Arizona republican., 1900-10-28
JOSEPH COOK KILLED
Accidentally Shot While on a
 Tuning Trip
Only Son of Mr. and Mrs. ". ". Cook the Victim of Charge From HIS Own Gun, and Dies Before Medical Aid Can Reach Him.

Tn all tn joyous exuberance of boy ish spirits at yhs prospect of a holiday hunting trip, Joseph Cook, the young son of MT. and Mrs. William ". Cook of z73 North Fifth avenue, started early
 Saturday morning. accompanied by a young friend, for a trip to the river.
 A few hours later he was frightfulIy wounded by a shot from his own gun, and died snort time over one hour afJerward
 His companion, BUrrin Hatcher. the son of w. H. Hatcher of West Capitol addition, helped the injured lad to house near by and hurried u the city for a physician. but the latter, despit- q desperately rapid drive. arrived too late 10 he Of aid.
 Mrs. Cook Was notified that her son was hurJ but was not told of the dan
 sgerous nature 1f his wound. She start cd to Griv- t3 him. but the physician brought th5 body in on another road and the mother returned home to find
 her son cold in death.
 Last night a. messenger was dis patched for q fifty-mile ride over ths desert and through the mountains to
 find-the father and break to him the news of the end of his only child. Such is the story in brief of one of th- sadd5st accider-s wkich it has ever
 been the duty of a Phoenix newspaper
 Ia chronicle
 ''i am going to bring back enough doves for a Sunday pot pie" said young
 Cook to his mOtl=r, as he and Hatcher
 started away. equipped for a day in
 the river bottoms. The boys rode in
 cart which was but little more com
 nodious thau a sdlky. with slais in
 the bottom for -heir fe1r to rest upon
 Cook drove. and they carried tn =ir guns
 between them. the stocks resting on
 tie slats. Fa.cher's sun was unload-
 ed. They drove west on the Yuma r0dG
 for five mil and then south to tGe
 river. After lunch and trying their luck for some time and having shot
 rabbit, they started Ln ford ghe rlver.
 which at that point carries consider able water. They were half way across
 Wh n Cooks gun, hammerless
 weapon of fine make, st2rted to slide
 through D. slats.. Holding the reins with his right dand Cook reached with
 his left for the gun. grasping it just
 as Jha muzzle pointed at his breast. In
 some maEnsr the safety lock was
 slipped eff and the gun exploded. the charge of No. duck shot zntering his siI5 jusl abeE the heart. tar ins a fearful hoe and finding I0dgmeu- in his left lung Hatcher was unhurt, though his right side touched Cook. Thu. hnad of the latter fell for ward on his breast and with a low moan Ec sank to his lzn=e5 in the bot I Cu the reins. Hatcher sustain=d his cOmrade as best hp cuuld and drove tn a Mexican hut nearby. where Cook was lir,ed 10 ths ground and given wl,at treatment could be afford q by the rough, but kindly people, while Hatcher drove with all the speed that was in Cooks horse, to the city. where he SC cur-d Dr. Thomas and hurried back. | reaching the Mexican home about 3:3C | o'clock. just an hour and one-half after | the shooting. Young Cook had remained | conscious for an hour after the acci- | dent but by th= time Of the physicians !. arrival had faiatej, and died twenty . minutes later Dr. Thomas brought | tue body to the city and Hatcher start l ed to walk home. In the meantime a | mess5 ngar from the office of the phy- | siaian had notified Mrs. Cook of the | accident, but had not told her of it's 1 more serious character. She drove out | in Yuma road until shc met Hatcher | and took him into her buggy. The | hoy was hearc-brol;en over the accident | tu his cOmrade and unable tO bring | himself to the point Of telling the moth CT Of her sons aLh He said thas | tn doctor had gone in on another road | and she drove back home to find that 1 tnc latter had already reached there . with his burden. and naighb0rs br0ka ta her the correct news of tn fatality.
 The body of Joseph lies at the Cook residence prepared for the funeral, the lime of which awaits th arrival of the dead boys father. Mrs. Cook was ronDletajy prosJrated last nign- and Hatcher is confined to hrs bed at hons, n from ihe terrible shook. About 1:30 o'clock Iast evening Eds0n AUntinS luu start. for Mr. Cook, who is 3t A's ranch near the heSl of New river. su pariut uding the .purd-UI. tuuurg- ton expected, by riding all night. t9 r,och AIr. Cook early this morning, and the latter Will doubtless arrive h re this evening. The c0roner's jury held au irGu, st last night over the body and will return verdict ou Mon day morning.
 Jossrh Cook would have ben II years Cf age upon his naN, birthday. in Jau- uary. and was a lad oG most ur"7ull promise. Naturally he was the idol of his parents, and deservedIy beloved by all who knew him. He finished th= course at the grammar school last June and had entsted upon his first year at the high school H. SD mt the earlier rlrt of his life on th ranch, before coming to the city five years ago, and by the rough and IcIdy man uer Of living there had had instillsd into him the qualities which go to make tn true man. The boy was absolutely self reliant. feaIless, capable of riding anything. could use a rope like a vet crau cow-mdn and, In short. would have made 9n excellent juvenile type for Roos5velt's Men With the Bark On"
 His father had hesjTat=d a long time l-.r,-, .,1r..-r--,rr hin, f|.. ,rgt oF %