Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-03
YOUNG OATES
WILL DIE
Accidentally Shot by a Play
mate.
DEATH IS AL MOST CERTAIN
e ~
The Sad Result of BOYS Who Were
Careless in Handling a
Target Rifle.
DEATH IS AL MOST CERTAIN

Little Johnnie Oates. - years of age,
is lying in Wells hospital, with a bullet
wound through his liver. from the effects
of which he will probably die, although
everything that can be done is being lone
for his recovery. But the bullet has pene-
trated his liver, making a wound in that
delicate g four inches long, and if he
lives it will be verging on the miraculous.
He was very low this afternoon, and
while conscious is suffering intense pain.
The attending physician said that his
death, this afternoon, was not at all i'm
probable. But he bears his suffering
bravely.
The boy is a brother of Richard j. Oates,
one Of the publishers of the Butte Tri-
bune, and resides with his mother, Mrs.
John Gilbert, at Nc. 101- West La Plata
street, Centerville. The accidental shoot
ing which may result in his death, oc-
Cured near his mothers home about Z
o'clock last night. A number of the boys
playmates were shooting at a target
with a 22-caliber rifle, and young Oates
left his home to join them. When Oates
arrived a boy by the name of John In.
gram had just fired at the target and was
in the act of %relOading the gun. Just as
Oates arrived Ingram carelessly turned
facing the crowd Of boys with the gun,
the barrel of which was pointed in the di-
rection of Oates. In some manner which
none of the boys, particularly young In
gram can explain, the cartridge exploded
just as Ingram turned toward the boys,
the bullet passing through the coat of one
boy and striking Oates, making a small
WOund about the middle of his body. With
a sharp cry young Oates threw up his
hands, and fell, and his comrades real
lied that something very serious had hap
pened. 1t was but a few steps to the
home of the wounded boys mother and
she was at once notified and was quickly
eat his side. h had him removed to the
house, and a physician was summoned.
He made an examination of the wound,
pronounced 1T a serious case and advised
the removal of the boy to a hospital for
treatment. Accordingly he was taken to
DR.. Wells hospital, and about 10 o'clock
last night an operation was performed By
Drs. Wells and Lobb. The bullet was To-
Gated in the muscles of the left side, the
ball having entered at the lower end of
the breast bone, and passing to the left,
penetrating the left lobe of the liver, and
lodging in the left lower axillary line,
about the seventh inter between
the ribs. The physicians We're of the
opinion that the bullet had penetrated
the liver fully -four inches, causing a
shredding of the tissue of that organ. The
, wound is a very painful and dangerous
one. r. J. Oates the lads brother is
constantly at the boys side. NIX little
fellow was suffering intense pain this
, morning but was rational.
The cartridge which caused the wound
was an extra short 22-caliber which con-
tains but a pinch of explosive, and how
it penetrated the boys body to such a
depth is remarkable. The ball is not as
large as a small pea. The accident is a
peculiarly sad one. Yesterday was the
anniversary of the tragic end of the
wounded boys father, who was killed in
the Alice mine nine years ago.