,
'mising young life was brought to an "a
rupt close, and his body plunged Bl
INWARD into the dark waters Of the CO
e.
me parents OF the boy became uneasy. Mi
ursday noons because he did not re- III
n as be was . most dutl1ul son. srs
wards evening the father went down n,
sandy Hook inquirlng OF shs bov,a
nns Il they had seen him. He racsiv- /